The Average Cost of Dog Cataract Surgery
As we mentioned, the average cost of dog cataract surgery is anywhere from $2,700 to $4,000. This cost includes the original exam, testing and diagnostics, anesthesia, surgery, treatment, and hospitalization. However, additional expenses may arise if additional steps need to be taken to get your dog feeling back to feeling like new.
If you’re hesitant about the cost, you may be tempted by one of the many products on the market that claim to cure or reduce the severity of cataracts in dogs. One of the most heavily marketed products is an eye drop containing Lanosterol. You should always ask your veterinarian before using any treatment on your dog, especially treatments that can be purchased without a prescription.
According to a 2019 paper published in the journal Nature that covered three studies of such products on the eye lenses or rats, “All three studies failed to provide evidence that lanosterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol have either anti-cataractogenic activity or bind aggregated lens protein to dissolve cataracts.”
Surgery is still the gold-standard treatment for cataracts in dogs preferred by veterinarians.
Your best course of action is to obtain pet insurance before cataracts ever present themselves. If you obtain insurance while your dog is still young and healthy, you’ll be able to claim canine cataract surgery on your policy when your dog needs it.
How Cataract Surgery Can Help Your Dog
A cataract is an opacity in your dog’s eye lens. It prevents light from passing through to the back of the eye or scatters the light so that your dog’s vision is blurred. Normally, light passes through the lense and is processed at the back of their eye to create a clear in your pet’s brain of what they’re seeing. Your dog may be affected by cataracts in one eye or both eyes.
Cataract formation can be caused by infectious diseases or even by trauma, but the most common types of cataracts are hereditary cataracts. For example, congenital cataracts occur at birth and typically affect both eyes while diabetic cataracts develop rapidly as a result of canine diabetes. Cataracts can occur at any age, but they are more common in old age.
Cataract surgery helps your dog see clearly again by removing the cataract. The surgery can also prevent your dog from experiencing cataract-related pain in the future. Chronic cataracts can cause inflammation inside the eye, leading to increased pain and problems like glaucoma.
Antioxidants
Certain antioxidants such as the coenzyme Q10 are effective at glutathione regeneration, and this is especially beneficial for pooches that are still at the early stage of cataract formation.
This continuous regeneration of glutathione with the coenzyme Q10 helps slow down the progression of cataracts in dogs, while simultaneously strengthening the eyes and priming the dog for future surgery.
Coenzyme Q10 supplements are occasionally present in dog food, but if your pooch’s diet lacks this antioxidant, you can opt to purchase over-the-counter in capsule or liquid form and administer orally to the dog.
Cataract Surgery for Your Pet | What to Expect | MedVet Veterinary Ophthalmology
None of us like to think about our dogs aging, but it’s a fact we all must face. One symptom of aging is vision deterioration. While mild vision loss is normal and nothing to be concerned about, cataracts are another story. They can cause your dog pain and could lead to total blindness. Cataract surgery for dogs can cost between $2,700 and $4,000. Is it worth the price? And are there ways to save?