Sometimes, we can detect a kind of haze in one or both of our dog's eyes. It is common for us to think that it is about cataracts, but the truth is that there are other eye disorders that can cause the appearance of that eye cloudiness in dogs. Not all of them are going to cause problems, as is the case with nuclear sclerosis, which we will talk about in this article on our site.
Next, we will explain what causes nuclear sclerosis in dogs, what symptoms it presents, what it consists of and how we should act.
Causes of nuclear sclerosis in dogs
Nuclear sclerosis in dogs is related to aging. Therefore, the cause that explains its appearance is age Thus, if our dog is older and we detect a kind of haze in one or both eyes, We can include nuclear sclerosis as one of the possible causes, although it is not the only one, so it is recommended to go to the veterinarian to confirm or rule it out. It is easy for nuclear sclerosis to be confused with cataracts in older dogs and since the treatment is different, it is very important to have an accurate diagnosis. On the other hand, if our dog is still young and his eyes appear cloudy, it will not be due to nuclear sclerosis.
Specifically, nuclear sclerosis consists of a normal and progressive degeneration of the lens that occurs as a result of the passage of time. What happens is that fibers are continuously formed in the peripheral zone of the lens, which press towards its center. These modifications are what are visualized as the mist that we will observe in the eye. The lens loses its transparency as a result of the compression that occurs and also hardens.
Difference between cataracts and nuclear sclerosis in dogs
As we said, it is common to confuse both problems because they have similar symptoms. However, nuclear sclerosis occurs as a degeneration of the lens due to age, while cataract is defined as the opacity of the lens and is caused by a tear in the tissueof the same. In sclerosis there is no rupture. Check out this other article to learn how to identify a cataract and don't hesitate to go to the vet if you suspect any of these problems: "Cataracts in dogs".
Symptoms of nuclear sclerosis in dogs
The only symptom of nuclear sclerosis in dogs is the detection of a bluish haze over the lens The lens separates the anterior segments and back of the eyeball. It is a transparent structure in the shape of a biconvex lens located behind the pupil and whose function is to focus objects at different distances thanks to the contraction of the ciliary muscles, although in dogs these are weak, so they do not stand out precisely for their good accommodation of the lens.
A dog with nuclear sclerosis will have, as a result of changes caused by age, a bluish haze in the lens. It is essential to know that this degeneration does not pose any problem for vision. The dog sees as usual because the change that occurs is not significant and has had time to gradually get used to it.
Therefore, in general, a haze without any other changes or symptoms in an older dog points the diagnosis towards nuclear sclerosis. On the contrary, if the haze is accompanied by a disoriented dog, tripping over objects or any other damage to the eye, it is more likely that he suffers from some pathology and not nuclear sclerosis. But it must be taken into account that an older dog can present alterations such as those mentioned for other reasons, apart from the ocular ones. For example, a dog with cognitive dysfunction syndrome that is disoriented and, in addition, with fog over its eyes, can make us think that it does not see well, when, in fact, they are independent disorders. The same thing happens in those specimens that suffer from osteoarthritis and, by moving less, they lead us to mistakenly interpret that the cause is a vision deficit. Hence the importance of going to the vet to obtain a correct diagnosis.
In fact, it is recommended that all dogs from approximately seven years of age go to the vet at least once a year for a general check-up. This would allow early detection of eye problems, among others. Finally, it must be taken into account that in some dogs nuclear sclerosis can be detected at a younger age, approximately around six years of age. These examples reiterate the need for the veterinarian to always confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
Treatment of nuclear sclerosis in dogs
There is no treatment for nuclear sclerosis It is a degeneration caused by age, therefore, it is irreversible. In any case, it is not necessary to treat either, since it is not a pathology, but an alteration that we can consider physiological and that, beyond the change in color of the eye, which has no repercussions other than aesthetics, does not affect the dog's quality of lifeIt doesn't hurt or bother him or hinder his vision at all, much less cause blindness. It's also not going to complicate or harm your eye he alth in any other way.
So if your vet diagnoses your dog as having nuclear sclerosis, all you have to do is make sure he enjoys a good quality of life and gets all the care he deserves. Don't miss this other article where we talk about them: "Complete guide to caring for an elderly dog".
