Pet Article
DOGS AND GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma in people generally progresses slowly and is usually caught early. Many people
don't realize that in animals, especially dogs, glaucoma often requires immediate emergency
treatment to prevent blindness.
The difference is because of the stoic nature of most animals, it is hard to know that
there's anything wrong. Dogs especially, tolerate glaucoma very well and don't show you
that they have a problem until you may notice that their eye is in really bad shape.
Glaucoma is a frequent cause of blindness in both humans and animals. The fluid in the eye,
or aqueous humor, circulates within the eye and exits through a special drain. Problems start
if the drain gets plugged, causing pressure in the eye (or intraocular pressure) to build up.
When that occurs, retina and optic nerve damage may result, which can compromise vision.
In animals, glaucoma is just one of the causes of a red, cloudy, painful eye. Owners should
take note of those basic signs, which can point to a number of diseases.
Diagnosing glaucoma starts with a measurement of the intraocular pressure with an
instrument called a tonometer. If the intraocular pressure is elevated, the dog may need
emergency treatment to reduce pressure fast and prevent vision loss.
The two types of glaucoma are primary and secondary. In secondary glaucoma, something
is physically plugging the drain, so in treating the primary cause, it is possible to
eliminate the glaucoma and save the dogs vision.
Only in secondary glaucoma do patients have a chance for a complete cure. Causes of
secondary glaucoma include chronic uveitis, a tumor, and lens luxation. Cats and horses are
the animals typically found to develop glaucoma secondary to another problem.
In people and dogs, primary, or hereditary, glaucoma is the form commonly found. With
dogs, certain breeds are predisposed to glaucoma. These breeds ought to have their eyes
evaluated yearly so that any increases in pressure can be caught and medical therapy can begin.
The cocker spaniel, terrier breeds, basset hound, beagle, Norwegian elkhound, and Siberian
husky are especially predisposed to glaucoma.
In a predisposed dog, it takes less pressure to cause damage than in a normal dog. That's
why yearly checks are important. If treatment can start sooner, the animal may keep its vision
for longer.
If you notice signs of irritation, pain, discharge, or redness, in your pet's eyes, you should
investigate the problem further with your veterinarian. He or she may recommend that your
dog visit a veterinary ophthalmology specialist.
Mark Woodcock
1 Flea Control
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