Cataracts are white and opaque and represent a change in the ability of light to penetrate to the retina. Cataracts cause diminished vision. Cataracts and lenticular sclerosis are two of the most common eye problems seen in dogs over the age of nine.
What does it mean when a dog's eye is cloudy? Cloudy eyes can be a symptom of different eye conditions, including glaucoma, nuclear sclerosis, dry eye, or corneal dystrophy. If you notice your dog's eye becoming opaque, it's best to seek medical attention as soon as possible to find out the cause.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca – more commonly known as dry eye is where your puppy's tear drops have stopped working. Your puppy may hold their eye shut or squint a lot, and their eye may have a layer of mucus, giving it a cloudy appearance.
When puppies first open their eyes, they will have a bluey-grey appearance and are cloudy compared to an adult dog's eyes. In addition to this, their ability to control how much light gets into their eyes does not fully develop until 4 weeks of age (known as the pupillary light reflex)2.
Beagles, Basset Hounds, Boston Terriers, American Cocker Spaniels, Shar-peis, Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles are just some of the breeds that are at higher-than-average risk for glaucoma. Corneal ulcers, scratches, and other wounds can also make a dog's eyes cloudy.
As dogs age, some cloudiness is normal. “Most dogs, with age, develop a haze within the lens similar to cataracts, called nuclear sclerosis,” says veterinary ophthalmologist Martin Coster, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO).
The proper treatment for cloudy eyes in dogs depends on the cause of the cloudiness: There is no treatment available for lenticular sclerosis, nor is treatment necessary. Cataracts can only be treated with surgery. Glaucoma is treated with topical eye medications to lower intraocular pressure.
Around 3 or 4 weeks in age, puppies' final eye color slowly starts to become visible. The most common eye color on dogs is deep brown, so you might notice the chocolatey tones making their way through around this time.
They should be clear and bright and the white area around the eye should be white. The pupils should be the same size; and healthy eyes would be free of tearing, discharge or crust in the corners.
The eyes will gradually open wider, revealing grayish-blue eyes with a hazy appearance. Puppies' eyes will continue to develop over the next several weeks, reaching full vision around eight weeks of age. Puppies' ears begin to open around the time that the eyes do, generally around 12 to 14 days old.
Treating Cloudy Eyes in Dogs
Dry eye is typically treated with eye drops or ointments to moisten the eyes. Corneal ulcers are often treated with topical medications that fight infection and reduce pain and inflammation.
In dim light they can dilate their pupils and they also possess a reflective layer - the tapetum - which helps dogs see at dusk and dawn. Your dog's vision is not perfect and, in fact, they may not be able to focus on objects in great detail, seeing the world as slightly blurry.
Take your dog with cloudy eyes to the vet
If you notice your dog has cloudy eyes, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. Doing so can help avoid permanent damage and vision loss.
The Bottom Line On Dog Eye Infections
The fact is that if your pooch is experiencing any eye sensitivity, irritation, or pain it's time to head to your vet. Only your veterinarian will be able to conduct a thorough eye exam to determine the cause of your pup's symptoms.
Nuclear sclerosis (also known as lenticular sclerosis) is a normal aging change of the lens within the eye. It causes a dogs eyes to have a hazy, blue, cloudy appearance to them. It occurs as the lens fibers in the eye harden, compress and become more visible due to age.
To do the test, simply place your hand 18 inches from your dog's face. Then, quickly move your hand towards your dog until it's about three inches away from his face. If your dog can see, he should blink his eyes or turn his head in response. Otherwise, it's likely that something is wrong with his sight.
Anytime your dog's eye does not look like it normally does, they could have an eye problem. Discharge from the eyes, red eyes, squinting, and cloudiness of the eyes are common signs of many eye problems, and they should be assessed by a veterinarian.
What does a healthy eye look like? Healthy eyes in dogs should be clean, bright, and clear of any dirt or debris. You shouldn't see discharge or redness around the eye and the white part should be white, not red or yellow. Looking after your dog's eyes should form part of their regular grooming routine.
This black and tan Aussie pup is 6 weeks old. His eyes are beginning to change from the dark grayish blue of early puppyhood to his adult color of medium brown. From the beginning the grayish blue shade was fairly dark compared to the light shade of a dog who will have blue eyes.
The 16 Weeks Rule.
Even if most dogs are not fully grown at 14-16 weeks old, they usually have grown into their adult proportions.
Dogs change color slightly as they get older.
During the transition from puppy fur to adult fur, lots of dogs will get a little lighter or a little darker. Others change more dramatically. How much they change depends on their breed and genetics.
Cataracts can develop very slowly or almost overnight. You probably won't notice any change in your dog during the early stages, but once the cataracts are mature (completely blocking light transmission to the retina), she will be blind.
Signs that your dog is losing his eyesight can be quite obvious. He might bump into walls or furniture or have trouble locating his food or toys. He might stop making eye contact with you. The signs can also be subtler, such as being reluctant to jump on or off the couch, a new level of anxiety, or becoming clingy.