Diabetes And Blindness In Dogs
The changes in the eye caused by high blood sugar levels can be reduced once the diabetes is controlled factors such as obesity diet and other conditions can increase the risk of diabetes and cataracts so it s important to get these factors under control.
Diabetes and blindness in dogs. Diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes is the type of diabetes seen most often in dogs. In fact 75 of dogs develop cataracts and blindness in both eyes within 9 months of being diagnosed with diabetes. Cataracts is the biggest obstacle facing dogs with diabetes.
Insulin deficient diabetes and insulin resistant diabetes. When we first met duffy he was blind from his diabetic cataracts and cowered in the corner of the exam room. Sometimes the first sign of diabetes noticed by the owner may be that their dog either has become blind due to the formation of cataracts in the eyes or has vomiting anorexia lethargy and weakness due to ketoacidosis.
It is a metabolism disorder. Cataracts leading to blindness enlarged liver. Diabetic dogs are more prone to other health issues and also have a 70 chance of going blind.
Diabetic dogs can live healthy lives. With 75 percent of all dogs developing cataracts within a year of becoming diabetic it s something dog owners must be prepared to face. Weight loss dogs with diabetes may also suffer from severe weight loss weakness anorexia and blindness.
Glaucoma occurs when the normal pressure in the eye increases if this pressure stays too high for an extended period of time it can cause. In duffy s case the cataracts developed rapidly as a result of his diabetes. The cataracts develop very quickly sometimes overnight.
There are two types of canine diabetes. 75 of diabetic dogs will develop cataracts within 2 years of their diabetes diagnosis. Blindness may result as a symptom of a different disorder such as diabetes or it could be from injury and sometimes it is due to a hereditary disease you did not know your dog had.
Inside part of the eye called the lens cloudiness can occur to create a cataract these white opacities are common in older dogs but can also develop due to diabetes some dogs may also be born with them or develop them as juveniles. Unfortunately a common complication of diabetes in dogs is cataracts cloudy lenses. While a handful of dogs never develop cataracts.
