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7 Potentially Serious Causes of Cloudy Eyes in Dogs

7 Potentially Serious Causes of Cloudy Eyes in Dogs

Updated On July 19th, 2016

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Reviewed By Christie Long, DVM

If you come to PetCoach and ask a question about a change you’ve noticed in your dog’s eyes, you’ll find that we’ll often instruct you to seek veterinary care as soon as you possibly can. Why? Because not only are eyes the windows to the soul, but rapid changes to the appearance of one or both eyes can be “windows” into serious disease processes. Eye problems can also become significant very quickly, and that’s why we recommend getting an [eye exam as soon as possible](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-are-eye-problems-an-emergency-in-dogs/) when something seems amiss.

Eyes have their own exotic set of diseases, and often diagnosis and treatment exceed the capabilities and equipment of the general practitioner. Read on to learn about the health issues that can cause cloudy eyes in dogs.

Cataracts in Dogs

Dogs can get [cataracts](http://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/cataracts/) for many reasons. The vast majority of cataracts in dogs are normal age-related changes, and sometimes they produce complete blindness, which usually develops slowly as the cataract gets thicker. However, many older dogs have cataracts that still enable them to see and they usually adjust very well to the associated vision loss.

Simply put, cataracts occur when the lens inside the eyes loses transparency, making it such that light can’t pass through, either completely or partially. This can be due to trauma (getting hit in the eye with a rock, for example), diabetes, hereditary conditions, certain drugs, and some infectious diseases, to name a few. Cataracts produce a milky look to the eye. Figuring out the cause of the cataract is the first step to making a plan for dealing with it.

Lenticular Sclerosis in Dogs

Many people see cloudiness in their aging dog’s eyes and think they see cataracts. However many times the white, cloudy reflection they see is a benign condition known as lenticular sclerosis. While it can be hard for us to tell whether what we’re seeing is a cataract or not, it’s relatively easy for a veterinarian armed with an ophthalmoscope, a tool used to examine the eye.

Because cataracts can have potentially serious causes and consequences, it’s important to have your dog’s eyes checked if you see cloudiness in the center of the eye. It’s worth noting that while cataracts can and often do lead to blindness, lenticular sclerosis does not cause appreciable vision loss.

Dry Eye in Dogs

[Keratoconjunctivitis sicca](http://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/keratoconjunctivitis-sicca/) (abbreviated KCS or called “dry eye,” for obvious reasons) is a condition in which the tear glands of the eyes (or just one eye) don’t produce enough tear film to sufficiently lubricate the eye. Initially the eye can look glassy, and if the disease is allowed to progress, corneal ulceration, scarring, and blindness can result. KCS is very painful as well.

KCS has a number of causes, and the primary or inciting cause should determined, if possible, in order to understand how to treat and how long treatment should last. Many cases of KCS involve an underlying autoimmune disease, and in these cases the patient’s eyes must be treated with medication for the rest of its life.

Pannus

Pannus is a condition that’s seen almost exclusively in German Shepherds and similar breeds, but can also occur in Huskies, Greyhounds, and any large breed dogs. It looks very similar to KCS, but dogs with pannus have normal tear production and no pain. The lesions do cover the cornea, and as such can obstruct vision.

Distinguishing between KCS is pretty simple, and involves measure tear production with a strip of paper that changes color when it gets wet with tears. Normal dogs should be able to wet at least 15 millimeters of a strip that’s held just inside the lower eyelid for one minute.

Corneal Ulcers in Dogs

An ulcer on the cornea can occur for a number of reasons, including trauma to the cornea, rubbing of the eyelids or lashes on the cornea, and dry eye. Ulcers usually cause squinting, tearing, and redness to the eye, but they can also cause a collection of fluid within the cornea that produces a cloudy appearance.

Ulcers are very painful and need immediate medical attention. Allowed to progress, a corneal ulcer will likely continue to enlarge, and it’s even possible for the eyeball itself to rupture.

Glaucoma in Dogs

The eyeball retains its globe shape because it is filled with a thick, jelly-like substance known as aqueous humor. The eye is constantly producing aqueous humor and because of this, the fluid must also be constantly drained. If the drainage of aqueous humor fails, [glaucoma](http://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/glaucoma/) results.

Like so many other ocular diseases, glaucoma has a number of underlying causes, and again, we must look for the cause in order to determine treatment and prognosis for return to normal function and vision. A glaucomatous eye usually looks larger than normal, but it’s also typically red and cloudy. From what people with glaucoma tell us, it is excruciatingly painful. The longer the elevated eye pressures persist, the more likely the dog will lose vision in the eye permanently. Glaucoma is a serious emergency.

Uveitis

[Uveitis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/red-eyes-in-cats-and/) is another one of those weird words ophthalmologists use that no one else does. It means inflammation of the uveal tract, which roughly equates to the iris and its associated structures. Uveitis can produce a number of signs, including redness of the eye, tearing, and sensitivity to light, but it can also make the entire eye appear cloudy.

Like most of the other disease processes we’ve talked about, uveitis isn’t really a diagnosis, and it can be caused by a number of things. Many of the diseases that cause uveitis are infectious in nature, but you can add certain cancers and metabolic diseases like diabetes to the list. In most cases uveitis signals the presence of a serious systemic illness, and finding it means performing other diagnostic tests, including [blood work](https://www.petcoach.co/article/your-pets-bloodwork-what-to-expect/) and possibly [x-rays](https://www.petcoach.co/article/x-rays-in-dogs-and-cats-what-you-need-to-know/), in order to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

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