Dog Glaucoma Medication

Dog glaucoma is a severe medical condition that can lead to blindness if not treated in a timely manner. Glaucoma is a condition that causes intraocular pressure and may damage the retina and the optic nerve. The condition may be caused by wounds, but may also be genetic. Certain dog breeds are more exposed to this disease. The condition may be treated through surgery or medication. The dog glaucoma medication is an effective measure to manage the condition, but ideally, surgery must be performed to solve the problem.

Causes of Glaucoma

The causes of glaucoma are not completely known; the condition may be hereditary, as certain breeds are more prone to developing this condition.

However, glaucoma may also be caused by wounds that cause inflammation and increase the intraocular pressure. Other causes may include eye bleeding, displacement of the lens or eye scarring.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Glaucoma may affect one or both eyes. When glaucoma occurs, the dog will have swollen eye balls and the blood vessels visible in the eye balls will also be larger.

You should also notice that the pupils will be more dilated. If only one eye is affected, one pupil will be more dilated than the other.

The cornea will be no longer transparent. There may be a cloudy area in the cornea, which will get larger and larger.

Your dog may not experience these symptoms, but he will feel pain, due to the intraocular pressure. Your dog may be rubbing or pawing the eye area.

Frequent blinking and squinting are also symptoms of glaucoma.

Glaucoma Treatment

The glaucoma may be easily diagnosed by a veterinary ophthalmologist

The treatment should be administered within a few days of the occurrence of the condition; otherwise the dog will go blind. Even if treatment is administered, the dog may lose his eye sight.

The treatment will focus on reducing the pressure in the eye and reduce the pain.

There are medications that can be used and surgery is recommended if possible. The medication can only control the intraocular pressure and the pain, but will not heal the condition.

The surgery bears a few risks, but it may prevent blindness and cure the condition.

Dog Glaucoma Medication

The medications for glaucoma may be recommended for short term management of the condition and administered until surgery can be possible.

The medications may be administered orally, topically or as injections and will lower the intraocular pressure. Common medications used include mannitol and glycerin (hyperosmotics).

The vet may also recommend a few medications to reduce the amount of intraocular fluid; these medications may include methazolamide, acetazolamide or other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Anti inflamatorries (steroidal or non steroidal) can also be given to reduce the inflammation and reduce the pain. The vet may prescribe prednisone, prednisolone, aspirin, ibuprofen or carprofen.

Topical products such as timolol, betaxolol, carbachol or latanoprost may be used to reduce the fluid production in the eye.

Ideally, a surgery must be preformed to eliminate the glaucoma. The vet may monitor the pet and see how he reacts to the medication and perform the surgery when the eyes are operable.

 

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