Juvenile Cataracts in Dogs

Juvenile cataracts are a fairly common condition in dogs before the age of 5. Just as in humans, cataracts form on the lens of one or both eyes, and can affect vision. Cataracts adversely affect the quality of life of dogs, and they can be quite costly to treat.

  1. Facts

    • The lens of the eye is normally transparent; a cataract is an area of the lens that has become opaque, making it hard or impossible to see through. Juvenile cataracts usually begin to form before the dog is 5 years old, but some breeds develop them as late as 8 years. They can occur in one or both eyes. Some will eventually go away, and some stay small and allow the dog partial vision. Others are progressive, and will eventually block out all vision.

    Breeds

    • Certain breeds are more prone to juvenile cataracts. These include cocker spaniels, poodles, Siberian huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Boston terriers, Dachshunds, English toy spaniels, Great Danes, Old English sheepdogs, schnauzers, Pekingese, vizslas and West Highland white terriers.

    Prevention

    • Juvenile cataracts are a hereditary disease, so the only way to prevent it is to not allow dogs that have the condition to breed. If you are breeding a dog that does not have juvenile cataracts, you can increase the chances of the puppies not having the disease by breeding with a dog that has been registered with CERF, the Canine Eye Registration Foundation. A dog must pass a yearly eye examination to be registered. If your dog is not registered, the owner of a registered dog will most likely insist on it being registered before breeding.

    Types

    • There are many types. They are classified based on how they can be treated, where they are located on the lens, how large they are and whether or not they will get worse. Some are "dissolving," which means they can eventually go away.

    Treatment

    • The dissolving type is are treated with cortisone eye drops to help dissolve them. In non-dissolving juvenile cataracts, the only treatment is surgical removal of the lens. If the dog's vision is not significantly impaired by the cataract and it is not causing inflammation in the eye and the cataract is not getting progressively worse, then surgery is not usually recommended. If the lens is removed, a plastic implant to replace it is also an option.