White thing in the middle of the eye

[Rhetts_mama]

You should see an opthamologist. Scarlett has a very similar spot in each each that turned out to be something called Corneal Dystrophy. Your regular vet will check to make sure it isn't a corneal scratch or ulcer or an infection and then can make the referral for you.

Good luck.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

You should see an opthamologist. Scarlett has a very similar spot in each each that turned out to be something called Corneal Dystrophy. Your regular vet will check to make sure it isn't a corneal scratch or ulcer or an infection and then can make the referral for you.

Good luck.

I'm glad you posted because I was thinking of Scarlett and was going to link to your thread in the S/I forum.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Lady had a white spot exactly like that on her eye a few years ago and it turned out to be a pocket of infection. My vet sent me to an ophthalmologist. They did eye scrapings and lab work to diagnose it.

Since our general practice vets don't have the training or specialized equipment to deal with anything more than routine eye problems, I always think a visit with an ophthalmologist is important.

Originally Posted by Maximo

Was the infection resolved with medication or was a procedure required?

I lucked out by getting Lady into her ophthalmologist quickly as the infection pockets penetrate the surface of the eye. Lady's had only penetrated it slightly and she is a very good patient, so they were able to numb her eye and remove as much of the infection as possible without anesthesia. They cultured it and found both a fungal and bacterial infection. She was on very expensive eye drops for a month, but it cleared up. The vet school ophthalmologist told me that they usually have to be surgically removed and sometimes require a graft.

I tend to have little issues checked out before they become big problems, thankfully.

[Yorkiedaze]

It looks like juvenile cataract. Juvenile Cataracts in Dogs | eHow.com

Many puppies appear normal at birth, so there is no way to know if the puppy you are buying is going to develop juvenile cataracts. Many dogs do not show signs until six months to two years of age. Some go even later with the cataracts forming five years later.

Juvenile cataracts does not always lead to blindness. In many cases, the puppy or young dog still sees basic shapes, but they may be blurry. In some cases, the disease leads to glaucoma.

The only way to eradicate juvenile cataracts in dogs, breeders should have both parents tested by a licensed veterinary ophthalmologist no more than a year before breeding. Not every breeder does this however, so you should ask for eye registry papers for both parents before agreeing to purchase a puppy.

Providing the cataracts is not bothering your dog by causing severe vision problems, inflammation or advancing rapidly, treatment is unnecessary. Many dogs with juvenile cataracts do not worsen. They happily go through their lives with mildly impaired vision.

If the vision problems are affecting your dog, treatment may be required. Juvenile cataracts in dogs may be treated with cortisone eye drops. This treatment only works if the young dog has dissolving cataracts. Dissolving cataracts are a type that clear up when steroids are used.

Non-dissolving cataracts will require surgery. In this eye surgery, ultrasonic waves are used to turn the lens to liquid which is then extracted through a small incision in the eye. Some doctors will use a plastic implant to replace the lens.

Before any surgical procedure is used, a veterinary ophthalmologist will perform an ERG to make sure the dog's retina is functioning properly. Blood samples are drawn to check the animal's overall health to prevent any possible reaction to the anesthesia or medications used before and after the surgery.

Up to 95 percent of all juvenile cataract surgeries provide outstanding results. In a successful cataract surgery, a dog's vision is restored to normal.

[YorkieRose]

I still think it is a healed scratch..but I have no degree on the wall ..LOL

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I still think it is a healed scratch..but I have no degree on the wall ..LOL

Me either, but I've been thru this with a dog and it does look like the start of a cataract. Easy to remove, but expensive.

[Onyxmozart]

I'm just going to hope this is nothing too serious or expensive to deal with. Sadly the trip to the vet shall have to wait until Friday when I only have one class and no work to deal with.

I keep on watching him though, and he's acting perfectly normal right now.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I lucked out by getting Lady into her ophthalmologist quickly as the infection pockets penetrate the surface of the eye. Lady's had only penetrated it slightly and she is a very good patient, so they were able to numb her eye and remove as much of the infection as possible without anesthesia. They cultured it and found both a fungal and bacterial infection. She was on very expensive eye drops for a month, but it cleared up. The vet school ophthalmologist told me that they usually have to be surgically removed and sometimes require a graft.

I tend to have little issues checked out before they become big problems, thankfully.

Words to live by.

Thank you for sharing Lady's experience, and thank you Yorkiedaze for the info on juvenile cataracts. After Max's eye problems, I like to learn all I can so that I can be prepared.

[YorkieRose]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Me either, but I've been thru this with a dog and it does look like the start of a cataract. Easy to remove, but expensive.

I have had dogs with cateracts as they age...but never saw it start with a spot..like with a human the entire cornea gets hazy like a scratched window pain...or a foggy up one...but I am sure not all cateracts are the same either..,
And with a scratched cornea you usually see the dog react in some way....blinking, drooping lid, redness, rubbing the eye, watering.etc..

[kalina82]

does the spot look like its inside the eye or on the cornea of the eye?

[Onyxmozart]

Originally Posted by kalina82

does the spot look like its inside the eye or on the cornea of the eye?

It looks like its on the cornea

[FlDebra]

I do not think this is a cataract at all. Cataracts are more milky, cloudy looking and do not present as a white dot like you show us here in the pic. I am very familiar with cataracts as my Katie had them bad and they led to her being pretty much blind at 17 1/2 years old when she passed. They looked like cloudly misshapen contact lenses on her eyes.

I really believe this is a Corneal dystrophy -- here is a quote: Corneal dystrophies are characterised by a small deposit of calcium, crystal or fat within the tissue of the cornea. They usually develop in young adult dogs (ie 6-12 months), and present as a white, grey or silver dot right in the middle of the eye (or both eyes). They usually don't have any adverse effects, and don't really affect the dog's ability to see. Here is a picture of one up close (But they can appear different too -- some are a deposit of mineral like calcium, lipid, cholesterol, and can be varied in size or shape): Eye Care for Animals - Corneal Dystrophy
They can be genetic, can be result of trauma, can be caused by having too high a level of calcium or cholesterol in the blood. Usually do not lead to blindness.

But as others have said -- I am no vet -- best to get to the vet asap and get a proper dx. Good luck! Hope it is something that at least will not lead to further eye problems.

[Onyxmozart]

Thankfully the vet visit was positive. It's only a scratch in his eye, that the vet said he might have accidentally done to himself. I will have to put ointment on his eye for the next two weeks.

[kalina82]

That's what i thought it was. Glad to hear its nothing more serious. Hopefully the meds clear it up quick!

[RachelandSadie]

glad to hear it's going to be ok!