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Addisons Disease
Allergies Anesthesia Cancer Digestive
Disorders Elbow
Dysplasia Eye
Problems Heart
Disease Hernia Hip
Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Kidney/Liver Laryngeal
Paralysis Missing
Teeth Osteochondrosis
Dissecans (OCD) Panosteitis Perianal
Fistulas Polyneuropathy Reproduction Temperament
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Cataracts
| What
is it? | Cataracts
are an opacity of the lens which may occur in a number of different locations
within the lens, can be of varying sizes, from a number of causes (hereditary
and not), and may occur early or late in life. Some can have devastating results
and cause blindness; others may have minimal or no effect on vision. |
| Symptoms: | Include
a haziness within the pupil of the eye. The dog may be reluctant to go places
he normally would not have hesitated going, the dog easily startles or is having
obvious difficulty seeing in that he is reluctant to move, especially in dim lighting,
or outright walks into things. | | Diagnosis: | Cataracts
are diagnosed by eye examination. If cataracts are seen, an exam by a certified
ophthalmologist may be necessary to distinguish between the different types. Dogs
that fail to get a CERF number because of a cataract diagnosis should not be bred. |
| Treatment: | Varies
depending on the degree of vision impairment. Dogs can compensate for impaired
vision extremely well, so treatment may not be necessary, especially in cases
with late onset, progressing cataracts, or cataracts affecting only one eye. Otherwise,
the removal of the lens can provide improved vision. | |
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