Whitley, the Greene Memorial Professor of small animal surgery and medicine at AU's College of Veterinary Medicine, says pet owners should be aware of possible eye ailments that can affect both cats and dogs. Whitley and McLaughlin, an associate professor, say the most common eye ailments are corneal ulcers, cataracts and conjunctivitis. Although there are no realistic measures that can be taken to prevent these problems, they stress veterinary examinations for possible early diagnosis. A couple of days can make the difference between treating a problem successfully and losing an eye, so if a pet exhibits anything questionable in its eyes, the owner should consult a veterinarian immediately. Whitley says that cataracts occur when the normally clear lens tissue becomes opaque.
Cataracts usually begin as small dots or bubbles and progress to encompass other areas of the lens.
The rate of deterioration is difficult to predict. With cataracts, he says, pet owners have few treatment options. Cataracts can occur in any breed of dog or cat, but McLaughlin says dogs most often seen with cataracts are poodles, Boston terriers, cocker spaniels and the mixed breeds of those dogs. Corneal ulcers, another common problem in dogs and cats, are breaks in the outer layer or epithelium of the cornea. These are most often caused by debris in the eye or a fight with another animal.