Symptoms of Glaucoma in Dogs

There are several key symptoms that may appear when a dog is suffering from glaucoma.

Dilated Pupil

This symptoms typically appears early in the progression of glaucoma in dogs. Since only one eye is typically affected in the condition of glaucoma, this symptom may be spotted by comparing the size of the pupils in each of your dog's eyes.

A dog suffering from glaucoma will still have their pupil react to bright light, though the reaction is noticably delayed. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from glaucoma, try shining a small pen-light into your dog's eyes. If one eye responds to the light slower than the other, there is a good chance that your dog may be suffering from glaucoma.

Cloudy Appearance of the Cornea

In many dogs with glaucoma, the cornea of the affected eye will have a noticably cloudy appearance. In a healthy eye, the cornea of a dog's eye is completely clear. Glaucoma causes the cornea to become opaque, which may also distort your dog's vision. A cloudy cornea is also a key symptom in several other medical contidions involving a dog's eyes, and is not unique to glaucoma. Any changes in appearance of your dog's eyes are always cause for concern, and should be reason enough to seek veterinary attention.

Increase in the size of Optic Blood Vessels

This symptom usually only appears after a dog's eye has experienced significant damage due to glaucoma. The small blood vessels in the white part of your dog's eye (which is also called the sclera) may increase in number, and appear noticably larger in size. If your dog has this symptom, the glaucoma may have progressed too far to be treatable by a veterinarian.

Rubbing, Scratching of the Face

If a dog is suffering from glaucoma, they will most likely be in considerable pain. Since dogs are unable to properly communicate the fact that they are in pain to their owners, they may engage in odd behavior. One of the most common, and most frequently ignored symptom of glaucoma in dogs is rubbing or scratching of the facial area. Most dog owners associate this with normal canine behavior, so it may initially be hard to recognize as a discernable symptom of glaucoma.

To help lessen the pain, a dog will try to paw their eyes, rub their face against the carpet, or begin rubbing their head against furniture. All of these are attempts by your dog to get rid of the pain associated with glaucoma.