I got this really good heads-up from Dakota a few days ago.
Just wanted to put an FYI out there. Took my dog to the vet for an eye infection. A week later turns out she has glaucoma.
Today, just came back from the ophthalmologist, good news her pressure went from 55 to 32. Still need to bring that down but we will. Turns out my 5 year old Bella is now blind in her right eye. I was told by the ophthalmologist that this common in Shiba Inu’s.
Once they get it in the one eye, Bella is predisposed to getting it in they other eye. We are doing preventative measures now. But GET YOUR SHIBA’S EYE PRESSURE TESTED. I haven’t stopped crying since I got home. My biggest fear, what do I do if she goes blind in the other eye?
Get your doggies tested!!!!!
** NOTE – I am not a vet so all the information in this article is based on my readings on the internet and chats with other dog owners.
What is Glaucoma?
As I understand it, Glaucoma is a condition of the eye where the optic nerve suffers damage as a result to increased fluid pressure inside the eye.
In particular, there is a fluid called aqueous humour between the cornea and the lens of the eye. This fluid is constantly produced and is normally drained out into the bloodstream through the drainage angle (Iridocorneal angle).
Problems occur when the drainage is obstructed, thereby cause a buildup of fluid and therefore pressure in the eye.
If left untreated, this could lead to permanent damage of the optic nerve and may even lead to blindness.
Dogs and Glaucoma – Should We Be Concerned?
In general, there are two types of dog glaucoma –
- Primary glaucoma is hereditary. Dog breeds specifically mentioned include –
Primary glaucoma occurs in many breeds of dogs, including the American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Chow Chow, Shar Pei, Jack Russell Terrier, Shih Tzu, and Arctic Circle breeds (including the Siberian Husky and Elkhound). Primary glaucoma is rare in cats.
~~[Animal Eye Care LLC]This is likely not a complete list. Dakota mentioned in her comment that Shiba Inus may also be susceptible. Since I have a Shiba and two Sibes, I am definitely concerned.
The key problem with primary glaucoma is that the symptoms are usually mild and may not be easily observable, even by a regular vet. By the time that it is detected, it could already be too late, and there could already be permanent damage to the optic nerve.
- Secondary Glaucoma usually occurs as a result of some other kind of eye disease such as inflammation in the eye (uveitis) or advanced cataracts. Since the dog is under vet care for the initial eye disease, this type of glaucoma is more easily detectable. Presumable we can also perform an eye pressure measurement test after our dog has recovered from the initial eye problem.
Detecting Glaucoma in Our Dogs
The first thing that I did after looking up dog glaucoma is to contact my Siberian Husky breeder. I asked her if she has experienced glaucoma before with her Sibes.
Since the less detectable type of glaucoma, (Primary Glaucoma) is hereditary, I wanted to check the family tree of my two Sibes. If their family tree is free of glaucoma, then they are probably less at risk of inheriting it.
My Sibe breeder tells me that none of her Huskies have gotten glaucoma before. Her mom’s Basenji had glaucoma, but that was a secondary effect from having cataracts when she was 14 years of age. My breeder also tells me that the Basenji had a lot of tearing (tears) before being diagnosed with glaucoma.
According to this very useful article on glaucoma in Samoyeds,
The early signs of glaucoma, which may not be recognized as such, may consist of mild conjunctival inflammation, which can mimic conjunctivitis; increased tearing and pain; and photophobia (sensitivity to light which results in some “squinting” of the eye).
My Shiba Inu’s breeder is not all that great and was uninterested in keeping contact with Sephy. I may get my vet to do an eye pressure test on him during his yearly exam.
Testing and Treatment for Glaucoma in Dogs
For the testing and treatment of dog glaucoma, it is best to consult with your vet or with a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Based on what I have read, there are two different glaucoma tests for dogs –
- Tonometry – This is the simpler test that measures intraocular pressure (IOP). Supposedly, more vets are equipped to do this and it can be performed with just a topical anesthetic.
- Gonioscopy – This is a more invasive test that is used when primary glaucoma is already present in one eye. This test examines the drainage angle of the remaining visual eye to see if it is also predisposed to glaucoma. It seems that this test is mostly performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
According to Animal Eyecare LLC, there are three classes of treatment for dog glaucoma –
- Glaucoma Eye Drops – These eye drops help to decrease fluid production and increase fluid drainage. Apparently, it is a short term solution and is not very effective at controlling glaucoma in the long term.
