A vet has shared a common sign of graceful ageing in dogs (stock image) (Image: Getty)
A vet has shared a common symptom many dog owners will be familiar with that’s actually an indication they’re ageing “gracefully”. Millions of people all around the world are proud dog owners, with these four legged companions becoming beloved, vital members of the family.
The hardest reality of dog ownership is perhaps just how short their lives are, with old age hitting the popular pet much sooner than feels fair. The average lifespan of a dog depends on the breed, with larger animals typically having shorter lives than smaller ones.
Like humans, ageing dogs are prone to grey hair, stiff joints, tooth loss and more. One common symptom associated with old age in dogs is their eyes taking on a cloudy appearance – but this may not mean what you think it does.
Many people turn to social media looking for advice and insight from fellow dog owners, as well as professionals like vets. There’s a wide range of experts keen to share their knowledge and experience with the masses online.
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One popular pro is Ben, a vet who has more than 219,000 followers on TikTok, where he regularly uploads videos spanning a wide range of pet-related topics.
Recently, he shared a video focusing on cloudy eyes in dogs, and the common assumption this is a sign of cataracts, which may not always be the case.
Speaking directly to the camera, he began: “Have you ever seen an elderly dog with cloudy eyes and assumed that they have cataracts?”
The clip then cuts to display a diagram of a dog’s eye behind Ben. He continued: “Well, actually, it’s more likely to be this: the lens of a dog’s eye, which is this blue bit here, is constantly producing new layers of cells throughout a dog’s life – a bit like an onion, but without actually growing.
“So, it becomes denser and harder over time. Eventually, the eye takes on this slightly bluish appearance.
“It’s called nuclear sclerosis and it’s a normal part of dog ageing. Importantly, while it can make it slightly harder for a dog to see objects up close, it has very little impact on vision – unlike cataracts.”
Ben explained when the eye is examined with an ophthalmoscope, there’s a “characteristic appearance with the harder centre area of the lens and a clear halo around it.”
He added: “Cloudiness in other parts of the eye can be caused by serious conditions like glaucoma or corneal ulcers.
“And so I would always advise getting a cloudy eye checked by your vet, especially if your pet is squinting, it’s come on suddenly, or their vision is affected.
“For nuclear sclerosis, however, no treatment is needed. It’s just a sign that your pet is aging gracefully. Basically the eye equivalent of getting grey hairs.”
In the comments section, fellow dog lovers were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “My dog’s eyes have this. We were convinced he has cataracts but our vet said no but never explained what was causing it.
“Thank you so much for this information. Annoyed at my vet for not taking the time to explain. My dog’s (a Portuguese Water dog) is going on 14.”
Another said: “My Jack Russell is 15 and I was worried. Thank you, she has no problem seeing things but cloudy eyes”.
A third added: “Thank you. I was getting worried. But I’m still taking my girl for a vet checkup on Thursday.”