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Original poster

Is this what a cataract looks like in a dog?

23 replies

CormoranStrike · 07/03/2021 19:56

It’s not bothering him or disturbing him, but at times my dog’s eye - mainly the left and to a lesser degree the right - looks like it has a film over it, like a pale greenish white colour. It is particularly noticeable under artificial light.

I took this photo tonight without a flash to show it - the phone has made it look luminous green but it is much paler in real life.

If it gets worse and/or when normal vet services are open for non emergency appointments I will get him seen, but has anyone got any experience of this please?

Is this what a cataract looks like in a dog?
OP posts:
Original poster
CormoranStrike · 07/03/2021 19:57

I should have added that most of the time both eyes are normal dark brown, though maybe not as bright and clear as when younger. He is seven years old.

OP posts:
Corcory · 07/03/2021 20:02

Worth checking with your vet but our dog's eyes went slowly more and more cloudy until he was almost blind. We had the cataracts removed which was a great success .

Original poster
CormoranStrike · 07/03/2021 20:12

@Corcory

Worth checking with your vet but our dog's eyes went slowly more and more cloudy until he was almost blind. We had the cataracts removed which was a great success .
Thank you @Corcory
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Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 07/03/2021 20:38

Following with interest as just discovered same in my dog, except its white

LudoBear · 07/03/2021 20:49

Can you see it in real life or just on photo? I ask because we had a dog who's eye showed up like that in photos but we couldn't see anything in person. Sadly it was a brain tumour

underneaththeash · 07/03/2021 20:52

I'm an optometrist - I might be but I think it could be a uveitis due to the semi-circular appearance of the leukocoria in the lower part of the pupil - it may be a hypopyon. When your dog moves it's eye around is the white bit red at all?

Original poster
CormoranStrike · 07/03/2021 21:25

@LudoBear

Can you see it in real life or just on photo? I ask because we had a dog who's eye showed up like that in photos but we couldn't see anything in person. Sadly it was a brain tumour
I can see it in real life.
OP posts:
Original poster
CormoranStrike · 07/03/2021 21:25

@underneaththeash

I'm an optometrist - I might be but I think it could be a uveitis due to the semi-circular appearance of the leukocoria in the lower part of the pupil - it may be a hypopyon. When your dog moves it's eye around is the white bit red at all?
No, but his pupil is not perfectly smooth edged - I think it has always been like that though.
OP posts:
Original poster
CormoranStrike · 03/04/2021 08:28

I thought you may like an update.

We had him at the vet last week. He has mild cataracts beginning in both eyes, but changes behind the eye too - he is sadly showing signs of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).

He’s to be tested again in two months to see if there is further degeneration. If so, it will confirm what the vet suspects, and my poor boy will go blind.

I’m pretty heartbroken about this, as you might expect.

OP posts:
aintnocoffeebigenough · 03/04/2021 08:36

Oh OP I’m so sorry to you and your gorgeous boy Sad Sending all the love Flowers

aintnocoffeebigenough · 03/04/2021 08:37

Fingers crossed there isn’t a great deal of progression over the next two months and it could point to something else. How old is he?

sonjadog · 03/04/2021 08:40

My childhood dog had cataracts in both eyes. One eye was worse than the other. He lived a long and happy life. I am sorry to hear your dog is having this medical issue, but it doesn't mean that his quality or length of life will be reduced.

Original poster
CormoranStrike · 03/04/2021 08:54

He is seven - and a gorgeous, lovely boy, who loves chasing tennis balls so much.

I’ve been concerned about his eyes for a few months, just noticing them dull down. And now we can see his tapetum visible to the naked eye.

Here he is, before this problem appeared.

Is this what a cataract looks like in a dog?
OP posts:
sonjadog · 03/04/2021 10:50

He is beautiful!

StCharlotte · 03/04/2021 10:57

Our elderly Lab's eyes looked as if they were cloudy but he could still spot a biscuit at 100 paces.

When I was a child, we had a Corgi who was completely blind. She was absolutely fine unless my mum changed the furniture round (the cruel cow Grin).

Original poster
CormoranStrike · 03/04/2021 17:37

@sonjadog

He is beautiful!
Thank you, I agree Grin
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Happytentoes · 03/04/2021 18:00

Sorry you are going through this. He is gorgeous.
We have a friend whose dog has PRA and has poor sight now. She just uses her nose more and follows my 2 around. She has to be on lead more places than before but is a happy soul.

Brigante9 · 03/04/2021 19:40

Our elderly Lab's eyes looked as if they were cloudy but he could still spot a biscuit at 100 paces.

@StCharlotte that might have been nuclear sclerosis which makes an older dog’s eyes look like they have cataracts when they don’t, they go almost silver but it doesn’t impair the vision.

TonTonMacoute · 03/04/2021 19:47

No help at all re dog cataracts, but what an adorable sweetie! That little face ❤️

(And I'm a cat person!)

Hope you manage to get him sorted out soon OP

Original poster
CormoranStrike · 03/04/2021 22:02

Thank you

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 03/04/2021 22:29

Ddog is blind - diabetes took his sight very suddenly. He is still an absolute bundle of fun and Copes so well.

We don't let him off lead in new places but In our local park, with a ball, he's absolutely fine.

We've taught him commands like 'careful' 'up' 'down' for pavements.

It's not as bad as it seems at first!

Original poster
CormoranStrike · 03/04/2021 22:31

@idontlikealdi

Ddog is blind - diabetes took his sight very suddenly. He is still an absolute bundle of fun and Copes so well.

We don't let him off lead in new places but In our local park, with a ball, he's absolutely fine.

We've taught him commands like 'careful' 'up' 'down' for pavements.

It's not as bad as it seems at first!

This is really good to read
OP posts:
NeverDropYourMoonCup · 03/04/2021 22:41

My childhood familiar/little black cat developed cataracts in both eyes. They looked a bit misty and once they got to milky, my mother finally accepted that I hadn't imagined it.

Took her another two years to realise that I would double tap on the floor/chair to call her because the cat couldn't hear me, either.

The cat was perfectly happy with her life until her last day. And still jumping to the top of the wardrobe then launching herself through the air to land on the bed.

In your lovely dog's case, he'll be happy with unchanged furniture placement, lots of smells and talking.

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