Their eyes look cloudy and blurry
More than 80 percent of dogs with diabetes mellitus develop cataracts. How will you know if your dog has cataracts? When they develop this disease, you will notice an opacity in the lens of their eyes and a blurry vision. In some cases, cataracts lead to blindness, but if monitored, it won’t affect your dog’s vision too much.
Nonetheless, you should be aware that a dog’s lens will become cloudy or gray with age, and in this case, you should go to the vet for an examination. So, dogs that suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts.
“When there is a large amount of glucose, a large amount of sorbitol is produced. Sorbitol has a strong pull on water, so water enters the lens and causes distortion of the fibers, blocking light from passing through,” said Dr. Romine.
“High blood sugar levels alter the metabolism of the cells in the lens and can cause very rapid onset cataracts,” said Dr. Matthew Fife, owner of the Veterinary Ophthalmology Center in Orlando, Florida.
Cataracts need to be removed surgically, but you have to talk to your vet to find out if it is right for your dog.
“Because we can see things pop back up after surgery, this option requires a lifelong commitment from the owner,” said Dr. Gwen Sila, a veterinary ophthalmologist for BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Michigan.
