6 Coyote-Looking Dogs

 If your dog appears to be getting foggy eyes, you should be concerned. Canine cataracts come to mind immediately; they are often progressive conditions that can result in complete blindness. Thankfully, clouding over doesn't necessarily indicate a problem.

If the blue haze appears on the lens of your senior dog's eyes, it's likely nuclear sclerosis, a far less dangerous age-related ailment. Here's what you should know about the distinctions between cataracts and nuclear sclerosis in dogs, as well as why it's crucial to have your pet examined by a veterinarian if you notice changes in their eyes or eyesight.

What is Nuclear Sclerosis in Dogs?

To aid with focal length adjustment and the creation of sharp pictures, the lens of a dog's eye bends and refracts outside light before sending it onto the retina. Although cloudiness of the lens is the common distinguishing sign of both nuclear sclerosis and cataracts, the two most frequent eye disorders in dogs are not the same.

Dr. Annie Oh, DVM, MS, DACVO, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She says that the hardening of the nuclear component of the eye lens is what causes the cloudiness associated with nuclear sclerosis, also called lenticular sclerosis. However, unlike cataracts, this lens modification does not cause a noticeable obstruction of light. 

Sight is only slightly (if at all) affected by nuclear sclerosis. On the other hand, cataracts impede vision and can eventually cause it to completely disappear, along with accompanying consequences including inflammation or glaucoma (a condition in which the eye's inadequate fluid outflow causes an accumulation of harmful pressure).

What Causes Nuclear Sclerosis in Dogs?

Age alone is the cause of nuclear sclerosis. According to Dr. Oh, "It is a consistent finding in dogs older than 7 years of age." She says that throughout their lives, dogs naturally create lens fiber cells, which accumulate on the outer layer of the lens of their eyes. This causes compression of the older lens fiber layers in the center of the eye, which scatters light and gives the appearance of haziness.

On the other hand, cataracts may affect dogs of any age and have a variety of reasons, according to Dr. Oh. According to her, dogs may have cataracts from birth, and they may also develop juvenile cataracts, which affect dogs between the ages of one and five. Hereditary and diabetic conditions are the most prevalent causes of cataracts. According to Dr. Oh, trauma and other illnesses can also cause the syndrome, but aging is likely the third most prevalent reason.

Dog cataracts can cover all or part of the lens (rather than simply the center), and they are caused by changes in the protein composition and spatial structure of the lens. It depends on how much and how fast they impair a dog's vision, and they are frequently progressive.

Symptoms of Nuclear Sclerosis in Dogs

Fortunately, other than the cloudiness of the eyes, which may intensify with time, dogs seldom experience further symptoms following the onset of this illness. 

According to Dr. Oh, "Nuclear sclerosis typically does not cause any visual deficits." She has occasionally observed dogs with extremely thick, compressed lens fibers having some visual impairments, but these are usually related to the ability to perceive depth and fine details. "My dog no longer easily sees or captures treats," is the most frequent complaint she has received, according to her.

Nuclear sclerosis seldom has an impact on your dog's quality of life because they are unlikely to experience difficulties walking or traversing the house. 

Diagnosis of Nuclear Sclerosis in Dogs

By using direct light or the naked eye, it is nearly hard to determine if the haziness is related to nuclear sclerosis or more significant cataracts. Retroillumination is a tool that veterinarians must employ to distinguish between the two, according to Dr. Oh. She explains that the tapetum lucidum, a bright structure in the rear of the eye, is present in dogs. Through a process called retro illumination, light can reflect off that structure and illuminate the lens.

In a dimly lit room, the veterinarian will carefully move the instrument side to side while holding it at arm's length from your dog's eye. Before starting the test, they could also use eye drops to enlarge the pupil. According to Dr. Oh, "You don't have a cataract if nothing is obstructing the light that's reflecting off the tapetum lucidum." 

She says that certain congenital defects in dogs can result in cloudiness, peculiar color, or structures in the lens. These are uncommon, though, and nuclear sclerosis or cataracts are more frequently linked to discoloration.

Treatment of Nuclear Sclerosis in Dogs

Even if it is conceivable, according to Dr. Oh, veterinarians do not operate to remove nuclear sclerosis-related cloudiness, even when it is quite dense. Like any surgical treatment, cataract surgery has some risks. When your dog's quality of life is poor or nonexistent due to nuclear sclerosis, she suggests against having surgery performed on them. 

Nonetheless, a conclusive diagnosis is crucial since cataracts may be treated surgically, and disorders like 

diabetes or glaucoma may need to be treated in addition to cataracts.

Prognosis of Nuclear Sclerosis in Dogs

A dog with nuclear sclerosis may experience increasing cloudiness in their eyes. This could cause greater problems with depth perception and visual acuity, but thankfully, unlike cataracts, it won't cause severe vision impairment or total blindness. 

However, you should always have this checked out by your veterinarian if you detect that the cloudiness is getting worse or if your dog appears to be experiencing more visual issues. The increased cloudiness may be related to the development of cataracts, and early diagnosis can improve long-term results.