Cataracts in Dogs

Category: Eye
Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Breeds documented: 59
Published sources: 27

Overview

The normally clear lens can become cloudy, making it harder for light to reach the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This clouding, called a cataract, can reduce sight and sometimes lead to blindness. Cataracts may be inherited or develop because of diabetes, injury, or inflammation. Long-standing cataracts can also cause painful complications, including inflammation and increased pressure inside the eye.

Signs to watch for

Cloudiness visible inside the eye
Moving more cautiously than usual
Staying unusually close to you

Can develop in young or older dogs; age depends on the cause.

When to get help Arrange a vet visit promptly if you notice cloudy eyes or changes in vision.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet assesses the lens and the overall health of the eye before recommending treatment. Before surgery, ultrasound can check for retinal detachment, where the light-sensitive lining separates from the back of the eye. An electroretinogram checks whether that lining is working. DNA testing is available for the Australian Shepherd form of hereditary cataracts.

Breeds with documented risk

59 breeds

By breed size

5 Toy
18 Small
24 Medium
11 Large
1 Giant

All 59 breeds, A to Z

Canadian Eskimo Dog Source canadianeskimodogclub.com
Cavapoo Source petmd.com
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chug Source petmd.com

Gerberian Shepsky Source petmd.com
German Longhaired Pointer Source deutsch-langhaar-gruppe-osnabrueck.de
Goberian
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen Source ecvo.eu

Japanese Chin

Karelian Bear Dog

Norrbottenspets Source skk.se
Norwegian Buhund Source pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Russian Hound Source ajokoirajarjesto.fi

Texas Heeler
Toy Cockapoo Source petmd.com

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Yorkiepoo Source petmd.com

Inheritance

This condition has more than one known form, and different breeds inherit it in different ways. The sources list the form found in each breed.

Autosomal recessive
Boston Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
A dog is affected only if it inherits two copies of the gene variant, one from each parent. A dog with one copy is a carrier: usually healthy, but able to pass the variant on. When two carriers are bred, on average one puppy in four is affected. A DNA test can tell clear, carrier and at-risk dogs apart.
As stated by OMIA
Autosomal dominant, incomplete penetrance
Australian Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Miniature American Shepherd
One copy can be enough, but not every dog with the variant develops the condition, and severity can vary. A DNA result shows risk, not certainty.
As stated by UC Davis VGL
Semi-dominant
Australian Shepherd
One copy of the variant has an effect, and two copies have a stronger one.
As stated by OMIA
Multifactorial
Australian Shepherd
Several genes and the environment together set the risk. Diet, growth rate, weight and exercise can all play a part. There is no single DNA test. Screening the parents (for example hip or elbow scores) and choosing from lines with good results lowers the risk, but does not remove it.
As stated by UC Davis VGL

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.