Uveitis in Dogs and Cats: Causes, Treatment, and Protecting Vision Long-Term

Imagine noticing one evening that your dog is squinting, or that your cat’s eyes- normally so clear- now look cloudy and red. The next day, your pet refuses to play in the sunlight, pawing at their face as if in pain. Situations like this often lead families to an ophthalmology specialist, because what they’re seeing may be uveitis, inflammation inside the eye that can threaten vision if not treated quickly.

At Veterinary Vision Center in Shreveport, we specialize exclusively in veterinary ophthalmology. With advanced diagnostic tools and a board-certified ophthalmologist, we routinely manage uveitis cases that are complex, chronic, or unresponsive to standard therapy. Because untreated uveitis is painful and can cause irreversible blindness, it is considered an ocular emergency.

What Exactly Is Uveitis?

The uvea is the middle layer of the eye, made up of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. Inflammation here disrupts the eye’s delicate balance: fluid and protein leak into the normally clear chambers, light control is lost, and the retina may suffer from lack of oxygen.

There are different forms of uveitis:

  • Anterior uveitis: affecting the iris and ciliary body.
  • Posterior uveitis: inflammation of the choroid at the back of the eye.
  • Panuveitis: when the entire uveal tract is inflamed. This is the most common type in small animals.

Typical signs include miosis (a constricted pupil), flare (cloudiness in the anterior chamber), redness, squinting, tearing, and photophobia- pain in bright light. Owners may also notice corneal cloudiness or changes in the shape of the pupil.

Why Uveitis Matters

Unlike more superficial eye conditions such as conjunctivitis in dogs and cats, uveitis originates deeper and often signals systemic illness. If untreated, complications can include cataracts, retinal detachment, acute glaucoma, and eventually blindness.

Because these complications can develop quickly, every case of uveitis deserves immediate evaluation from an ophthalmologist equipped to handle advanced disease.

What Causes Uveitis in Pets?

Uveitis has a long list of potential triggers, generally divided into ocular causes (problems within the eye itself) and systemic causes (whole-body disease).

Ocular Causes

  • Corneal ulcers can trigger reflex anterior uveitis.
  • Lens-induced uveitis occurs when cataracts leak proteins into the eye. This is common in diabetic pets, where cataracts form quickly. Cataracts in pets are not just a vision problem; they can directly spark painful inflammation.
  • Ocular trauma from accidents or scratches.
  • Primary intraocular tumors, such as melanoma or ciliary body neoplasia. Eye cancers in dogs often present initially as uveitis.

Systemic Causes

  • Infectious disease:

  • Immune-mediated conditions: Lens-induced uveitis, vasculitis, or syndromes like uveodermatologic syndrome in certain breeds.
  • Systemic illness: Diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or neoplasia spreading from other organs.

How Uveitis Is Diagnosed

Because uveitis has so many possible causes, diagnosis requires both an eye exam and systemic testing.

At Veterinary Vision Center, we use advanced diagnostics that go beyond what is available at most general practices, including:

  • Schirmer tear tests, tonometry, and fluorescein staining
  • Gonioscopy to assess drainage angles
  • Ocular ultrasonography to evaluate the retina and choroid
  • Electroretinography to assess retinal function
  • Cytology or aqueous taps for identifying infectious or neoplastic cells

We also coordinate systemic workups including blood panels, infectious disease testing, and imaging to identify hidden illnesses. This allows us to find the “why” behind the uveitis, not just treat the surface signs.

Treatment of Uveitis

Treatment has two goals: relieve pain and inflammation, and target the underlying cause.

Non-Specific Therapy

  • Topical corticosteroids (such as prednisolone acetate) reduce inflammation but cannot be used if a corneal ulcer is present.
  • Topical NSAIDs like flurbiprofen may be safer in some patients.
  • Cycloplegic agents such as atropine relieve pain and prevent adhesions.
  • Systemic anti-inflammatories (prednisone, oral NSAIDs, or even immunosuppressants like cyclosporine) are used in posterior uveitis or severe panuveitis.

For pet owners, administering drops correctly is critical. Cornell’s guide to giving eye medications is a helpful resource.

Specific Therapy

  • Antimicrobials: Antibiotics, antifungals, or antiprotozoals when infections are confirmed.
  • Immune-modulating drugs: Cyclosporine or stronger immunosuppressants for immune-mediated cases.
  • Surgery: Cataract surgery for lens-induced uveitis, or enucleation if neoplasia is present.

Therapy should be aggressive early to minimize permanent damage.

Managing Complicated or Chronic Uveitis

This is where a board-certified ophthalmologist makes the difference. Some uveitis cases respond quickly, but many do not. Chronic, viral, or immune-mediated uveitis can be among the most frustrating conditions to manage, even for experienced veterinarians.

At Veterinary Vision Center, we often see:

  • Refractory cases where infections resist standard medications, requiring advanced culture and sensitivity testing.
  • Immune-mediated uveitis that demands long-term immunosuppression, sometimes with combination therapy such as cyclosporine and corticosteroids.
  • Chronic viral infections like FIV or FeLV in cats, which cannot be cured but can be managed with ongoing monitoring and treatment.
  • Posterior or panuveitis cases that progress silently and require advanced imaging to catch before vision loss occurs.

For these patients, our specialist develops a customized long-term plan, balancing medications, monitoring for side effects, and adjusting as the disease evolves. For some pets, maintaining comfort and partial vision is a realistic goal. For others, aggressive surgical options may be the best path.

Potential Complications

Without treatment, uveitis often progresses to:

  • Cataracts and lens luxation
  • Synechiae (iris adhesions)
  • Secondary glaucoma
  • Retinal detachment and blindness
  • Phthisis bulbi (a shrunken, nonfunctional eye)

Advanced surgical options available at Veterinary Vision Center, such as glaucoma shunt placement, cataract surgery, or enucleation when necessary, ensure we can address complications with gold-standard care.

Long-Term Care and Monitoring

Some pets with uveitis need lifelong therapy. Tapering medication too quickly risks relapse, so regular rechecks are essential. At Veterinary Vision Center, our advanced imaging tools and specialist-level exams allow us to detect subtle changes before they become crises.

For families, uveitis means becoming partners in daily eye care. With guidance from our team, even complicated cases can be managed successfully, keeping pets comfortable and maintaining vision where possible.

Your Ophthalmology Partner

We know that general practitioners are often the first to recognize signs of uveitis. At Veterinary Vision Center, our vision is to provide veterinary practitioners with a trusted partner for ophthalmology cases. We work side by side with you to ensure that your patient’s ocular care is truly world-class. We take the time to guide your client through the entire process and help them navigate the full road ahead. We care for every animal we see like we would our own. To us, in a way, they truly are. Please get in touch with us for referral opportunities. We are honored to serve you.

Protecting Your Pet’s Vision

Redness, squinting, cloudiness, or behavior changes around light should never be ignored. Uveitis is more than surface irritation. It is a signal of potentially serious disease inside the eye or body. With advanced diagnostics, targeted treatment, and ongoing monitoring, pets can regain comfort and preserve vision.

At Veterinary Vision Center in Shreveport, we provide world-class ophthalmology in a family-style setting. Whether your pet needs urgent care for sudden eye pain or long-term management of chronic uveitis, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Call us at (318) 797-5522 or request an appointment online to protect your pet’s sight.