Deciding to adopt or own a dog is a big responsibility. As pet carers and owners we always want to make sure that our dogs are not suffering from an active problem but they are also less likely to develop problems in the future, if this can be avoided. Glaucoma is a very common eye condition in dogs and we will move our focus on which breeds might be more prone to develop this condition.
What is glaucoma in dogs?
Glaucoma, is the medical term used to describe a condition which leads to increased pressure inside the eye. The normal pressure inside the eye, to establish if a dog is suffering from glaucoma, is estimated using a machine called a tonometer.
Tonometry, similar to the “air puff” technique they use for estimation of pressure in humans, is the most common test we perform at a clinic basis to test if a dog is suffering from glaucoma and if your dog’s eyes are affected. The normal pressure range is 10-25mm Hg with readings over the range of 25mm Hg raising concerns and necessitating medical or surgical procedures or prescription drops.
Is glaucoma in dogs hereditary?
In certain breeds, glaucoma can be a hereditary condition. Glaucoma occurs due to impaired drainage of fluid out of the eye via the drainage angle of the eye, a sheave-looking structure inside the eye.
This part of the eye is called the iridocorneal angle, a structure with multiple (hundreds) little strands which allow flow of fluid between them. One of the tests we perform to assessment the possibility or likelihood of a dog to develop glaucoma, is called gonioscopy and it allows ophthalmologists to assess and review the drainage angle and these multiple fine structures, in order to predict if a dog could be suffering from hereditary glaucoma.
Testing the parents of a dog is good practice as appropriate breeding advice can reduce the incidence of glaucoma developing in the offspring.
The difference between primary and secondary glaucoma
Although the end stage result and damage to the eye is the same, the reason and aetiology leading to glaucoma in dogs can be very different. The differentiation is very important as certain conditions are more amenable to treatment compared to others and the long-term prognosis can change significantly.
Primary glaucoma is a condition that develops due to a hereditary predisposition that a dog has been born with. The structure called the iridocorneal angle and its strands is affected and partially or completely blocks outflow of fluid from the eye. Secondary glaucoma on the other hand is a condition that develops consequential to a completely different condition, such as trauma, inflammation or certain types of growths and can be both avoided and be more amenable to treatment in some cases, compared to primary glaucoma.
9 dog breeds at higher risk of hereditary glaucoma
Breeds of dogs known to be in higher risk of developing glaucoma are:
- Great Danes
- Basset Hounds
- Siberian Huskies
- Golden Retrievers
- Spaniel breeds (American Cocker, Cocker and Springer spaniels)
- Flat Coated retrievers
- Leonbergers
- Japanese Shiba Inu
- Dandie Dinmont
Can Hereditary Glaucoma Be Prevented?
Not all dogs who have a hereditary predisposition to develop glaucoma will develop glaucoma. It is important to monitor these cases who are predisposed to develop glaucoma for early signs of glaucoma or early changes in the pressure so that medical or surgical procedures can be instigated when necessary. Complete prevention is not possible.
When to see a veterinary ophthalmologist
If your dog’s parents or littermates have been diagnosed with glaucoma, if one of the eyes has already been diagnosed with glaucoma or with suspicion of glaucoma or if your dog belongs to one of the breeds that are predisposed to develop glaucoma and you would like to consider some of the tests to screen for the possibility of developing glaucoma, it would be advisable to organise an appointment with a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Request an appointment and get in touch with one of our specialised ophthalmologists.
Also, feel free to explore our prices. Your pet’s health is in good hands!