Almost every diabetic dog will develop cataracts due to the elevated blood sugar even if the diabetes is under control. Cataracts can be surgically removed the same way a cataract is removed from a human eye. The procedure is called phacoemulsification. An ultrasound energy is used to remove the cataract from the eye. The surgery for a dog requires a general anesthesia. Your vet will make the determination whether or not your dog is healthy enough and the diabetes is controlled well enough to warrant surgery. As with any surgery, there are some risks which depend on your pets overall health, how well the diabetes is regulated and eye health. Rapid onset of a cataract can lead to severe eye inflammation. This could be controlled by topical eye drops. Your dogs age should not make a difference in cataract removal. Your vet will speak to you about your pets overall health and whether or not the surgery can be done successfully.

Remember, your pets count!