It can be scary to see your furry friend’s eyes become murky and their eyesight weakened. You may only notice this once they start bumping into objects or missing a thrown ball.

A dog’s eye structure is very similar to a human’s, with the main difference being that a dog has a third eyelid where we do not. Their eyes work the same way in that they have a lens which allows the passage of light and images onto the retina. A cataract in a dog’s eye occurs when the lens protein becomes cloudy and in turn causes the clouding of the lens. The lens in a healthy eye is clear.

Content:

  1. What Are Cataracts in Dogs? Signs, Stages & What They Look Like
  2. Cataracts vs. Nuclear Sclerosis vs. Glaucoma: Telling the Difference
  3. Causes, Prevention & Non-Surgical Care
  4. Treatment & Surgery: Cost, Recovery & What to Expect
  5. Conclusion

What Are Cataracts in Dogs? Signs, Stages & What They Look Like

A healthy lens in a dog’s eye should be transparent, but cataracts and other diseases can change its transparency, causing a cloudiness that affects vision. In the beginning stages, cataracts can be too small to have any effect on vision, but as they grow, they can impair vision quite substantially.

Signs to look out for:

A milky-white area over your dog’s eye is the most obvious sign of a cataract.

Cataracts in dogs develop in stages:

  • The incipient stage (the earliest stage): the cataracts are often only pinpoint in size and don’t cause vision loss. Surgery is rarely recommended at this stage.
  • The immature stage: the cataracts cover 15–99% of the lens, and vision is affected.
  • The mature stage: the cataracts cover 100% of the lens, and dogs can only see changes in light. They are either near-blind or blind.
  • The hypermature stage: the final stage, where the lens begins to shrink and lens-induced uveitis often occurs.

Cataracts vs. Nuclear Sclerosis vs. Glaucoma: Telling the Difference

Secondary complications can develop due to cataracts, such as glaucoma and uveitis.

Nuclear sclerosis is considered a normal change in aging dogs. It is the medical term used when a bluish haze develops in the lens of the eye in senior dogs. The pupil appears bluish or cloudy. Unlike with cataracts, vision does not seem to be impaired in a significant way in dogs with nuclear sclerosis.

An increase in pressure in the eye is known as glaucoma and can cause blindness. The affected eye may bulge, and the cornea (not the lens) can appear bluish or hazy.

Causes, Prevention & Non-Surgical Care

There is not one specific cause of cataracts, but there are several possibilities, such as:

  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Old age
  • Electrocution
  • Radiation exposure
  • Genetic/inherited condition
  • Nutritional deficiency
  • Trauma / toxic substances
  • Uveitis (inflammation of the eye’s uvea)

Dr. Park said:

“Inherited cataracts have been described in many breeds, and juvenile cataracts due to proven or suspected heritable conditions make up a large portion of cataracts. The most frequently suspected etiology of cataract formation in this study was heredity.”

Dr. Lim and colleagues said in their research:

“Surgical extraction represents the only method by which cataracts can be effectively treated. Although surgical success rates have increased over time with refinements of surgical technique, surgical success is not guaranteed. Surgery is considered to have failed when dogs develop painful and/or blinding complications such as endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, or glaucoma.”

Treatment & Surgery: Cost, Recovery & What to Expect

To confirm cataracts, your vet will first need to perform a few tests while completing a thorough examination of your pooch, and eye drops are often used to dilate your dog’s pupils. These tests are the fluorescein stain test, Schirmer tear test, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and tonometry.

Surgery will only be recommended if the retina is healthy and still able to process light information. To determine this, an ocular ultrasound and electroretinogram may be performed. If the retina is affected, surgery may not be recommended.

“The most common reason for dogs not having surgery was retinal degeneration,” says Dr. Adkins in her article Outcomes of Dogs Presented for Cataract Evaluation: A Retrospective Study.

Removing cataracts from your dog’s eye is not a quick fix. There is much prep work to be done before the surgery and care after it, with many tests and medications that need to be given pre- and post-operatively. The best way to manage all of this is by making use of the Petcube App. You can track your pet’s health, recovery, symptoms, and habits with this app. It also gives you access to certified vets for any guidance you may need on changes in symptoms or behavior.

The cost of the surgery, including preoperative tests, can range from $3,500 to $5,500 with a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist. There are no medicines or therapies to ‘cure’ cataracts in dogs, and the only option is surgery.

Dogs will usually be kept in the hospital for a night after surgery for monitoring. When sent home, they will need to wear a cone of shame to prevent any scratching of the eye while it heals. It is important to note that cataracts are a progressive disease, and if surgery is recommended, it is best to take the plunge sooner rather than later for the best chance at success.

Conclusion

It is very difficult to determine the rate at which a cataract will grow and what size it will become. If cataracts are left untreated, they will lead to reduced vision and can eventually cause blindness. Don’t wait to consult a veterinarian if you notice any changes in your dog’s eyes.

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