Eyes on Diabetes: Recognizing and Managing Ocular Disease in Diabetic Dogs

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder associated with a wide range of systemic and ocular complications. Chronic hyperglycemia leads to metabolic, vascular, and inflammatory changes that impact multiple ocular structures, including the lens, retina, cornea, and optic nerve. This session reviews the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of ocular disease in diabetic patients, with an emphasis on dogs and key species differences.

• Be able to educate clients on how diabetes mellitus can affect the eye.
• Be familiar with the changes secondary to diabetes mellitus that should be monitored
• Learn why diabetic cats do not get cataracts the same as diabetic dogs