Canine Cataract Symptoms

Dog cataract symptoms in the early stages may include decreased vision, photophobia, and other symptoms. However, because dogs cannot speak, the early symptoms are not very obvious, so it is difficult for owners to notice that their dog's vision is deteriorating. But as the disease progresses, owners can see that their dog's eyes become noticeably cloudy, the cornea becomes opaque, and there may even be obvious white spots. At this point, the dog's vision will decline significantly. For example, when throwing toys for the dog before, it could catch up and find the toy quickly, but now it becomes very difficult. Sometimes, when walking, the dog may bump into furniture or other objects.

Causes of Canine Cataracts

Heredity: Cataracts are heritable because of abnormal development of the lens and lens capsule in the dog's mother, resulting in malformation, which may lead to cataract symptoms after the dog is born.
Age: After the age of seven, dogs gradually enter their senior years. Cataracts occur due to lens fiber aging, which is related to the dog's own diseases or ultraviolet rays and other factors. However, this senile cataract usually does not significantly affect the dog's vision. As long as timely treatment is provided, there is a high chance of recovery.
Trauma: Cataracts can occur when sharp objects puncture the cornea, causing malnutrition.
Inflammation: Severe eye inflammation can cause secondary cataracts, such as retinal inflammation.

How to Prevent Canine Cataracts

Be cautious not to let sharp objects injure the dog's cornea. Long-term eye trauma can lead to eye inflammation, damaged parts of the lens that cannot absorb nutrition, and eventually result in cataracts.
When helping the dog take a bath, avoid spraying water into its eyes. Give the dog two eye health massages per week.
Drop pet-specific eye drops into the dog's eyes to reduce the probability of developing cataracts in old age. However, there are currently no effective preventive measures for cataracts caused by genetic factors.

How to Treat Canine Cataracts

The main methods of treating canine cataracts are medication and surgery. The fastest and most effective method is surgery. When the owner is sure that the dog has cataracts, it is best to contact a pet hospital, and if possible, use medication. If not, immediate surgery is necessary to help the dog recover as quickly as possible.