Pets

Understanding the Causes of Cloudy Dog Eyes

There are a number of reasons why your dog's eyes might be cloudy. So one of the more common reasons in aging dogs is something called nuclear or lenticular sclerosis. So this is a hardening of the lens. Typically these dogs have almost like a bluish haze to their eyes that you might notice, especially at night. They don't actually tend to be cloudy per se, but it's more of a haze and that can limit their vision, especially in darker conditions. Now other causes of a cloudy eye could be something like cataracts, where it's actually the lens is being taken over by the cataract and those dogs can look cloudy as well. And then also any sort of inflammation in the eye itself can also look like a cloudy eye. So if you're not sure, it's always best to go to your vet, have them do a proper eye exam so that they can tell whether this is something that needs further investigation or treatment. Sometimes the eyes can be what we say the window to the rest of the body. So things can show up in the eyes first that require further investigation and we find out there's something elsewhere. So an eye exam is very important. Your vet can look at all the different parts of the eye, the retina, the anterior chamber, the lens, and have a good idea why the eye is cloudy.

A common reason for a dog's eyes being cloudy is nuclear or lenticular sclerosis, which is a hardening of the lens. Other reasons could include cataracts or inflammation in the eye, so it is best to get an eye exam from your vet to determine the cause and if further treatment is needed.

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There are several reasons why your dog's eyes may appear cloudy. One common cause in aging dogs is nuclear or lenticular sclerosis, which is a hardening of the lens. This can give the eyes a bluish haze, especially noticeable at night, and may affect their vision in darker conditions.

Another possible cause is cataracts, where the lens becomes clouded by the cataract itself, resulting in a cloudy appearance. Inflammation in the eye can also lead to cloudiness.

If you're unsure about the cause, it's best to consult your vet for a proper eye examination. They can assess the different parts of the eye, such as the retina, anterior chamber, and lens, to determine the underlying reason for the cloudiness. Eye exams are important as they can sometimes reveal issues in other parts of the body that require further investigation.

Why do pure breeds have more hereditary issues?

Genetic Consequences: Pure breeds prone to hereditary issues

Why do purebreds or purebreeds have more hereditary issues? So this is just really a principle of genetics. The less genetic variety that we have in a pool, the more likely we are to have issues that arise and so that's why when you have purebreds, purebreeds, they develop issues that can come up more and more often. Same with people, really any species and so the more we dilute those genes and introduce variety into the genetic pool, the less likely we're going to have these things that arise.

Purebreds have more hereditary issues because they have less genetic variety in their gene pool, leading to more common issues.

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Purebred dogs or animals in general tend to have more hereditary issues due to a principle of genetics. When a genetic pool has less variety, there is a higher likelihood of issues arising. This is why purebred animals often develop more frequent and prominent issues. The same principle applies to humans and any other species. By introducing genetic variety and diluting the genes within the pool, we can reduce the occurrence of these issues.

My dog peed more times than normal on our walk today. Is this something to be worried about?

Is it normal if my dog pees more frequently on walks?

My dog peed more times than normal on our walk today. Is this something to be worried about? So the first question is, are we talking that they peed bigger amounts when they went or are they peeing small frequent amounts and are they showing any other signs like straining to urinate, painful urination, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine? So it kind of depends. If it's just, you know, that they just peed a few more times than normal and it's a one-off, it may not be a big issue. But if this is something that persists, it's definitely something you want to seek veterinary care for. If they're peeing small amounts more frequently, that could indicate a lower urinary tract issue like a urinary tract infection. If they're peeing either in larger volumes or larger volumes more frequently, that could indicate almost more of an endocrine issue where they may be drinking and peeing more for a variety of reasons, whether that's kidney disease or heart disease or hormonal issues. So if this is a one-off and it doesn't happen again, you could probably just kind of monitor it. But if this is something that is happening more frequently, you definitely want to see your vet. They'll probably want to do some blood work and a urinalysis and think about the questions I asked, you know, the characterization of the urination, is there any pain, discomfort, discoloration, accidents at home, things like that.

Depending on the amount, frequency, and other signs, it may not be an issue if it is a one-off occurrence but if it is persisting, you should take your dog to the vet for blood work and a urinalysis.

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My dog peed more times than usual on our walk today. Should I be concerned? It depends on some factors. First, determine if they are peeing larger amounts or if they are peeing small frequent amounts. Are there any other signs like straining, pain, difficulty, or blood in the urine? If it's just a few extra times and it's a one-time occurrence, it may not be a significant issue. However, if this persists, it's advisable to seek veterinary care. If they are urinating small amounts frequently, it could indicate a lower urinary tract issue such as a urinary tract infection. On the other hand, if they are urinating larger volumes or more frequently in larger volumes, it could suggest an endocrine issue related to kidney disease, heart disease, or hormonal imbalances. If this is an isolated incident, monitoring the situation may be sufficient. But if it occurs more frequently, a visit to the vet is recommended. They will likely perform blood work and a urinalysis and consider factors like pain, discomfort, discoloration of urine, or accidents at home.

How do you determine if a dog need a hemilaminectomy?

Expert Evaluation Essential: Determining If a Dog Needs Hemilaminectomy

How do you determine if a dog needs a hemilaminectomy? So a hemilaminectomy is basically disc surgery, so it's a disc removal, so a disc that's compressing a nerve root. So this should only be determined by a veterinarian and typically the people that are doing these surgeries are board-certified surgeons and veterinary neurologists. This is not generally a surgery that your general practitioner would or should be doing, so this is something that needs to be evaluated by one of these specialists. They do a neurologic exam to determine whether or not this is a candidate for medical management first, meaning strict rest and pain medications, or whether it needs to go directly to surgery. And usually the deciding factor is whether or not the patient has a pain response. If they do not have a pain response without surgery, even with surgery, the chances may not be good for return to function, but without surgery they're definitely not going to get better. So this is a decision that should be made by a boarded specialist based on a neurologic exam and potentially also CT findings and the level of pain.

