What causes cataracts in dogs

Cataracts can be caused by a number of different things from disease to obesity, there isn’t a way to completely prevent your animal from developing one and it is hard to predict if they will or not. However, there are some causes that do have a large impact on getting a cataract and the severity of it.

Unfortunately some dogs are unable to escape getting a cataracts because it is in their genes. Hereditary influences have a large impact on a dogs chances of developing cataracts so if possible when first getting a dog check their family history. If there is a history of cataracts then you can perhaps prevent to some degree by using pre-emptory eyedrops.

Intense heat or long-term exposure to the sun's UV rays is another cause of cataracts that you can control in order to help your pet. Make sure that if you animal outside for a long period of time it has sufficient shade to rest in and you can use eye drops to help keep your animals eyes healthy and protected.

A very common cause of cataract is diabetes as the two are very strongly linked. If your dog develops diabetes then be aware they also have a high chance of developing cataracts and it can be harder to manage if the diabetes is not being controlled.

Obesity and high blood pressure come hand in hand and are both big causes of cataracts. It is easy to avoid this problem escalating into a bigger problem by providing your pet with a healthy diet and ensuring they get lots of exercise. A healthy dog has very low chances of being obese or having high blood pressure which in turn dramatically reduces the risk of cataracts.

Any eye injuries or traumas that occur also run the risk of causing a cataracts. When the injury happens it may cause damage to the eye lens which leads to inflammation in the eye. The inflammation can build up pressure and in turn cause a cataract to develop. The best way to avoid this is to use drops to prevent a cataract and if any trauma does occur then have it treated straight away along with aftercare.

As you can see there are many different ways to develop a cataract but there are also many different ways to prevent them. Now its up to us to help our beloved pups!