Canine glaucoma causes severe ocular pain and vision loss, often underdiagnosed due to subtle clinical signs, requiring prompt treatment to protect welfare and preserve sight.
Glaucoma causes intense, unrelenting ocular pain comparable to a severe migraine. Dogs stoically suffer this pain, often showing only subtle behavioral changes that owners misinterpret. Many dogs with glaucoma have already lost significant vision before diagnosis because the behavioral signs are easily attributed to aging or temperament. Emergency treatment of acute glaucoma crises and consistent long-term IOP management protect welfare by reducing pain. For blind, painful eyes, enucleation eliminates suffering entirely and is not the welfare-negative procedure it might appear.