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Glaucoma in Pets Requires Immediate Veterinary
Attention
Manhattan -- Glaucoma in animals, especially dogs, requires immediate emergency treatment
to prevent blindness.
Kansas State University veterinarian Dr.
Harriet Davidson, associate professor of clinical sciences, said glaucoma is caused by
an increase in intraocular pressure in the eye that results from abnormal fluid not being
removed. It can cause acute blindness in as little as 24 hours or may take
weeks to months depending on the pressure sustained.
Primary glaucoma can be hereditary: it develops by itself and tends to affect both eyes.
Secondary glaucoma is caused by an abnormality in the drainage of the fluid in the eye.
Cocker spaniels and basset hounds are especially predisposed to glaucoma.
While glaucoma is not easily detected, pet owners should look for increased redness of the
outer eye lining and be concerned if the cornea, usually clear in color, turns white or
hazy. Although dogs seems to be extremely tolerant of glaucoma, they may tip their heads
to help release pressure from the aggravated side, keep their eyelids closed or pull away
when owners try to touch them. Davidson said pet owners should also look for lack of
appetite and signs of depression.
If pet owners think they notice signs of glaucoma, Davidson urges them to take their
animals to the veterinarian immediately.
"Ask the vet to measure the intraocular pressure," Davidson said. "They
have to be very specific because without the test it can be easily misdiagnosed."
Costs to treat glaucoma vary from $300 to $1,000 depending on the type and severity of
glaucoma and the size of the animal. Options for treating glaucoma include surgery,
therapy, medications or a combination of the available treatments.
"If dogs develop glaucoma and owners don't detect it, dogs can lose vision right
away," Davidson said. "It's better to err in thinking the animal might have
glaucoma than not testing for it at all."
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