Aging dog’s cataract might be caused by heart issue
QOur beloved old teacup poodle is 15. She has led a healthy life other than some dental issues, hypothyroidism, which we medicate for, and a knee problem a few years ago. In the past three weeks, one of her cloudy eyes suddenly became much more opaque and white than the other, and it looks like the white area is bulging toward us. Our vet informed us that she now has a full cataract in that eye. He showed us a simple test with eye reflexes, and the cataract eye seems to be blind since she did not blink when he moved his hand toward it. He also picked up a heart murmur that he called quite prominent. Could the problems be related, and should we be concerned?
ACataracts are an old-age problem in dogs but can also affect young dogs. There are various causes, such as metabolic and trauma, and they can also be inherited.
A common cause of cataracts is diabetes, and you would know because your dog would have been drinking and urinating more and your veterinarian would have likely diagnosed it and started your dog on insulin and a special diet.
When cataracts develop, they can slip out of where the lens usually sits and float forward. Increased ocular pressure can develop, known as glaucoma. Cataracts can be surgically repaired, but your old dog may not be a good candidate.
The test your veterinarian ran is called a menace response. When one moves a hand toward the eye it causes a blink. A lack of a blink response suggests no vision. The heart murmur may have developed due to a weakening of the heart valves with age and can lead to high blood pressure, which may have led to the cataract. A cardiology referral sounds appropriate, and my guess is that your dog will need to start taking various medications, including those to lower blood pressure. The more quickly this all gets addressed, the better off your dog will be.
As to what you are facing, you are looking at an old dog with fairly typical problems that hopefully can be successfully addressed to allow you more time with her. Good luck.