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Human patients can easily express the problems they are having with their eyes and vision. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for your dog or cat, so it is up to you to watch for symptoms that they might have a problem. Here are several signs that your pet might have glaucoma or cataracts.

Changes in Behavior

You can find some indicators that your pet has glaucoma or cataracts in their behavior. If they suffer from glaucoma, they may not want to play or interact with you anymore. They also may seem more lethargic and have lost their appetite. If your pet has developed cataracts, they may have become more hesitant to climb and jump, which is particularly noteworthy if they did these things frequently before.

Changes in Vision

Other signs your pet might have glaucoma or cataracts are noticeable changes in their vision. For example, they may show signs of glaucoma if they continually blink or squint their eyes. They may also develop a habit of bumping into things or not recognizing people as they normally should.

Some of these symptoms carry over into cataracts, which also can cause pets to not see very well. With cataracts, they may have difficulty with their eyesight in dimly lit areas, have trouble finding food and water dishes, or even mistake inanimate objects for living things. If your pet shows any of these symptoms, immediately take them to their veterinarian.

Changes in Eye Appearance

You also can tell if your pet might have glaucoma or cataracts from the physical changes in their eyes’ appearance. Indicators of glaucoma include cloudy corneas, pupils that are different sizes or do not respond to light, swollen eyes, or red blood vessels in the white of your pet’s eyes.

On the other hand, if you suspect your pet has a cataract, look for cloudy pupils or changes in their eye color or pupil size. If their eyes are watery, it may also indicate an issue, so you should take your pet to the vet for help.

By watching for these symptoms, you can help improve the vision of your family’s furry members. If you’re a veterinarian and help pets with their vision, at Automated Ophthalmics, we have the ophthalmology supplies that you need. Browse our website or contact us for more information.