Cataracts in dogs and cats

Cataracts in dogs and cats

Clinical signs of cataracts in dogs and cats

Congenital cataracts result from congenital underdevelopment of the pins and its capsule. It is often associated with heredity. Acquired cataracts are often caused by anterior uveitis, uveitis, glaucoma, corneal perforation, rupture of the anterior capsule of the pinna, prolonged X-ray irradiation, diabetes mellitus, naphthalene, thallium toxicity, and long-term use of corticosteroids. Elderly pets are also susceptible to cataract due to crystalline degeneration.

Clinical symptoms vary. In the incipient and immature stages, mild lesions occur in the body of the pinna and its capsule, with focal clouding or gradual spreading, the crystalline cortex swells by absorbing water, and certain crystalline cortices still have transparent zones, with funduscopic reflexes, and vision is unaffected or only partially affected, which is difficult to detect clinically. It is difficult to be detected clinically. It needs to be detected by examining glasses or flashlight. In the mature stage, no clear area is visible because the lens is completely cloudy and all the cortex is swollen. The fundus reflex disappears, and clinically, the pupils of one or both eyes are found to be grayish-white (albinism), with reduced visual acuity, shallow anterior chamber, and no fundus can be seen when examined by examiner’s ophthalmoscope, which is accompanied by anterior pigmentary laminitis. Pet activity decreases, walking is unsteady, and objects collide even in familiar environments. This period is suitable for cataract surgery. In the overripe stage, the lens fluid disappears, the crystal shrinks, the capsule wrinkles, the cortex liquefies and decomposes, and the crystal nucleus sinks. Blindness of the affected eye, deepening of the anterior chamber, wrinkling of the anterior capsule of the crystalline lens can be secondary to glaucoma. Severe cases result in rupture of the suspensory ligament and incomplete or total dislocation of the lens.

Dr. Oxygen Pet recommends

1, congenital cataracts try to do the surgery when the affected dogs and cats are in better physical condition to avoid more serious stress reactions in dogs and cats, if they are very old affected dogs and cats, it is recommended to consider whether to do the surgery or not according to the actual physical condition of the dogs and cats.

2, after surgery, you can use londoqing eye drops, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, to relieve the swelling and cloudy symptoms caused by cataracts in dogs and cats, give 2 times a day, 3-5 drops each time, for 3-5 days.

3, Complex vitamin B solution for eye nutrition, can promote mucous membrane repair, brighten eyes and enhance eye immunity. Use 2 times daily for 1-2 weeks.

4, timely treatment of dogs and cats with diabetes, glaucoma and other diseases, if the cataracts caused by drugs, stop the drugs in a timely manner, change the drugs to treat their own diseases.

Cataract Treatment Options for Dogs and Cats

1. Elective surgical treatment, commonly used cataract extracapsular extraction, crystalloid emulsification and cataract incision and aspiration.

2、Extracapsular cataract extraction is the most common surgery for treating cataracts in pets.

3. 1% atropine sulfate (to dilate the pupil and prevent iris adhesion), 1~2 times a day, eye spotting.

4. Intravitreal stop (to avoid total clouding of the crystal), 3 to 4 times a day, eye spotting.

5. Cortisone acetate penicillin solution (each milliliter contains 10 mg of cortisone and 1,000 units of penicillin), 3 to 4 times a day, eye spotting.

6. ophthalmic solution of penicillin, 20 times a day or more, topical eye drops.

7. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment for the eye 2 to 3 times daily.