Does Your Dog have a Canine Cataract
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by: dogvision
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Canine cataracts are one a common eye condition in dogs. A dog can develop a cataract at any age. The breed does not matter either because all breeds are susceptible for this common eye condition. When a canine cataract develops it will give an opacity or blurriness to the lens of the eye. Only a part of the lens can be affected by a cataract or the whole lens can be affected. When the cataract begins it can progress from a mild condition to a full blown cataract. A dog can go blind from a cataract that is left untreated. There is no way to prevent them from developing and the dog can not be treated for a cataract until one begins to form.
A canine cataract is either an acquired condition or it can be cause by genetics. Sometimes a puppy will be born with one. Still others will develop them a week or two after they are born. When an old dog develops one it is called a senile cataract. Canine cataracts are more common in certain breeds than in others. A common cause for an acquired canine cataract is diabetes. A canine cataract can develop after the dog suffers a trauma to the eye as well.
Symptoms of a canine cataract include the appearance of a white cloudiness to the eye. There may be swelling and redness around the eye as well. The dog may be sensitive to pain around the affected eye as well. When a dog is developing a canine cataract they may squint and become less active. The dog may also bump into things as if they are having trouble seeing. If a dog develops a severe cataract the standard treatment is surgery. There is no guarantee that the sight in that eye will be completed restored though. The type of surgery done for a canine cataract is called phacoemulsification. It involves removing the affected part of the lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Only a licensed veterinarian who is qualified as a pet surgeon should do the procedure. The recovery time for this surgery is 6 weeks. There is a 90 to 95% success rate for canine cataract surgery.
However the dog must be treated for the canine cataract early for treatment to be successful. It is always important to make sure your pet is getting regular eye exams so a canine cataract can be caught early. If the appropriate treatment is begun soon enough there is a possibility that the cataract can be reversed. See also Pra disease - Dog vision problems - Veterinary ophthalmologist - Veterinary ophthalmologist - Dog vitamin -
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