There are many eye conditions in dogs that can be a cause for concern for pet owners, and dogs are like anyone else in that their vision is an important part of their health. The ones that will require prompt treatment are cataracts, corneal ulcers, dog glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy. When a dog develops a degenerative eye condition, it is usually when they are between 7 and 8 years old. Dogs will often have a genetic predisposition to developing these eye conditions, and certain ones will be seen in certain breeds more often.

Feline Eye Conditions

Much of these same ones can be feline eye conditions too, although with cats you can also see them getting blepharitis (irritated eyelids) and uveitis (eye wall tissue inflammation) more often. Conjunctivitis is when there is an allergic reaction in the eye, and dogs and cats can have substance allergies in the same way we do. Also, in the same way, some breeds of cats will be more likely to have degenerative eye conditions, and an example of this is how Persian cats will develop Entropion more often. This is an abnormality where eyelashes rub against the cornea.

Different Eye Conditions

Cherry eye in dogs and cat keratitis in the eye are among the different eye conditions that we have touched on so far here. Many people will be aware that dogs have a third eyelid, and if it becomes prolapsed then that is what’s called cherry eye. It is rare to see it occur for a dog after two years of age though, and breeds like Bulldogs will get cherry eye more frequently than others. Keratitis is usually seen in cats older than age four and is more common for neutered male cats. Owners will start to see gray or white lesions forming over the eye.

Eye Conditions Symptoms

The types of symptoms you can expect to see if your dog or cat has an eye condition will depend on which one they have developed. Eye condition symptoms in pets that may indicate them can include redness, swelling, constant eye watering or discharge, squinting, or having the animal pawing at their eye. Symptoms that will require you to take immediate action and get them to see a veterinarian will be anything that indicates they might be losing their vision, including seeing the eyeball start to cloud over as will be the case with cataracts in dogs and cats.