Detached retina in dogs can occur when the retina, or the part of the eye that perceives light, becomes detached from the back of the eye. Detached retina can cause blindness in dogs, if not treated right away. Read on to learn more about this potentially debilitating eye condition.
Types and Causes of Detached Retina in Dogs
There are three types of retinal detachment that can affect dogs. They are:
- Traction detachment, which usually occurs due to some sort of trauma that forcefully detaches the retina from the back of the eye. Inflammation and injury to the head can cause this type of retinal detachment.
- Serous detachment, in which fluids, such as blood, accumulate beneath the retina and force it away from the back of the eye.
- Rhegmatogenous detachment, in which the retina becomes perforated, and these perforations lead to detachment. Rhegmatogenous detachment often occurs after surgery or injury to the eye or head.
Bleeding in the eye is a common cause of detached retina in dogs. High blood pressure, anemia, hyperviscosity (excessive thickness of the blood), thrombocytopenia, or eye trauma can all cause detached retina in dogs.
Other causes of detached retina in dogs include:
- Viral, bacterial or fungal infections
- Heredity
- Tumors in the eye
- Immune-related conditions
Symptoms of Canine Retinal Detachment
If your dog suffers a detached retina, the pupil of the affected eye will no longer dilate, even when exposed to bright light. That's because your dog's detached retina can no longer sense light as it should.
Diagnosing and Treating Retinal Detachment in Dogs
Your vet will be able to diagnose detached retina by examining your dog's eye visually with an opthalmoscope. The opthalmoscope will enable your vet to see the detached retina floating in your dog's eye. Ultrasound can provide your vet with a more detailed image, which is usually quite useful in treating detached retina in dogs.
Treatment for detached retina in dogs often varies, depending on the cause of your dog's retinal detachment. If fluid has accumulated behind your dog's retina, forcing it away from the back of the eye, then your vet might be able to prescribe medication that can dissolve the fluid build-up and allow your dog's retina to return to its normal position. If your dog's retinal detachment is due to an underlying condition such as infection or high blood pressure, your vet will prescribe medications to help treat or manage these conditions.
In some cases, your vet may need to perform surgery to return your dog's detached retina to its original position. Re-attaching the retina can usually restore vision to the affected eye. Laser therapy is often considered the treatment of choice for re-attaching detached retinas in dogs. Depending on the severity and nature of your dog's condition, he may require a period of hospitalization.
Not all types of retinal detachment in dogs can be successfully treated. If your dog has a degenerative eye disease that affects the retina, then treatment may be impossible. Treatment for hereditary causes of retinal detachment is usually not possible.