- Antioxidant Vision Supplements – These supplements can apparently help to reduce oxidative damage to the cells in the eye that are responsible for fluid drainage. It is also not a good long-term solution for dogs that already have glaucoma.
- Surgery – It is best to consult with an eye specialist for the list of possible surgical procedures.
Dogs with glaucoma or at risk of developing glaucoma should have leashes attached to harnesses and not neck collars, to prevent pressure on the jugular veins (which can in turn increase IOP and trigger a glaucoma attack).
~~[Animal Eye Care LLC]
If you have experienced glaucoma with your dogs, please share your stories with us. If you have more information on glaucoma, please let us know as well.
Many thanks to Dakota for bringing this important issue to our attention. Big hugs and best wishes to Bella.
** NOTE – I am not a vet so all the information in this article is based on my readings on the internet and chats with other dog owners.
Some Useful Sites and Resources
- Very informative article by Paula on eye-removal and what to expect.
- Dogster discussion on prosthetic eyes.
- Online forum on eye removal, care, and related issues.
- This site has some very good information on caring for a blind or visually impaired dog.
3 months ago I found a 12 week old bright blue eyed husky/lab puppy wandering in the woods in a remote location. It was a common place to dump puppies, so I took her home and named her Emma. She took to training like a star and never seemed sick.
Last week, I was preparing her outdoor kennel before work and noticed she was lethargic and vomiting. The night before she played hard like normal, so I wasn’t sure what was wrong. Then, I noticed her right eye was rolled to the side with a dilated pupil. She was barely moving and seemed confused. I rushed her to the animal hospital and she was diagnosed with uveitis and told to come back in 10 days after medication. By the next morning, Emma’s eye was clouded and she wouldn’t open it. Even closed, I noticed remarkable swelling so we went for a second opinion.
She ended up seeing a specialist who diagnosed her with glaucoma. Her pressure first spiked at over 60, when the normal range was 15-25. She received more meds, but by the fourth day she was officially blind in her right eye. She just endured enucleation (eye removal) and is healing beautifully. We’ve begun preventative treatment in her remaining eye as she has primary glaucoma and have started harness use.
If your dog is already blind from.glaucoma, I recommend enucleation. It is the only method to avoid future pressure spikes and ultimately make your dog feel better. Pressure spikes cause severe migraines and are very painful. We are at day four of post surgery and Emma seems like her happy normal self again.
I have a sibe who was doing fine (no tearing, infection, anything) he acted completely normal. I layed down and woke up at 2am to him whining and pacing back and forth. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong until I noticed he wouldn’t open his right eye.
We made an appointment at the vet at 9am he was givin eye drops, pain pills, and antibiotics (she even took pictures because she had no idea what was wrong, and we had no idea about glaucoma or pressure). After all the meds were done we noticed he was back to his regular self, the cloudiness went away, but his pupil was constantly dialated.
Finally after taking him to a vet that specializes in eyes and getting a referral to a ophthalmologist we discovered he had primary glaucoma (after doing research before seeing the ophthamologist we thought it was secondary- due to injury because he does shake his toys).
So far we have him on latanaprost in his bad (right) eye 1x a day and an eye drop that starts with a T (forgive me I forgot the name) in his good (left) eye 1x a day. His pressure was 46 and dropped to 41 before treatment then 1 month after treatment was down to 16. The highest his good eye has been is 16 and lowest of 15. We go back in 3 months to have it checked again but we notice a dramatic difference in his eye with the drops in (his pupil shrinks drastically), but we were told his lens has drifted out of place due to the pressure being so high for so long.
Were praying his other eye stays healthy and we can keep the pressure In his right eye down. He’s such a happy puppy and has adapted to seeing out of one eye so well.
(Sorry for spelling and punctuation issues, I’m on my phone)
Glad to hear that Taz is feeling much better after the eye-drops. Thanks for telling us your experiences and what to look out for. If you have the time, please let us know how things go in the next check-up.
Big hugs to Taz.
I have a 3 year old BC who is blind in one eye due to birth deformity. It’s been giving him some discomfort so we are considering getting it removed, however I’ve been told one risk is that during the operation, it could put pressure on the good eye and make him blind in his good eye. This has scared me. I cant find this risk on the internet and wondering if anyone has heard of it? I can only find general risks for surgery. Thank you
It may be best to visit with an animal eye specialist.
I have visited with two specialists for my dogs, one for teeth and one for bones. It was very helpful. Both specialists-
1. Accurately diagnosed the issue.
2. Gave us a list of possible treatment options and the risks involved.
3. Gave us information on the worst case scenario, likely outcomes, post-op care, and more.
Those were really difficult times, but it helped a lot to have all the options laid out clearly, by an expert in the field. I made sure to prepare a list of questions before the consultation, so that I wouldn’t forget anything.
