Can a diabetic dog become blind?

Cataracts are a common complication of diabetes in dogs that can lead to blindness if left untreated. Within nine months of being diagnosed with diabetes, about 75 percent of dogs develop cataracts or blindness in both eyes.

Regular visits to a veterinary ophthalmologist can help prevent cataracts from progressing to blindness in diabetic dogs. Cataracts can develop very quickly in dogs, and they can cause inflammation that leads to glaucoma without treatment. Once glaucoma has developed, it may not be possible to fix the cataracts surgically. Cataract surgery has a high success rate and both eyes can be done in one day.