A Hemi laminectomy is a type of disc surgery that should only be determined by a board-certified veterinarian or Veterinary neurologist. A neurologic exam and potentially CT findings are used to determine whether the patient needs medical management, such as pain medications, or if surgery is necessary.

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Determining if a dog needs a hemilaminectomy, which is disc surgery to remove a disc compressing a nerve root, should be left to veterinarians who are board-certified surgeons or veterinary neurologists. General practitioners typically do not perform this surgery. These specialists will conduct a neurologic exam to assess whether the dog can be managed medically with strict rest and pain medications or if surgery is necessary. The presence of a pain response is usually a deciding factor. If the dog does not respond to medical management, surgery may be required. It's important to note that even with surgery, the chances of return to normal function may not be guaranteed, but without surgery, improvement is unlikely. Ultimately, the decision should be made by a specialized veterinarian based on the neurologic exam, possible CT findings, and the dog's level of pain.

Can higher blood pressure be normal in some breeds or individual dogs?

Unveiling the Mystery: Can Higher Blood Pressure Be Normal in Dogs?

Can higher than normal or higher blood pressure be normal in some breeds or individual dogs? This requires context so there are definitely some dogs when they go to the hospital that become very anxious and can have high blood pressure just from what we call white coat effect which is kind of like the presence of being in a hospital or a doctor but that number has its limitations so it's hard to know how to answer this question without knowing what the blood pressure actually was because if it's you know over 200 persistently that's probably not as common just due to stress or anxiety whereas something like 170 180 might be. For the most part persistent hypertension in dogs does indicate some sort of underlying issue. It's really uncommon for dogs or dog breeds to have higher than normal blood pressure you know as a part of their breed abnormality. Sometimes dog breeds do have lower than normal blood pressure normally but just like humans there can be individual variation but persistent hypertension beyond a certain level should alert your vet to pursue workup.

It is hard to answer this question without knowing what the blood pressure actually was, as something over 200 persistently might indicate some underlying issue. It is uncommon for dogs or dog breeds to have higher than normal blood pressure, but individual variation can occur and persistent hypertension beyond a certain level should alert your vet to pursue a work up.

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Can higher blood pressure be normal in some breeds or individual dogs? Context is important here. In certain situations, dogs may experience elevated blood pressure due to anxiety or stress when visiting the hospital or vet (known as the white coat effect). However, it's challenging to provide a definitive answer without knowing the specific blood pressure readings. If the blood pressure consistently exceeds 200, it's less likely related to stress or anxiety, while levels around 170-180 might be more common in those situations. Generally, persistent hypertension in dogs typically indicates an underlying issue rather than being a breed-specific abnormality. While some dog breeds may naturally have lower than normal blood pressure, individual variation exists just like in humans. If your dog has consistently high blood pressure beyond a certain level, it's important to consult with your vet for further investigation.

Is it safe to have my dogs gallbladder removed?

Dog's Gallbladder Removal: Safety & Expertise Are Key

Is it safe to have my dog's gallbladder removed? So the answer to that is it depends. So dogs, you know, we don't want to go in willy-nilly removing a dog's gallbladder for no good reason, but there are reasons why a dog may need its gallbladder removed. So specifically, the most common reason would be development of something called a mucus seal, which is a mucus plug in the gallbladder that can lead to an obstruction with it, which is life-threatening. We can also see gallbladders needing to be removed for stones causing obstructions or chronic infections, which would be less likely. So we never remove a dog's gallbladder unless it's absolutely necessary because there are complications in doing so, and the surgery itself can carry some risk. And so this is something that, yes, it can be safe. I've definitely recommended it for many of my patients, but it needs to be a decision that is made by someone with expertise in the area. And also the person doing the surgery, this should generally be a boarded surgeon doing this type of surgery. It's not a simple, straightforward surgery. So this is something that most of the time is gonna be referred to a specialist to be done to have the ideal, most optimal outcomes.

The answer to whether it is safe to have a dog's gallbladder removed depends on the specific situation. In general, it can be a safe procedure, but it should only be done if absolutely necessary and by a qualified surgeon to minimize risk and ensure optimal outcomes.

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The safety of removing a dog's gallbladder depends on the specific situation. It is not advisable to remove a dog's gallbladder without a valid reason. However, there are conditions where gallbladder removal may be necessary. The most common reason would be the development of a mucus seal, which is a mucus plug that can cause life-threatening obstructions in the gallbladder. Other reasons include obstructions caused by stones or chronic infections, although these are less common. It's important to note that gallbladder removal in dogs is only performed when absolutely necessary due to potential complications and risks associated with the surgery. This type of surgery should ideally be conducted by a specialist, such as a boarded surgeon, as it is not a simple procedure. It is essential to consult with an expert to make an informed decision and achieve the best possible outcome for your dog.

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Lauren Adelman answers your Pets questions. See all the advice Lauren Adelman has and get answers to your own Pets questions.

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Dr. Lauren Adelman earned her veterinary degree from the University of Calgary in 2012 where she was part of the inaugural class. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital followed by a one-year specialty internship in emergency and critical care at North Carolina State University. Dr. Adelman then moved to Knoxville where she completed a three-year small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Tennessee. She achieved diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialty of Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2017. Dr. Adelman is currently practicing at Canada West Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver, BC., where her particular areas of interest include gastroenterology, nephrology and urology, and infectious disease. She is trained to perform a variety of state-of-the-art minimally-invasive procedures.