My 14 year old Cocker Spaniel was diagnosed with glaucoma in his right eye yesterday. His left eye is unaffected. The IPO was at 57 in the right eye. He is on blood pressure medicine and allergy pills due to other issues. From research both these drugs can bring on glaucoma quickly. My primary vet sent me to an emergency eye vet yesterday. They started him on pain meds and eye drops. He has a follow up in 2 weeks. I am heartbroken, scared, and feel like I missed the signs. Both vets assure me this can happen quickly with no warning. I would do anything for this dog- we have been through so many medical issues including liver cancer three years ago. (He had a liver lobe removed and it was thankfully curative) I cant stand the thought of my boy losing his eye or going totally blind. My primary vet said the meds have gotten better and he can be made comfortable. I did not get the same feeling from the specialist. He said the disease was horrible. He can make the dog comfortable and we can try drugs but the surgery may be needed. I dont know what my questions are at this time. I cant seem to process the news. My boy acts like himself. He is getting around with no issues. The eye is very red and swollen and looks painful to me. I am praying the meds work.
Hello Pam,
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Try checking out this Yahoo Group. I think there are many people on the list who have gone through glaucoma with their dog.
Big hugs to your Spaniel. Shania also sends her love, support, and many Husky licks.
I have a 13-14 year old Poodle Shihtzu mix. He is 6.5 pounds and I have had him since he was 6 weeks. I cannot imagine losing him. I took him in Tuesday 4/16/13. They flushed out his eye and gave an Antibiotic ointment. I took him back this morning 4/20/13, The vet was holding back for a moment on telling me it was Glaucoma. I am so beside myself. I have been crying off and on all day, I was so hellbent on doing something else for him I almost spent the money I didn’t have to take him to the closet ER hospital. I read that it could be a year until his other eye is affected or days/weeks etc. I am not sure what to do, I am going to make an appt. on Monday for an animal hospital for a second opinion. He wasn’t acting like himself until yesterday/today. He is on stronger antibiotic ointment that has a steroid in it… WHAT is everyone else opinion? What can I do for my old man as surgery is NOT an option at his old ripen age. He is actually playing etc. so I am assuming he is feeling lots better, what if his other eye gets it? When do you make the choice. How do you know it’s the right one? I can’t imagine being without him.
I think this Yahoo Group has people who have gone through glaucoma and followup care with their dog. It may be a good resource.
The related website also has useful links and information.
This is a message board on dogs with glaucoma but it has not been active for a while, so I am not sure if it is still being actively maintained.
Big hugs to your brave furry companion. Let us know how things go with the animal hospital. If you find other support groups or related resources, please let us know as well.
yes, I’m with you… our shitzu whose 16 years old has glaucoma in both eyes.. and is very painful. we were told by the vet that her eyes have to to be removed. this was one week ago. we can’t bear the thought of putting her through this surgery at her age. the only other alternative is to put our baby to sleep… she is healthy otherwise.
we have made an appt. for this monday… feb. 1/16.. we are in agony about this decision.. still struggling whether we’re making the right decision or not…anyone else out there gone through this…. help….!
We have a 3½ year old Samoyed that lost her first eye to primary glaucoma in December and the second one not even 3 months later. Right now she has latanoprost, dorzolamide and maxidex twice a day but can’t seem to get the pressure under 40 in one eye. We can’t afford to remove and put prosthetics eyes. She pants a lot during the night and can’t sleep much, otherwise she gets around the house very well but is quite mopey (she used to spend her day looking out the livingroom bay window). Doesn’t play with our other dog anymore but still begs for food, lol. Is there anything else we can do? We really don’t want to put her down but don’t want her to live with migraine either.
I found this discussion on prosthetic eyes to be quite interesting –
http://www.dogster.com/forums/Dog_Health/thread/764008
This is a very good article on eye-removal and what to expect-
http://www.blinddogsupport.com/what-to-expect-when-your-dog-has-eye-removal-surgery-enucleation-surgery/
This site also has some good discussions on eye removal-
http://www.blinddog.info/msgbd/viewforum.php?f=9
I would consult with a vet or specialist to see if a prosthetic eye is truly necessary. Based on what I have read, the eye removal will help to relieve pain and is usually all that is necessary. This would cut down on costs significantly.
