How can I tell if my dog has glaucoma or cataracts?

You can find some indicators that your pet has glaucoma or cataracts in their behavior. If they suffer from glaucoma, they may not want to play or interact with you anymore. They also may seem more lethargic and have lost their appetite. If your pet has developed cataracts, they may have become more hesitant to climb and jump, which is particularly noteworthy if they did these things frequently before. They may show signs of glaucoma if they continually blink or squint their eyes. They may also develop a habit of bumping into things or not recognizing people as they normally should. With cataracts, they may have difficulty with their eyesight in dimly lit areas, have trouble finding food and water dishes, or even mistake inanimate objects for living things. Indicators of glaucoma include cloudy corneas, pupils that are different sizes or do not respond to light, swollen eyes, or red blood vessels in the white of your pet’s eyes. On the other hand, if you suspect your pet has a cataract, look for cloudy pupils or changes in their eye color or pupil size. If their eyes are watery, it may also indicate an issue, so you should take your pet to the vet for help.

You might notice dilated pupils, or the whites of your pet's eyes becoming reddened, or that they start rubbing at their eyes or squinting. Glaucoma in dogs is painful and can unfortunately lead to vision loss. It can be caused by other eye problems, like cataracts, or occur on its own. Dog cataracts are like cataracts in people; the lens goes cloudy due to changes in its material. They're very common in dogs with diabetes, but any dog can get them. Nuclear sclerosis, which looks like cataracts, is also very common in dogs, but doesn't cause the same vision problems and is just the result of normal ageing. You'll see painful, red and irritated eyes, usually in a pet with a history of eye problems. As part of a regular check-over of your dog, take a look at their eyes and contact your vet if you notice anything amiss, including redness, soreness, or increased 'eye bogies'.

Watch out for any of the following symptoms of glaucoma in your pet: Behavioral changes such as no longer wanting to play or interact, Increased sleeping or general lethargy, Cloudy cornea, Continual blinking or squinting of the eye, Pupil does not respond to light, Pupils are a different size in each eye, Redness of the blood vessels in the whites of eyes, Signs of vision loss, such as bumping into furniture or not recognizing familiar people, Swollen or bulging eye. Watch out for any of these symptoms of cataracts in your pet: Changes in eye color or changes in pupil size or shape, Cloudy pupils in one or both eyes, Clumsiness, Difficulty seeing in dimly lit areas, Reluctance to climb or jump, Rubbing or scratching of the eyes, Signs of vision loss, such as bumping into furniture or not recognizing familiar people, Squinting, Unsure footing, misjudging distances, or an unusual, high-stepping walk, Watery eyes. It is often hard to tell if animals are losing vision in one eye, because they compensate so well with the other eye. Toss a toy or a treat, and watch carefully to see how your pet responds. You can also take them into unfamiliar environments in both the light and dark and monitor how well they navigate. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms of glaucoma, contact your veterinarian immediately. If your pet shows any signs of cataracts, contact your veterinarian immediately.