How Much Do You Know About Eye Diseases in Dogs and Cats? Veterinarians Share the Ways to Protect the Windows of Your Fur Baby's Soul
Coming home to the innocent, watery eyes of your fur baby always takes away all your tiredness. But do you know dogs and cats like humans also need eye care? Cataracts, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, and other problems will also appear as pets grow older, but the initial symptoms can be easily ignored, and often cause irreversible damage to the eyes of fur babies. Follow the vet’s guidelines to learn how to protect your fur babies’ eyes.
The world through the eyes of fur babies
Are you curious about the world through the eyes of fur babies? Dogs have a visual field of 240 degrees, see as far as 6 meters clearly, and can only distinguish different shades of blue, yellow, and gray. Dogs have superior night vision and better motion visibility than humans. Cats have a visual field of 200 degrees, see objects at distances of up to 6 meters, and can distinguish blue and yellow colors. Cats’ night vision is 6-8 times better than humans, and their motion visibility is also very good.Fur babies’ eye color
Dogs and cats under the age of one month have a grayish-blue color because the iris pigmentation is not yet fully developed. When your pet reaches three to eight weeks of age, the amount of melanin in the iris determines the color and shade of its eyes (see Figure 1). Some fur babies have different-colored eyes, known as heterochromia. This condition is common in huskies and white cats. Heterochromia doesn’t have any impact on cats’ vision, but about 60-80% of white-coated blue-eyed cats carry the gene responsible for lacking melanocytes and inherent deafness.08_2.jpg)
Ocular structure and common eye diseases in pets
The outer layer of the dog's and cat's eye is the clear, transparent cornea; in the center is the pupil, through which light enters the lens and is imaged on the retina. The color of the eye is determined by melanin production in the iris (see Figure 2).08_1.jpg)
- The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye.
- The conjunctiva rich in blood vessels and nerves is a transparent mucous membrane that lines both the inner surface of the eyelids and the anterior surface of the eyeball.
- The uvea, an area rich in blood vessels and pigments, is composed of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid and is an important blood-aqueous barrier for the eye.
- The lens is a curved structure in the eye that bends light and focuses it for the retina to help you see images clearly.
Cataract: The lens appears cloudy and opaque. The common causes of cataracts are inherited disease, chronic diseases such as diabetes, and aging. Cataracts will result in decreased vision or even blindness in pets.
- The third eyelid is a glandular structure lying between the cornea and the lower eyelid that protects the eyeball and contains glands that produce the normal tear film to keep the eyes moist.
Vision check for fur babies
On a clinical basis, different tests can be used to get a closer look at your dog’s or cat's vision. For example, put fur babies in an unfamiliar environment to observe whether they can avoid obstacles. You can also use cotton balls to test their vision by putting them down above the eyes and observing whether they are aware of the falling cotton balls. The optic nerve can also be examined using the menace reaction, dazzle reflex, and papillary light reflex. In addition, the retinal function can also be evaluated by electroretinography.Daily care for blind fur babies
For fur babies who have lost their eyesight, they need to be taken care of on a daily basis.- Avoid changing the placement of furniture, water basins, food bowls, and potties to keep a familiar environment for your pet.
- Keep stairs off limits and reduce different floor levels in the house
- Use a leash or a pet cart when going outside and avoid excessively noisy environments
Daily care and dietary supplements
These diseases can cause severe or even irreversible damage to your fur babies’ eyesight. It is recommended to consult your veterinarian immediately when eye problems are detected and to give the best treatment plan.Daily care:
- Avoid excessive direct sunlight on the eyes
- Wear goggles for fur babies to reduce UV damage to the eyes
- Provide suitable eye care supplements
- Lutein: Reduce free radical damage to the eyes. Since dogs and cats cannot produce it on their own, it must be ingested from their diets such as goji berries, marigold extract, dark green vegetables, yellow vegetables, etc.
- Zeaxanthin: An important source of nutrition for the eyes, often supplemented with lutein.
- Anthocyanins and Astaxanthin: possess the powerful antioxidant capacity to reduce free radical damage to eyes. Anthocyanins and astaxanthin can be extracted from black beans, bilberry, and red algae.
- Fish oil: DHA is a nutritional source for the retina and helps in tear secretion to moisturize the eyes.

Why Is My Cat Struggling to Pee? Common Causes of Feline Urinary Stones and Tips for Daily Prevention
If you notice your cat making frequent trips to the litter box, squatting for long periods, crying out in pain, or urinating outside the box, don’t assume they’re just acting out — these could be signs of urinary discomfort caused by feline urinary stones. Difficulty peeing isn’t always due to hot weather or low water intake; it may point to a problem within your cat’s urinary system. Urinary stones, in particular, can block the urethra, lead to infections, and even become life-threatening if left untreated. Many cat owners overlook these subtle signs, but they are important early warnings of urinary stones. To protect your cat’s health, it’s crucial to understand the underlying causes of urinary issues. Feline urinary stones are a common concern among modern house cats, but daily care to support urinary health can greatly lower the risk of stone formation.

Canine Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV): A Veterinarian’s Guide to Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention
After a long day at work, you return home expecting an excited greeting from your dog—but something’s not right. Instead of its usual enthusiasm, your dog seems unusually restless. It paces nervously, breathes rapidly, and attempts to vomit, but nothing comes out. When you check its belly, it feels swollen, firm, and tight to the touch. These could be early warning signs of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV)—a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary attention.