Clinical Signs of Canine Glaucoma

In a healthy dog, fluid is constantly flowing in and out of the eye. This fluid helps to maintain an ideal intraocular pressure. With glaucoma, the pressure within the eye is higher than normal, resulting in a variety of symptoms. Glaucoma is common in dogs, though it is still considered an emergency.

  1. Pupils

    • An early sign of canine glaucoma is a dilated pupil. When this occurs, the pupil of the affected eye becomes larger or wider than normal. As glaucoma progresses, the pupil will stop reacting to changes in light.

    Photophobia

    • Photophobia is a term for sensitivity to light. Some dogs with glaucoma may experience a sensitivity to light, which can cause extreme pain. When a dog enters a room with bright lights or goes outside into the bright sunshine, he will immediately close his eyes due to the intense pain.

    Clarity of the Cornea

    • The cornea of the dog will also be affected during the early stages of glaucoma. The cornea of the affected eye will become hazy or cloudy in appearance. Some dogs may even display a blueish-grey hue in the cornea of the affected eye.

    Blood Vessels

    • With canine glaucoma, it is not uncommon for the blood vessels in the eye to become enlarged and visible. The whites of the eye may even become pink and look extremely irritated.

    Pain

    • Pain may be difficult to recognize in a dog with glaucoma, and pain may vary from mild to severe. Signs of pain may include rubbing the eye with a paw, crying out or wincing.

    Tears

    • Dogs with glaucoma may also frequently tear up or have excessively watery eyes.

    Squinting

    • Canine glaucoma may cause the dog to squint due to pain or inner eye (intraocular) pressure.

    Buphthalmos

    • Buphthalmos is a symptom in which the eye becomes enlarged. This is often due to pressure building up within the eye and irritation due to the glaucoma.

    Vision Loss

    • As glaucoma progresses, the dog may begin to lose some or all of his vision. However, some dogs may only suffer from blurred vision. The dog may stumble around, fail to make eye contact or bump into items.

    Decrease in Activity

    • Loss of vision may cause some dogs with glaucoma to also show a decrease in their daily activity. The dog may be reluctant to move due to fear of walking into an object or losing track of his surroundings.

    Loss of Appetite

    • Loss of appetite is another symptom of canine glaucoma, though it is less common than other symptoms directly associated with the eye itself.