Canine Glaucoma Symptoms

Canine glaucoma is a serious condition that occurs when the amount of fluid in a dog's eye increases. This causes a painful buildup of pressure that can damage the eye. Glaucoma is a medical emergency; it's important to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment early.

  1. Understand

    • There are two types of canine glaucoma. Primary glaucoma is genetic, but secondary glaucoma is caused by other conditions such as eye disease or injury.

    Early Symptoms

    • Early signs of canine glaucoma include a dilated pupil and cloudiness in the cornea. The blood vessels in the white of the eye might enlarge and the eye might protrude.

    Pain Symptoms

    • Increased pressure in the eye is painful and causes an intense migraine. The pain might cause a dog to rub its eye, lose its appetite and become irritable. Its activity levels might also drop.

    Considerations

    • Primary glaucoma in dogs starts in one eye and eventually occurs in the other eye. But both types of canine glaucoma usually affect just one eye at first. A dog might have glaucoma if one eye appears abnormal compared with the other.

    Warnings

    • Signs of canine glaucoma often go unnoticed. Pay close attention to the dog and immediately seek veterinarian treatment if you notice any symptoms of canine glaucoma.