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Eye Exams for Pets

Eye Exams for Pets

Healthy eyes aren’t just important for us humans. Your pet is equally as reliant on having healthy eyes and clear vision to enjoy a full, active and happy life. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that your precious furbaby undergoes at least an annual eye exam. This is a comprehensive, non-invasive assessment that is completely painless for your pet.


We are pleased to be able to offer pets in our care a fully-inclusive eye exam service that is performed by our experienced and knowledgeable veterinary team.

How is a pet eye exam performed?

As you might expect, a pet eye exam is a little different to a human eye test and there are certainly no eye charts involved! However, there are some similar elements. This is what you can expect from your pet’s eye appointment.


History-taking

If we don’t already have full information about the health of your pet, we will begin by asking you a series of questions about his overall health and wellbeing as well as his eye history. It will be helpful if you bring any information regarding the previous diagnosis’, treatments and medications and the greater the level of detail we have, the better we will be able to care for your pet.


Routine ophthalmic tests

These initial tests are vital for the health of your pet’s eyes. One is a tear test, which measures the amount of tear film present in your pet’s eyes. Abnormally high levels of tear film could indicate ocular irritation, while insufficient tear film indicates a condition called dry eye syndrome. A small strip of paper is used to absorb and measure the tear film, meaning the process is painless.

Another is known as tonometry, and this is carried out to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). First, your pets’ eyes will be numbed using special drops. Then a device called a tonometer is gently touched to the surface of his eye. Again, this should be painless. A high IOP reading could indicate that your pet is suffering from or at risk of glaucoma.

In addition to the tests above, our veterinarian will also use several special pieces of equipment to look inside your pet’s eyes at the retina and optic nerve to check that they look normal and healthy and that there are no obvious abnormalities. These can tell us important information about his ocular and general health.

Using the information from all of the tests listed above, our veterinary team will be able to estimate, with reasonable accuracy, how well your pet can see. If we believe that your pet may be suffering from an eye problem, we will speak to you to arrange any additional testing that we feel is beneficial, and/or make a recommendation for treatment.

How do I know if my pet needs an additional eye exam?

While annual eye exams are an ideal tool for monitoring your pet’s eye health and vision, this isn’t to say that problems might not occur in between these appointments. If you notice any of the following, you should arrange for your pet to see your veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist as soon as possible:

  • An abnormal appearance to one or both eyes

  • An obvious injury to the eye

  • You suspect that your pet is experiencing changes in vision

  • Your pet is showing signs of distress such as holding an eye closed or pawing at it

If you would like more information about pet eye exams, or if you would like to request an appointment for your furry friend, please contact our veterinary offices in Elko, NV.

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