My Dog has Glaucoma In His Eye. What Should I Do?

What is Glaucoma in your dog

Glaucoma is when excessive pressure builds up in the eye (intraocular pressure. This then causes damage to  the optic nerve and can result in your dog losing their sight. It’s also very painful for the dog.

Prompt treatment can stop your dog going blind so it’s important that you seek veterinary help as soon as you notice there’s a problem.

The condition will then be managed on an on-going basis with medication that keeps the pressure down. Alternatively your vet may suggest laser surgery. In some cases, sadly, the eye will need to be surgically removed.

If your dog is suffering from Glaucoma, these are the signs to be aware of:

• Eye appears cloudy, hazy, or ‘blue’
• The white of the eyeball is red
• Pupil seems continually dilated and doesn’t constrict even when a light is shone into it.
• Your dog is exhibiting signs of pain. The eyes may be squinting or watering. Perhaps your dog is tilting their head a lot or moving their head away if you go to touch it (headshy).
• Your dog suddenly goes blind

It can be very dispiriting, depressing, or frightening for a dog to lose their sight. Muffin’s Halos give your dog extra information about where they are in space, and can transform a dog’s confidence.

How to help in the house

If your dog is experiencing sight loss, also think about other ways to make their life easier.

This could include organising your furniture so that they’re not going to bump into anything, or trip up on items, leaving sounds on if you go out - such as radio or TV, so that they don’t feel alone, ensure you keep to a consistent routine so that your dog knows what is going to happen when, and keep things like food and water bowls in exactly the same spot. 

You may also want to invest in a pair of Rex Specs for when your dog’s out walking. They protect your dog’s eyes from sticks or anything sharp going into their eye that, if they were able to see, they’d avoid.

These are all strategies to make your dog feel more comfortable, and adapt to living with blindness, in a way that minimises their stress and confusion.

Help your dog with a halo or goggles

Find a dog halo or goggles to help your dog https://zoomadog.co.uk/collections/dog-blindness-halos-and-goggles

Read more about dog blindness here

Read more about Blindness - Causes, Prevention and How to Help here https://zoomadog.co.uk/collections/dog-blindness