Vision Problems
Many pet owners do not realize their pets have a vision problem until it is well advanced. Most pets have their home environment memorized, so vision loss can be hard to detect. Some signs of eye issues are squinting and keeping eyes closed. Other indicators of eye pain include tears in the eyes, reluctance to eat hard foods, avoiding to fully open the mouth, pawing at the eye, rubbing the face, and avoiding being petted. Eye pain may make your pet sensitive to light, and he may try to avoid bright light. This is often found with serious eye diseases.
It is not easy to tell if your pet is experiencing eye pain and sometimes all you may notice are behavioral changes. Some animals withdraw when they are experiencing eye pain. Behavioral changes such as sleeping more, hiding, decreased appetite, reduced playfulness and an aggressive disposition are often associated with eye discomfort.
There are many vision problems that plague pets including cataracts and glaucoma.
A pet’s eye problem can be caused by genetics, disease, injury or anatomy. In order to diagnose a vision problem, a veterinarian may:
- stain the eyeball,
- check the pressure of the eyeball,
- magnify the cornea, iris, lens and interior of the eye,
- or check the retina and cells at the back of the eyeball.
Sometimes pet’s injure the outer layer of the eyeball, the cornea. Dust, scratches or ulceration can occur on this delicate tissue. In cats, eye injuries are often caused by viruses, including feline herpes. Most of theseeye problems can be solved with medication if they are detected early. If the injury or disease is not treated early, a corneal transplant or graft may be necessary.
Animals often suffer from the same eye diseases as humans, including glaucoma and cataracts. Dogs experienceglaucoma more than cats. There is no cure for this disease, but treatment involves lessening the pressure in the eye, to delay blindness. Cataracts, a condition clouding the lens of the eye, can occur in both dogs and cats. Cataracts can be treated with surgery.
Sometimes eyelids can become infected. These may require surgery.Occasionally, diseased eyes need to be removed.
Eye problems in pets can cause great discomfort and can seriously impact the quality of a pet’s life.
Contact us with any questions you have about Eye Problems and to make an appointment.