Hi, thanks for the links, i’ll check them out in a minute. Yes, just the removal of the eyes is an option but since both her eyes have to be removed, it seems very weird to have a dog with no eyes, kwim.
Yeah, I was afraid Shania would look weird as well after her leg amputation, but really, I got used to it very quickly. She is a very beautiful girl – both on the inside and the outside. 😀
Shania’s story
After reading the message boards, I see that many people say the same thing about eye removal surgery.
We have a small shi-poo13 years old. He developed glaucoma in 1 eye 1 1/2 years ago. Got it in other eye 6 mos ago. By the time we got him to specialist it was too late. We feel he may see shadows but runs into stationary things. He is our baby. I am constantly looking for something that may help him. I know I know the sight is probably gone. The last visit to specialist the pressure was 9. I am curious. We give him latanoprost 2times per day & 1 drop dorzolamide per day. What are most of u treating your dogs with? Debbie what kind of pill do you give your dog? Thanks for any info!
I have 5 huskies (4 were rescues). My youngest, Saba, was dianosed with uveitis and glaucoma when she was 1 1/2 yrs old (on Halloween 2011). We caught it early (as I noticed a slight bluish haze over her brown eye and was winking a lot (she has one blue & one brown eye); but even so, both eyes were effected in the beginning. Her blue eye’s pupil did not dialate and stayed in one position. Her ‘bad eye’ (brown one) never really got any better and we got lucky with her now ‘good eye’ (the blue eye). The pupil broke free and finally started dialating normally again after all the meds/eye drops. The doggie eye doc has been great and treated the disease aggressively in the beginning so we could try and save both eyes. At this point, nearly two years later, Saba is now on two diff tablets 2x/week to keep the uveitis under control. She gets 1 eye drop in the good eye 3x/week and 3 diff eye drops 2-3x/day in the bad eye. But unfortunately, after trying to keep her pressure in the bad eye under control these last two years, we are at the point where eye removal seems like the best/only option for her brown eye. I took it hard even though I know deep down that it would probably come to this. I feel I failed her. I know its for her best and it will eliminate the pain/headaches she has when her pressure spikes. So, at 3 yrs old, she’ll have one eye removed this month 🙁 But I know she will be okay…its me that is having a hard time, lol.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I also worried a lot about Shania when she had to go through leg surgery. Even today, I still wish we could have saved her leg.
Meanwhile, Shania is getting on with running, wrestling, and living life to the fullest. It is wonderful and amazing to see. I tell her that my job is to do the worrying for her, and her job is to be a happy Husky. 😀
Big hugs to Saba and the rest of your furry gang. Shania sends her love and lots of wet Husky licks.
Hi,
Our baby, Dexter who is 7 years old, pointer mix was diagnosed with glaucoma 4 days ago and we’re still trying to figure it all out. He was seen by an animal eye specialist and is currently on two eye drops and pills to reduce the pressure. He has lost vision completely in one eye and has some vision in his other eye. I’ve read that a lot of other dogs eventually had to have their eye removed? If we continue on the medication, will he have to have his eye(s) removed? At this point, we are hoping for the best.. Thanks
Hi All, my Shiba, Chloe was diagnosed with glaucoma 11/20/12 and on 11/28/12 she was operated on, evisceration and intraocular prosthesis on now blind left eye, endolaser on right eye that had very high pressure but ocular nerve looked fantastic. It was all so fast and very traumatic for all of us!. She has recovered so well and is like her old self again!! She will eventually be blind the optomologist tells us. We felt this was the best route for our dog and her quality of life. She has never been an offleash dog so that is no change for her when she looses her sight, so I comfort myself that we can keep her happy and comfortable for a long life as she is only five!! I just wonder how so many vets can see a Shiba with a “winky” eye and not tell you how commen glaucoma is!! FYI, her prosthetic eye looks great and is not scary at all as that was part of our decision with her surgery not to scare our grandkids who love her, she looks beautiful!! Good luck to you, we can’t say enough about, Animal Eye Clinic, Seattle, WA
Thank you for sharing Chloe’s story with us.
That is so good to hear. It helps to know what to expect after the surgery, and also in the long-term.
Love the positive and can-do attitude of your comment. Big hugs to Chloe.
Thank you for your story about Chloe. My dog Bijou, a Shih Tzu had eye removal and evisceration an intraocular prothesis on her left eye last August. But now glaucoma is rearing its ugly head on her right eye. We are faced w/the decision of endolaser surgery…What was your experience? I hear it is complicated and there are no guarantees? I have to make the decision this week and I am scared! Your feedback would be helpful. Thank you!