Yorkie Eye Problems And Preventing Loss Of Vision In These Dogs

It’s important to monitor your pets vision because there are certain Yorkie eye problems that can develop in this breed of dog. When a Yorkshire Terrier loses its eye sight, it’s often a distressing situation for both the dog and its owner. It also restricts what your Yorkie can do, and in some cases it can be dangerous to leave your Yorkie on its own because it cannot see potential hazards. To minimize the likely hood of sight problems in your pet, it’s always wise to frequently visit your veterinarian for checkups that include eye checks.

The main eye disorders common to this breed of dog include Cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) degeneration, Keratoconjuctivitis Sicca and Entropion.

Cataract formation

Yorkie owners sometimes face the problem of cataract formation. This disease affects the lens of a dog’s eye. The lens losses transparency and will often become white in color. This often results in your dog becoming blind. There are 3 different classifications of this disease and they include the following:

• Congenital – Yorkshire Terrier are born with this problem and its normally hereditary.
• Juvenile – This type of cataract disease affects Yorkies aged 5 years and younger.
• Senile – Dogs older than five years develop this problem in their eyes.

There are many causes of canine cataracts. This disease can be hereditary or acquired as a Yorkshire Terrier gets older. Some causes of the disease include toxins, inflammations, trauma and other defects. Congenital cataracts are hereditary, while juvenile and senile cataracts can be hereditary or acquired. It is a disease that often requires surgery to avoid blindness.

Entropion

This canine eye disorder is associated with a dog’s eyelid. The disease causes inward rolling of the eye. The eye lashes tear the surface of a dog’s eye-ball and sometimes results in more serious damage to your pets eye if it’s not looked after.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) Degeneration

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an eye disease which normally happens to Yorkies aged four years or older. It can even happen to younger Yorkies. This problem occurs because of the recessive autosomal gene in canines. With PRA, a dogs vision gradually gets worse over time, until it goes blind. Early signs of PRA include widely diluted pupils that become unresponsive to light.

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) or Dry Eye Syndrome (DES)

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) also known as Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is a disorder that can affect your Yorkie. Tear production reduced in a dog’s eye reduces, and the eye becomes irritated and itchy. This problem can become serious if untreated, and lead to impaired vision and even permanent blindness.

Vision is important for most pets including Yorkshire Terriers. Once a dog’s eye sight is impaired, it affects the quality of life the have, but regular visits to your veterinarian and checks by yourself can prevent many Yorkie eye problems.