Cataracts (canine)
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Canine cataracts are a prevalent cause of visual loss in dogs, frequently resulting in blindness. Cataracts typically occur when proteins break down in the lens of a dog's eye and clump together, obstructing the passage of light.[1][2] There are several reasons cataracts may occur in dogs, such as heredity, trauma, aging, diabetes, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy.
Cataracts can be genetic, existing in breeds who are predisposed to developing them. Canine diabetes is another common cause of canine cataracts, due to the increased concentration of glucose in the lens, which swells the lens. A third prevalent cause of canine cataracts is developmental, in which certain embryological conditions, like toxins or infections, cause cataracts present at birth.[3] Two different mutations in the HSF4 gene cause hereditary cataracts amongst some breeds.[4]
