Glaucoma in Dogs

Category: Eye
Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Breeds documented: 15
Published sources: 11

Overview

Fluid constantly moves through the eye, but poor drainage can allow pressure to build. This increased pressure can damage the nerve that carries visual information to the brain and may cause blindness. Glaucoma can be inherited or develop after another eye problem, such as inflammation, injury, or a displaced lens. Some cases develop gradually, while others cause sudden pain and loss of sight that need immediate veterinary attention.

Signs to watch for

A red eye
Squinting or holding an eye partly closed
A cloudy or hazy eye surface
An eye that looks enlarged or bulging
Loss of vision

Inherited glaucoma often becomes apparent at 3 years or older.

Emergency Go to a vet immediately if your dog develops a painful, red eye.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets confirm glaucoma by measuring pressure inside the eye with an instrument called a tonometer. Both eyes are checked because readings and the health of the other eye help guide care. A detailed eye examination looks for an underlying cause, and a specialist may examine the drainage angle to help classify the glaucoma.

Breeds with documented risk

15 breeds

By breed size

1 Toy
7 Small
5 Medium
2 Large

All 15 breeds, A to Z

Cavapoo Source petmd.com
Chug Source petmd.com

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Flat-coated Retriever

Petite Mini Goldendoodle Source petmd.com

Standard Cockapoo Source petmd.com
Standard Goldendoodle Source petmd.com
Standard Labradoodle Source petmd.com
Swedish Elkhound (jämthund) Source skk.se

Toy Cockapoo Source petmd.com

Yakutian Laika Source jakutianlaika.fi

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
American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Dandie Dinmont 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
Multifactorial
Basset Hound
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 PubMed: Ahram 2014
Autosomal recessive
Beagle, Norwegian Elkhound
As stated by OMIA
Autosomal recessive
Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Basset Hound, Chinese Shar-Pei
As stated by OMIA

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.