By Conneaut Lake Veterinary Hospital

If your pet’s eyes are red, bulging or have ocular discharge it might not just be spring allergies, it might be a more serious ocular disease.

Glaucoma is a painful, progressive ocular disease common to humans and pets. Glaucoma is the increase in intraocular pressure, affecting one or both eyes. The most common sign of glaucoma seen in pets is a red eye, or conjunctivitis. The eye may appear to bulge, especially if viewed from above the pet’s head, and there may be a thick ocular discharge from the affected eye.

Glaucoma is more common in dogs than in cats. Some canine breeds are more prone to the disease than others, but mixed breeds may also experience glaucoma. Poodles, Cocker spaniels, Greyhounds, Italian greyhound, Boston terriers, Pugs, Beagles and Bassett hounds are just a few of the more commonly seen breeds being treated. Early detection for predisposed breeds is crucial for successful management. A dog or cat may squint its eye or paw at its face in response to the uncomfortable sensation. They may also shy away from a hand approaching their head to be touched due to the discomfort. As is true in humans, glaucoma is more common in older patients than in younger pets.

The diagnosis of glaucoma maybe made by a combination of clinical signs found during an ocular examination and the measurement of the intraocular pressure. An instrument called a Tonopen is used to measure the intraocular pressure. This handheld instrument measures the pressure in the eye in a few minutes, and the procedure is a painless. Optic anesthesia is applied to the eye in the form of drops and then the instrument is used several times on each eye. Intraocular pressures exceeding 25 mmHg are considered suspicious of the disease and additional diagnostics may be recommended.

The pressure can be increased for several reasons, all resulting in too much fluid in the eye. The normal “drainage” system of the eye may not be in working order, therefore the fluid gets “dammed up” in the eye. An increase in fluid production can cause too much fluid in the eye. Lastly, an abnormal lens in the eye may act as an obstruction to the normal flow of fluid in and out of the eye, causing increased intraocular pressure.

Medication can be used to decrease the pressure in the eye. Oral as well as ophthalmic ointment and drops are used to decrease the pressure. If left untreated, the increased pressure can do permanent damage to the other structures the eye, such as the optic nerve and cornea. Blindness may result. Since the disease is progressive, surgical intervention may be

recommended if the eyes fail to respond to the medications.

Contact your veterinarian to schedule a physical examination for your pet and discuss your pet’s risk for glaucoma. They may recommend routine screenings for early detection.

Contact Conneaut Lake Veterinary Hospital, Inc., 14405 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, Pa 16335; (814) 382-5446; clvet@zoominternet.net.