![]() EvaluationĪ dog owner will typically be asked to describe the pet’s medical history, symptoms, and if there were any pertinent events prior to the development of the red eye, such as injury or illness. There are many causes of a red eye, but all ocular diseases should always be considered an urgent matter, and be checked immediately by a veterinarian. The redness may be in the white of the eye, in the clear part of the eye called the cornea, or within the eyeball. Depending on the cause of blindness, there may be a chance for vision improvement with treatment.Dogs occasionally develop a red eye. If your dog experiences sudden blindness, it is important to seek veterinary help as soon as possible so that the underlying cause can be determined and treated. Sudden blindness in dogs can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration (SARDS), retinal detachment, cataracts, and glaucoma. Dogs with blindness and glaucoma for an extended period of time often have vision that is irreversible. If there is blindness and your dog has been diagnosed with acute glaucoma, there is the potential for the return of vision over a few weeks. If blindness occurs, you may also notice a dilated pupil that is not responsive to light. Surgical intervention may be required to treat glaucoma if medications are not effective in reducing eye pressure or controlling secondary effects of the disease process.Īs glaucoma is a painful ocular condition, dogs will often show signs of pain and discomfort such as reduced appetite, squinting, lethargy and ocular redness. Glaucoma is a very serious disease that requires immediate attention from your veterinarian as the treatment varies depending on the cause(s). Glaucoma can be caused by multiple factors including hereditary predisposition, age-related changes within the eye, injury to the eye (traumatic glaucoma), high eye pressure, and other diseases. This results in vision loss and gradual onset blindness over days or weeks. Glaucoma is an eye disease that leads to damage of the optic nerve. This procedure should be performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. The surgery has a very high success rate, up to 95%. Surgical removal of the cataract and instilling an artificial lens is the most recommended treatment, regardless of cause. Vision starts to become impaired as the cataract first develops and the eye may be functionally blind as the cataract advances. This is a common adverse effect of diabetes in dogs and does not affect cats the same way. The second leading cause of cataract formation in dogs is due to diabetes mellitus. Most causes of cataracts in young, middle-aged purebred dogs are inherited as there is a genetic mutation present. CataractsĪ cataract is an opacification of the crystalline lens within the eye. The treatment for each retinal detachment is determined entirely by the underlying reason. To assist in diagnosis and treatment, if feasible, try to expedite a referral to an ophthalmologist. ![]() It is critical to seek expert treatment as soon after the injury as possible. Infectious diseases (fungal, viral, etc.).High blood pressure (systemic hypertension). ![]() While there are many potential causes of retinal detachment in pets, the following is a list of common causes of retinal detachment in dogs: Depending on the underlying cause and extent of retinal detachment, clinical signs of retinal detachment can vary. Retinal detachment causes vision loss, which can be complete or only partial. Retinal detachment refers to the separation of the retina from the back of the eye. Despite blindness, the prognosis is usually very good and system signs improve over a period of a few months. Multiple drug trials have been investigated but no clinically proven treatment exists for SARDs. Unfortunately, there is no treatment available for SARDs in dogs. Researchers are still trying to understand the potential link between Cushing's disease and sudden acquired retinal degeneration. Interestingly, these symptoms are very similar to that of Cushing's disease. Potential other concurrent clinical signs include lethargy, increased appetite, weight gain, and increased thirst and urination. Disorientation, knocking into things, and fear are all possible behavioural symptoms of sudden sight loss. The typical clinical symptom is rapid vision loss that has occurred over several days to weeks. Vision loss can develop over a period of days to weeks in both bright and dark light. The vast majority of dogs affected are small breed dogs. SARDs typically occurs in dogs over the age of seven and any breed can be at risk for SARDs. SARDs does not cause pain or discomfort to your pet but will affect their ability to see. Sudden acquired retinal degeneration (SARDS) is a sudden and irreversible loss of vision. Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration (SARDs)
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