The Eyes Have It in Knoxville
As your pet begins to age, his or her eyesight may be negatively affected. The key to protecting those aging eyes is yearly or even bi-yearly comprehensive exams at a veterinary hospital that features pet eye care.
At Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, we believe that your pet’s eye health is an essential component to graceful aging. Maintaining eyesight, for many pets, will add quality to their daily lives as they continue to age.
Signs your Knoxville pet may be losing his or her eyesight
- Misjudges heights or bumps into objects
- Confusion when placed in new surroundings
- Sticks to one spot
- Easily startled
- Cloudy, discolored, inflamed, or tearing eyes
If your aging pet experiences any of these symptoms, it is important for you to make an appointment to see one of our veterinarians. He or she can perform various tests to determine exactly what is going on.
What to Expect at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital
Every wellness exam we give your pet includes an examination of his or her eyes. During these exams, evaluations as well as various tests are performed, looking for the more common threats to your pet’s eyesight.
Glaucoma
An instrument known as a TonoVet allows us to check the intra-ocular pressure of your pet’s eyes. If glaucoma is diagnosed, successful treatment is primarily determined by early detection. Provided your pet responds to the prescribed medication, he or she can still live a normal life. If not, blindness and pain may occur, and removal of the eye may be necessary.
Corneal Ulcers
Ulcers of your pet’s cornea can occur for a host of reasons. Everything from an injury to an underlying disease may be the cause. An examination to determine if an ulcer exists is the first step. A fluorescein stain test, cultures, and blood tests may be used to rule out either a bacterial or viral infection. Once an ulcer is diagnosed and its cause determined, treatment can be prescribed.
Lenticular Sclerosis/Cataracts
Often confused for being the same, lenticular sclerosis and cataracts are completely different ailments that affect pet eye health. The former is a visible cloudiness that occurs within the lens of the eye, typically between the ages of 6 and 8 years. While site may be reduced, vision is not significantly affected until late in life.
Cataracts, on the other hand, are an opacity that typically forms within the lens, greatly reducing site and having the potential to lead to blindness. If it is determined your pet has cataracts, we would refer you to a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist for surgical evaluation. There, both cataract removal and lens implant surgery are available.
For more information about pet eye care at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, or to make an appointment for your pet, we invite you to contact us.