According to Peteducation.com, the word cataract means to "break down." When a dog has cataracts, there is a breakdown of the lens fibers of its eye. While most cataracts are hereditary, Petside.com reports that some cataracts result from diabetes mellitus, inner eye inflammation, toxins, nutritional deficiencies or retinal degeneration. Regardless of the cause, cataracts form an opaque, cloudy film on the dog's lenses resulting in blurred vision. Treatment must be sought and administered quickly to prevent glaucoma and blindness.
Things You'll Need
- Veterinarian
- Oral medication
- Eye drops
- Cone-shaped restraint collar
Instructions
Take the dog to the veterinarian. Confirm with veterinarian that the dog's vision problems are, in fact, cataracts. Determine whether the dog is a good candidate for cataract surgery.
Schedule cataract surgery. According to PetEducation.com, there is not a good non-surgical treatment available to make the dog's ocular lenses clear again.
Administer medications. Give the dog eye medication for three days prior to surgery, and oral medications/eye drops for two to three weeks after surgery.
Keep the cone-shaped restraint collar on the dog for the first two weeks after surgery. The collar prevents self-trauma to the eye(s).