Glaucoma is a painful condition caused by a build-up of pressure inside the eye, which can damage the eye and lead to permanent sight loss. It can affect any dog, but some breeds are more prone, and the headline message is to speak to your vet straight away about a painful or cloudy eye, because early treatment gives the best chance of keeping sight.
At a glance
- What it is: raised pressure inside the eye, because fluid that should drain away builds up.
- Who it affects: any dog. Primary (inherited) glaucoma is seen in certain breeds, usually in middle to late age, and secondary glaucoma can follow other eye problems in any breed.
- Urgency: urgent. The PDSA says to contact your vet immediately.
- Vet needed? Yes. It cannot be treated at home.
Signs to look for
According to the PDSA, signs can develop gradually or very suddenly:
- squinting, avoiding bright light, rubbing the face or becoming head shy, which suggest severe eye pain
- weepy eyes
- a cloudy or blue-looking eye
- red, bloodshot eyes
- wide or uneven pupils
- a bulging eye
- loss of sight
The Kennel Club adds low mood or withdrawal and excessive blinking. Many of these overlap with conjunctivitis or dry eye, which is exactly why a vet needs to look rather than you guessing.
Causes and risk factors
The PDSA describes two main types. Primary glaucoma comes from a fault in the eye’s drainage system, is nearly always inherited, and usually starts in one eye before often affecting both. Closed angle (the drainage gap is closed) tends to come on suddenly around middle age, while open angle develops slowly and later in life. Secondary glaucoma is triggered by another problem, such as cataracts, an eye injury, lens luxation (the lens slipping out of place), uveitis (eye inflammation) or an eye tumour, and can affect any breed at any age.
The PDSA lists breeds linked to closed angle glaucoma including English and American Cocker Spaniels, English and Welsh Springer Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, Chow Chows and Shar Pei. The Kennel Club’s list for the same type overlaps but is not identical, and also includes Border Collies, Hungarian Vizslas and Leonbergers. The Kennel Club says the inheritance of closed angle glaucoma is poorly understood and probably involves many genes, and that a DNA test exists for open angle glaucoma in some breeds. If you own one of these breeds, it does not mean your dog will get glaucoma. It means your vet and breeder are worth talking to.
When to call your vet
Straight away. The PDSA says to contact your vet immediately if your dog has symptoms of glaucoma or a painful eye, and “never wait to see if your dog improves”. The Kennel Club explains why: if the pressure is not reduced quickly, the eye can be damaged irreversibly. Ring your own practice or its out-of-hours service, and use our vets guide if you do not have one. Our sick dog symptoms page covers other signs that need a call.
- 1. Notice
Squinting, a cloudy or red eye, or rubbing the face. - 2. Speak to your vet
Urgent: contact your vet immediately. Never wait to see if your dog improves. - 3. Vet examines
Uses a tonometer to measure the pressure inside the eye. - 4. Options
Treatment options your vet may discuss: medication, referral, surgery. - 5. Ongoing care
Most dogs need several eye drops a day and regular check-ups.
How vets diagnose it
The PDSA says vets confirm glaucoma with a tonometer, a small device that gently touches the surface of the eye to measure its pressure. Normal pressure is roughly 10 to 25 mmHg. Further tests, such as gonioscopy (a close look at the eye’s drainage angle), can help find the cause and may need a specialist eye vet.
What vets generally do about it
Your vet decides the plan, but the PDSA and Kennel Club describe the general picture. Medication can ease pain, reduce fluid production and improve drainage. Severe cases may need hospital care, and referral to a specialist if medicines do not work quickly enough. Most dogs then need several eye drops a day and regular check-ups. Surgery may be used if medication fails. If the eye is blind and painful, removing it (enucleation) is often the kindest option, and both sources note that many dogs cope well afterwards.
Living with it and prevention
Both sources say glaucoma cannot be cured, but most cases can be managed, and well-managed dogs can be pain-free. The PDSA says primary glaucoma often responds well at first but may stop responding after months to years, and most affected dogs eventually lose sight in both eyes. Lifelong medication can be expensive, so the PDSA suggests talking costs through with your vet and considering pet insurance early. Ask your vet how to give drops and what to watch for.
For prevention, the Kennel Club says no single factor reduces risk, but breeders can lower it by eye testing, and it does not recommend breeding from a dog affected by glaucoma. The PDSA suggests asking breeders of at-risk breeds whether the parents are regularly screened.
Related conditions
See the full dog illnesses and conditions A to Z.
Specialist help
The BVA/Kennel Club/ISDS Eye Scheme uses specialist ophthalmologists to examine breeding dogs, including gonioscopy, and grades them by severity. The Kennel Club says you can contact the scheme’s specialists, your breed club or your Breed Health Co-ordinator for advice. Details are on the Kennel Club glaucoma page.
Sources
- PDSA, Glaucoma in dogs
- The Kennel Club, Glaucoma in dogs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is glaucoma in dogs?
It is a painful condition where pressure builds up inside the eye because fluid cannot drain properly. It can lead to blindness, so speak to your vet at once about a painful eye.
Can glaucoma in dogs be cured?
Both the PDSA and the Kennel Club say it cannot be cured, but most cases can be managed, often with lifelong eye drops. If another condition caused it, that is treated too. Your vet will explain the plan.
Is glaucoma an emergency in dogs?
The PDSA says to contact your vet immediately for a painful eye or glaucoma signs and never wait to see if your dog improves. The Kennel Club says delayed pressure relief can cause irreversible damage.
Which dog breeds get glaucoma?
Breeds listed by the PDSA and Kennel Club include Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Golden Retrievers and Siberian Huskies. Any dog can develop secondary glaucoma, so speak to your vet about your own dog.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your dog, speak to your vet. Written by Georgiana & Figo, who are dog owners, not vets. Have a look around Calmshops for everyday dog essentials.
