Can dogs get cataracts?
Bambi is 4-year-old, 2 lb. Chihuahua. One eye has
clouded. She also has problems seeing at night.
Do dogs get cataracts? If so what can be done?
How invasive is this with such small dog? If left
untreated could she go blind?
Edith
Gladewater TX
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts are common in dogs, and they have a number of causes. Most cases of cataracts are hereditary, but diabetes is another well-known cause.
Cataracts lead to vision loss but not pain in the early stages. Many pets with cataracts can have their vision restored through surgery. The surgery is not especially invasive, but it must be performed by a specialist in veterinary ophthalmology. Dogs of all sizes generally tolerate the surgery well. In fact, small dogs have higher rates of cataracts than large dogs, and therefore the surgery is performed most often on small dogs.
Without surgery, cataracts sometimes (but not always) lead to serious consequences for the affected eye. They can cause the lens to rupture and leak, which causes severe inflammation in the eye. When this happens it is sometimes necessary to remove the entire eye.
I recommend that you have a veterinarian assess your dog. He or she will be able to determine whether cataracts are present (there are other causes of cloudy eyes), and determine whether further testing or treatment is advisable. Your vet also may want to run blood and urine tests to make sure that diabetes isn’t contributing to the problem.
You have questions. 
I would get her into the vet ASAP, Chihuahuas have eyes that can easily be damaged, by a scratch or whatever. I know I have 4 Chihuahuas and watching their eyes is a must. Chihuahuas can live a very long time so her being 4 is not old at all. I would see what the vet says right away. Best wishes
My Border Collie/Lab mix had cataract surgery in both eyes about 8 months ago. Her cataracts were hereditary. She was only 3 &1/2 years old at the time of the surgery. We visit the eye doctor regularly to have her eye pressure checked and watch for glocoma. She has recovered and is back to agility!
My 5 year old Chihuahua developed a cataract in one eye. I take her to a veterinary ophthalmologist about every three to four months. He prescribed an anti inflammatory eye drop which she gets at least two times daily. The inflammation to her iris has markedly decreased as the cataract continues to leak into her eye ball fluid. She still has decent vision (continues her agility and mischief) and eventually, when the cataract stabilizes and stops leaking (as I understand it), her vision will be okay, not perfect. We are treating her cataract conservatively, in part because her eyeballs are so tiny and that presents a surgical risk. I find that it will take more than a cataract to slow this dog down. But definitely try to find a veterinary ophthalmologist. Good luck
My mom recently adopted a 10 year old terrier mix from a shelter who is still in pretty good shape except he has cataracts on both eyes. When adopting him we asked about the long term prognosis and what to expect. The vet on site did a blood test for diabetes since we were concerned. It came out negative and we were told that he would be fine just not able to see real clear. We don’t know how long he has had them since he was a lost dog that ended up at the Humane Society and have no history. We took him to our family vet for a checkup and the doctor didn’t seem concerned about his eyes? Are you saying that it is enevitable that they will start leaking or rupture? Is this surgery typically very expensive - we live in Pennsylvania? I imagine the best thing to do is to take him to a specialist. Your input would be appreciated Thanks
Karen: It is not inevitable that the cataracts will leak into the eyes and cause problems. But it is possible. I definitely recommend that you have a specialist look at your mom’s dog. He or she will be able to give you details about the price of the surgery (if surgery is necessary), but it’s usually pretty costly ($1000 - $3000 per eye).
I have a 6 almost 7 year old Golden Retreiver, named Bronco, and he’s been having eye problems ever since he was a little puppy, when we first got him, and he does really seem Diabetic, so we’re worried about that too, except he only has the Cataract in one eye, the other one has white underneath his eyeball and i just saw it today, does this mean that the other eye is getting it too? or is it Just infected with something else? Also, Is surgery the only way to highly remove the cataract?