Canine Cataract Symptoms, Treatments

Dog cataract is so common and can be found among dogs of all ages and all breeds.



Dog cataracts are only found inside the lens of the dog’s eye. This is the result of some disruption in the normal arrangement of a lens fiber or even of its capsule. The disruption can result in a loss of transparency and even a reduction in the dog’s vision.



It is possible to identify a canine cataract just by sight. They tend to have an all white appearance, which is similar to a crushed ice cube. Canine cataract tends to form when the dog’s biomechanical system which is in the lens gets damaged.



The way the complicated pump system of sodium water is built is that it consists of 66% water and 33% protein. The system helps in keeping the protein and the water balance levels in check. When this pump system starts to fail, then extra water starts to move into the lens. This leads to the system getting damaged and thus the percentage of the soluble protein begins to increase. Once the changes begin to occur, there is loss of transparency and this leads to cataracts forming. Even though it can be said that dog cataracts can occur among any dog breed and at any age, there are a few breeds that are found to be more susceptible to cataracts than others. The cataracts among the dogs also form at a certain algae among each of the breeds. Some of these breeds include the Afghan hound between 6 to 12 months of age, the American cocker spaniel at 6 months and more, the Boston terrier gets cataracts which are found to be congenital, the Golden retriever which is susceptible at 6 months and more. The Chesapeake Bay retriever is susceptible to cataracts once it is a year. The Labrador retriever starts off after 6 months of age as does the Miniature Schnauzer. Cataracts are congenital defects largely among the Welsh cocker spaniel and the Highland white terrier.

The dog cataract treatment depends on the severity of the cataracts. There are various kinds of surgeries that can be done for canine cataract removal.  Normally cataract treatment for dogs involves removal of the lens and also of the surrounding capsule. Cataracts in dog’s symptoms include the dog losing sight and hence appearing to be less confident. The eye lens has a white accumulation which is what makes the dog appear to be blind.