Many changes can occur as a dog begins to enter old age. Owners should be aware of any physical or behavioral changes and inform their veterinarian as soon as they notice them, as they may be signs of either a nonthreatening or a serious health issue. Nuclear sclerosis and cataracts are two conditions commonly associated with canines. Though they are similar in appearance, nuclear sclerosis is far more common and far less threatening to a canine companion.
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Identification
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Usually occurring in dogs over the age of 6, nuclear sclerosis is a physical change in the fibers of the lens in a dog's eye. For most dogs, this change affects both eyes―though rare, it is possible for only one eye to be affected. With nuclear sclerosis, the lens of the dog's eye becomes less flexible and more hardened. Nuclear sclerosis may also go by other names such as "old eye" or lenticular sclerosis.
Symptoms
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Nuclear sclerosis is a condition that produces a grayish hue in the eye, which causes the eye to appear cloudy. This is likely to be the only symptom an owner would notice. This is because in dogs, nuclear sclerosis does not cause blindness. It also does not cause any pain or discomfort for the dog; therefore, the dog is unlikely to respond to the change. However, some dogs may experience a slight change in their ability to see small details in items, although this is only an extremely slight, likely unnoticeable vision change that could potentially occur.
Diagnosis
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A trained veterinarian will shine a penlight into the affected dog's eyes. By doing so, he will be able to determine if the dog is suffering from cataracts or simply has nuclear sclerosis. Dogs with cataracts will not have a reflection from the penlight. Meanwhile, dogs with nuclear sclerosis will have a reflection of the penlight in their eyes.
Treatment
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There is no treatment available for nuclear sclerosis. This is mostly because nuclear sclerosis is not life-threatening, nor does it greatly reduce the quality of life for the dog. Therefore, there is no need for treatment of this eye condition. Cataracts, on the other hand, require surgical removal.
Prevention
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It is not possible to prevent nuclear sclerosis from occurring in a dog. While the severity of nuclear sclerosis may vary from dog to dog, it will occur in nearly every dog as it ages, no matter what the breed or gender. However, owners can make life easier for the dog by keeping furniture in the same path and blocking off stairways.
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