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Always consult with a
veterinarian that you feel
comfortable with before
diagnosing or treating any
disease on your own.
This area is for
reference only.
Health Issues
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Optic Neuritis
Issue Description
Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision.
Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision.
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Causes
Causes of optic neuritis in the dog include:
Viral Infections (canine distemper)
Protozoal Infections (toxoplasmosis, neosporosis)
Fungal Infections (blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis)
Tick Borne Infections (Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever).
Symptoms
Symptoms of blindness in dog include bumping into furniture and seeming clumsy in general, having trouble finding things such as their food and water dishes, becoming easily startled, getting lost in the yard or in certain areas of the home, and a lack of normal play.
Diagnosis
If the optic nerve is affected as it leaves the back of the retina, changes can be observed on evaluating the retina with an ophthalmoscope. If the optic nerve is affected behind the eyeball the retina may appear normal. ERG is normal, since the retina is not affected (thus distinguishing optic neuritis from SARD).
Causes of optic neuritis in the dog include:
Symptoms
Symptoms of blindness in dog include bumping into furniture and seeming clumsy in general, having trouble finding things such as their food and water dishes, becoming easily startled, getting lost in the yard or in certain areas of the home, and a lack of normal play.
Diagnosis
If the optic nerve is affected as it leaves the back of the retina, changes can be observed on evaluating the retina with an ophthalmoscope. If the optic nerve is affected behind the eyeball the retina may appear normal. ERG is normal, since the retina is not affected (thus distinguishing optic neuritis from SARD).
Treatment
Treatment is based on identifying and treating the primary cause. Systemic steroids should be administered if no systemic cause is found.
Prognosis
The prognosis for return of vision depends on whether or not an underlying disease can be found and treated properly. In some cases where there is no known underlying cause of the problem, the blindness can be permanent, or the problem can return if the treatment given was not in high enough quantities.
Treatment is based on identifying and treating the primary cause. Systemic steroids should be administered if no systemic cause is found.
Prognosis
The prognosis for return of vision depends on whether or not an underlying disease can be found and treated properly. In some cases where there is no known underlying cause of the problem, the blindness can be permanent, or the problem can return if the treatment given was not in high enough quantities.
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