{"id":2830,"date":"2014-01-18T00:58:32","date_gmt":"2014-01-18T00:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.net\/blog\/?p=2830"},"modified":"2014-01-18T00:58:32","modified_gmt":"2014-01-18T00:58:32","slug":"glaucoma-a-rapid-painful-condition-for-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.org\/blog\/2014\/01\/glaucoma-a-rapid-painful-condition-for-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"Glaucoma: A rapid, painful condition for pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Glaucoma, a condition in which the fluid within in the eye doesn’t drain properly, leads to painful pressure within the eye and can cause blindness within hours without treatment, according to veterinary ophthalmologists Paul Scherlie and Susan Kirschner. Symptoms in pets usually include signs of eye pain, such as rubbing the eye or exposure of the usually hidden third eyelid. Treatment varies and may not always be able to save the dog’s vision.<\/em> The Oregonian (Portland)<\/a><\/p>\n

One night in November of 2012, Silverton residents Shelly Brown and longtime partner Jim Sears noticed their German shorthaired pointer, Greta, acting strangely.<\/p>\n

Greta was accustomed to staying in her kennel at night, but on this particular evening she kept scratching repeatedly to get out, which was very unlike her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was acting really disoriented and confused, like she didn\u2019t know where she was,\u201d Brown says.<\/p>\n

Then Brown noticed that a membrane in the inner corner of Greta\u2019s eye, known as the \u201cthird eyelid,\u201d was extended over her eyeball.<\/p>\n

Brown and Sears took Greta to Dr. Paul Scherlie, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists<\/a> in Clackamas, who treated Greta for glaucoma.<\/p>\n

What is glaucoma? <\/b><\/p>\n

Fluid inside the eye, called the aqueous humor, typically flows through the pupil and drains through a sieve-like network located where the cornea and iris meet. In a healthy eye, the fluid is produced and drains at the same rate, creating a stable pressure.<\/p>\n

Glaucoma occurs when the fluid cannot drain properly, causing pressure to build up and damaging the sensitive optic nerve.<\/p>\n

In humans, glaucoma is a slow, progressive condition that can be caught with regular screenings. January happens to be National Glaucoma Awareness Month<\/a>, established by a group of eye health organizations to promote more awareness of the disease.<\/p>\n

For canines, the condition can come on suddenly and cause blindness within hours.<\/p>\n

The rapid pressure change is extremely painful, resembling an intense sinus pressure or throbbing pain, says Dr. Susan Kirschner, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist at Animal Eye Doctor<\/a> in Beaverton.<\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t many ways to screen for or prevent the disease in dogs.<\/p>\n

Some are more genetically prone to the condition, including American cocker spaniels, Basset hounds, Chow Chows and Siberian huskies. Locally, Scherlie has also seen it in Labradors.<\/p>\n

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals<\/a> offers a database of animals certified to be free of any signs of ophthalmic disease that might be genetic.<\/p>\n

Secondary glaucoma can be caused by disease or trauma, such as cancer in the eye or inflammation due to uveitis or cataracts.<\/p>\n

Cats typically get this kind of glaucoma, usually a result of uveitis.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of glaucoma<\/b><\/p>\n

The most common sign that something is wrong with your dog\u2019s eye is what\u2019s called an elevated third eyelid.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt almost looks like the eye is rolling up and out,\u201d Kirschner says. \u201cIt\u2019s not; it\u2019s an optical illusion, but it\u2019s almost always a sign of pain in the eye.\u201d<\/p>\n

The dog\u2019s third eyelid, also known as the nictitating membrane, is a thin piece of tissue that acts as \u201cwindshield wiper\u201d across the cornea. It\u2019s usually not visible, but when the eye is irritated from glaucoma or a corneal ulcer, it may become elevated and cover the eye.<\/p>\n

This is likely what Brown saw when she noticed something was wrong with Greta.<\/p>\n

Dogs may also squint or paw at their eye, or the eyeball may become enlarged and bulge forward.<\/p>\n

Treatment<\/b><\/p>\n

If Fido gets glaucoma in one eye, it\u2019s only a matter of time before it develops in the other eye.<\/p>\n

There is an eye drop that can help delay onset in the healthy eye for up to two years, but your pet will develop glaucoma eventually.<\/p>\n

There are lots of treatment options, although Scherlie\u2019s preferred method is simply to remove the eye and stitch the skin shut.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe benefit to that is immediate pain relief, the stitches are out in seven to 10 days, and there\u2019s no eye to have any future problems,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

For older dogs like Greta, who aren\u2019t good candidates for surgery, there\u2019s the option of injecting an antibiotic into the eye. This procedure kills off the cells producing excess fluid.<\/p>\n

Another technique is removing the eye and putting in a silicone implant to keep the eye\u2019s shape, but the dog can still contract other diseases that affect the surface of the eye.<\/p>\n

Helping pets adjust<\/b><\/p>\n

Dogs that have lost most or all of their vision adjust pretty quickly, but there are some adjustments you can make at home that can help.<\/p>\n

Stairs, decks and swimming pools pose the biggest threats for dogs that have recently lost their vision.<\/p>\n

One thing you can do is put duct tape at the edge of a ledge, such as the bottom stair.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be helpful to have some kind of sensory clue to let them know they reached the edge,\u201d Kirschner says, \u201cso when the dog touches that, it knows there\u2019s a transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hillsboro resident Heather Blackwell\u2019s Chihuahua, Teddy Bear, had his left eye removed at the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter<\/a> because of glaucoma.<\/p>\n

Teddy Bear lost an eye to glaucoma, but he doesn’t let that stop him.Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter<\/div>\n

Blackwell has done a few things to help him adjust, such as leaving a nightlight on to make sure he doesn\u2019t tumble down the stairs at night.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very athletic, but his depth perception is not so great,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

When he approaches the sliding glass door to go outside, Blackwell puts a sticker on the glass when it\u2019s closed so he doesn\u2019t run into it.<\/p>\n

Like many blind dogs, Teddy Bear doesn\u2019t seem to notice that he\u2019s missing an eye.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s very friendly – Blackwell says he \u201cdoesn\u2019t know a stranger\u201d – and since people are often curious about him, he\u2019s become sort of an advocate for blind dogs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just a little clown,\u201d Blackwell says. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t know anything is wrong with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tips Box: How to help a blind pet adjust<\/b><\/p>\n