Insurance and Dogs Eyes
Pet Health Insurance and Veterinary Eye Concerns for Pet Dogs
Owners who are considering purchasing pet insurance for their dogs should make sure that the eye health of their dogs is covered by the insurance policy. This is because many insurance companies will not insure the eyes of a dog whose breed is habitually diagnosed with chronic eye problems. In some cases insurance companies might also require that the owners have genetic screening done on the dogs before they can be insured.
Common Eye Problems in Dogs
Glaucoma is a common eye condition that begins with very subtle symptoms such as dilated pupils that don’t respond well to light and eyes that appears to be red, poor vision, and corneas are often cloudy. One California-based veterinarian claims that because the initial symptoms of Glaucoma can be very subtle, many California pet owners do not realize their dogs have the condition. If Glaucoma is not treated promptly, the increased pressure in the eyeball can lead to blindness. In severe cases of untreated Glaucoma veterinarians have been forced to remove the pet’s eye altogether!
Any dog who has the developed an irritation in their eye that causes them to squint and to produce extra tears is called a “squinting dog”. Most cases of squinting are caused by minor irritations such as an in-turned eyelash or a minor scratch to the cornea. However, in some cases, squinting has led to the early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and Blastomyosis.
Dermoidis is a benign corneal neoplasam. It is sometimes referred to as the third eyelid. Hair growing from the Dermoidis can irritate the dog’s eye which can cause discharge and occasionally cause an ulcer to appear on the eye.
Once you have seen a person or animal with cataracts you will always be able to diagnose them. The official definition of a cataract is opacity of the lens. When you look into an eye that has a cataract it looks as if a darkly tinted contact lens has been placed over the lens. If the cataracts become too thick the pet will go blind.
Shar Peis, Cocker Spaniels, Labradors and Rottweilers are susceptible to an eye condition called Entropion. Entropio occurs when an eyelid folds inward toward the eye and causes the eyelashes to brush against the cornea. The irritation of the eyelashes rubbing the cornea generally gives the eye a squinty, drippy appearance. Bulldogs, Poodles and Cocker Spaniels are often diagnosed with a condition called Cherry eye.
Dry eyes is the term used to describe the eyes of a dog that isn’t producing enough tears. Lhasa Apso, Pugs and Shih Tzus are breeds that are particularly susceptible to dry eyes.
Dog owners should bring their dogs to the veterinarian as soon as they notice any of the following conditions: squinting, pawing at the eye, cloudiness, bloody eyes, a blind eye (this can happen very abruptly), constantly dilated pupils and swollen eyelids. Dog owners need to understand that early diagnosis is often the key to preventing further eye issues.
