Many people do not realize that dogs can get cataracts, a condition of the eye that is not uncommon in older humans. In fact, according to PetEducation.com, not only are our canine friends also susceptible to this condition, it is the most common disease that affects dogs' eyes, and if left untreated, it can lead to blindness.
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Understand the Condition
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According to Dog-health-guide.org, "In this condition, the inner lens of the eye becomes cloudy partially or completely blocks light from getting to the retina."
Cataracts can be formed for a variety of reasons. Heredity, a previous injury to the eye, congenital cataracts that a dog is born with or Senile cataracts, which develops with age typically in dogs six years or older.
The breed of the dog can also have an impact on the likelihood of when, if or what kind of cataracts the animal develops. For example, an Old English Sheepdog is more likely to contract congenital cataracts than a German Shepherd. Although no breed is entirely immune from the illness, the most likely breeds to be burdened with the disease are Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Huskys, Schnauzer, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers or Terriers.
Treatments Available
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Unfortunately, there are really no good treatments for eliminating canine cataracts other than surgery. Surgery involves removal of the lens of the affected eye. There are different techniques used to do this, all of which can provide a very positive outcome. It will be up to a qualified veterinarian to determine if your dog is a good candidate for the surgery. Dogs that have troubles with unregulated diabetes or who are otherwise in poor health may not be good candidates for this surgery.
According to Vetinfo.com, there is a medicinal option available to treat an existing cataract: N-acetyl-carnosine solution. This entails giving eye drops to your dog three to four times daily. This treatment can run anywhere between three months to a year, depending on how the dog responds to treatment.
The drops lessen the cloudiness of the affected lens. The results will vary depending upon the type of cataract and the age and health of the dog.
The method of choice should be discusses and selected based on the recommendations of your veterinarian. In either case, the dog will likely receive some benefit to improve his vision, or at least stop the progress of the cataract.
Recovery
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If the surgical option is chosen, the dog will need to receive eye drops for several weeks. During the first six weeks of his recovery, he will need to have the drops several times a day.
If treating the cataracts with medicine is the chosen treatment, the dog will need to be seen regularly by his veterinarian to assess the progress of the treatment.
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