Abstract
This study investigates vision and the time to consultation with veterinary clinics after the recognition of abnormalities by the owner in canine glaucomatous cases. A hundred-fifty eight dogs with 195 eyes diagnosed with glaucoma in the Triangle Animal Eye Clinic (TAEC) from 2006-2007 were investigated. Medical records were reviewed to calculate the time to consultation with a veterinary clinic and/or TAEC after the owner recognized abnormalities, and the rates of vision maintenance on consulting with TAEC were also computed. The time to consultation were divided into two groups, within three days and four days or more. Consultations were held with the veterinary clinic on 73.3% of glaucomatous cases within three days, while consultations on 26.7% of cases were held four days or more after abnormalities were recognized. Only 16.8% of the glaucomatous cases consulting with TEAC maintained their vision. However, 54.5% of cases visiting within three days kept their vision, whereas vision was only saved in 8.9% of cases that consulted four days or more after abnormali ties were recognized. These results differ from a past report on glaucomatous dogs and this study indicates that many glaucomatous dogs visit a veterinary hospital soon after their owners recognize abnormalities. In addition, we suspect that those cases possibly maintain their vision on consulting with a veterinary hospital.
