What Disease Causes Dog to Develop Cataracts?

Cataracts can occur in a dog for a number of reasons.

Just like when a camera lens or an eyeglass lens becomes fogged over, the eye's lens can can become foggy with age. A cataract, in the case of dogs and humans, is the obstruction of the eye lenses by any opacity. Cataracts occur for a number of reasons in dogs, such as trauma, old age or diabetes.

Types of Cataracts

The amount of opacity covering the lens will determine the type of cataract present. When there is minimal coverage of the lens, the cataract is considered an incipient cataract. This type of cataract will cause little or no problems with vision. A slightly more severe opacity, that would begin to interfere with vision, is called immature cataract. When the entire lens is covered and cloudy, you have a mature cataract and there will be no vision.

Finally, a hypermature cataract occurs when the lens begins to lose protein and moisture and the cataract actually begins to shrink. In this case the vision will not be restored because the lens is also degenerating. Cataracts can occur overnight or takes months to form.

Ocular Diseases

Ocular diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy, or uveitis, or glaucoma can cause cataracts in dogs. While these diseases do not have cataracts as a direct symptom, it is the toxic reaction the lens has to the disease that causes the cataract to form. In other words, ocular diseases function as a catalyst for cataracts. Progressive retinal atrophy is the degeneration of the retina, uveitis is the inflammation of the inside of the eye, and glaucoma is pressure within the eye.

Diabetes

Three-fourths of dogs that develop diabetes will develop cataracts. Cataracts that occur in dogs with diabetes are most likely to be mature cataracts and will progress very quickly to maturity. Cataracts that are a result of diabetes have been known to develop overnight. If cataracts develop that quickly, special treatment and care is needed immediately.

Treatment

The treatments for canine cataracts are limited and, in some cases, not even necessary. The most common treatment is nutritional; certain additives to food can help encourage eye strength and can help the dog function better with the cataract. A cataract can be removed by surgery, but it is uncommon and typically not necessary.

Breed Specific

Some breeds are more susceptible to cataracts. For example, the bichon frise breed is more likely to develop cataracts in early adulthood. Both lenses are likely to be affected and the cataracts will develop quickly.

References

• Animal Eye Care: Cataract