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Thursday, March 15, 2001

GLAUCOMA IN PETS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE VETERINARY ATTENTION

MANHATTAN -- Glaucoma in animals, especially dogs, requires immediate emergency treatment to prevent blindness.

Kansas State University veterinarian Dr. Harriet Davidson, associate professor of clinical sciences, said glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure in the eye that results from abnormal fluid not being removed. It can cause acute blindness in as little as 24 hours or may take weeks to months depending on the pressure sustained.

Primary glaucoma can be hereditary: it develops by itself and tends to affect both eyes. Secondary glaucoma is caused by an abnormality in the drainage of the fluid in the eye. Cocker spaniels and basset hounds are especially predisposed to glaucoma.

While glaucoma is not easily detected, pet owners should look for increased redness of the outer eye lining and be concerned if the cornea, usually clear in color, turns white or hazy. Although dogs seems to be extremely tolerant of glaucoma, they may tip their heads to help release pressure from the aggravated side, keep their eyelids closed or pull away when owners try to touch them. Davidson said pet owners should also look for lack of appetite and signs of depression.

If pet owners think they notice signs of glaucoma, Davidson urges them to take their animals to the veterinarian immediately.

"Ask the vet to measure the intraocular pressure," Davidson said. "They have to be very specific because without the test it can be easily misdiagnosed."

Costs to treat glaucoma vary from $300 to $1,000 depending on the type and severity of glaucoma and the size of the animal. Options for treating glaucoma include surgery, therapy, medications or a combination of the available treatments.

"If dogs develop glaucoma and owners don't detect it, dogs can lose vision right away," Davidson said. "It's better to err in thinking the animal might have glaucoma than not testing for it at all."

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For more information contact Harriet Davidson at 785-532-5690 or by e-mail at davidson@vet.ksu.edu