Tibetan Terrier

The lens in a dog’s eye is a transparent layer that helps focus light onto the retina and is held in place by very small threads on its edge. Lens luxation is when these threads bread down and the lens becomes loose, often moving forwards or backward in the eye.

Lens luxation is a serious condition that can be very painful and cause blindness, so it should be treated as an emergency as soon as symptoms appear.

In most cases, depending on the severity, removal of the lens will stop the pain and the pet can still enjoy some level of vision, though it will be different to before so it may take them time to adjust.

The chances of a pet with lens luxation have a successful outcome following treatment is greatly increased when the condition is diagnosed early.

Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid gland which is believed to be a cause of issues including epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy and skin conditions.

This is a disorder that can be quite easily treated through a dog’s diet and medication.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a family of eye diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina.

Early in the disease, affected dogs become night-blind, with the loss of sight during the day occurring as the disease progresses.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment, but it is known that the condition doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort and most dogs will adapt well to their limited or lost vision, so long as their surroundings and environment stay the same.

Patella Luxation is a relatively common problem that occurs when the patella is not properly lined up. This causes the Femur (thigh bone), Patella (kneecap), and Tibia (calf) to slip out of place. When this happens, the dog will generally skip or hop.

There are four grades, ranging from I, an occasional luxation causing temporary lameness in the joint, to grade IV, in which the turning of the tibia is severe, and patella cannot be realigned manually.

The constant rubbing caused by this issue can lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease and severe levels of Patella luxation may require surgery to avoid further issues and pain.