But as he is getting older, his vision is getting worse.

He can't always see the treats thrown for him. And he has a hard time recognizing people a short distance away.

It appears his vision is going.

I performed a brief exam, and his has a noticeable whiteness in the center of his eyes.

Cataracts – likely normal aging changes going on with the lens – in veterinary terms called lenticular sclerosis. It's a very common finding with older pets – perhaps you have had a similar experience.

In most cases, it means subtle vision loss, and this is usually more noticed at nights (under lower light).

While I was practicing, I would typically tell clients in this situation to monitor the changes, and not do much at all.

Rapidly forming advanced cataracts are different – they can lead to complete blindness, and they have different causes (e.g., diabetes).

Fortunately, there are some holistic options, and I am trying some of these on Jessie now.

SUPPLEMENTS. The antioxidants Vitamin E (dose is 100 IU per 10 lbs) and Vitamin C (dose is 100 mg per 10 lbs), plus specific flavonoids, such as Quercetin (dose is 25 mg per 10 lbs) or bilberry (dose is 1 capsule per 10 lbs), may be helpful for cases of allergic eye infections and cataracts.

CINERARIA. Has been effective in reducing the size of some cataracts and decreasing cataract formation. To make a sterile eye solution, purchase sterile saline from a pharmacy. Using the tincture dilute the mixture with 1/2 saline and 1/2 cineraria. Apply one drop twice daily to the affected eye, being careful not to contaminate the eyedropper. This must be used for three months before evaluating its effectiveness.

CHRYSANTHEMUM. This can be found as a Chinese remedy called Ju Hua. It is safe for both dogs and cats. The dose is 1/4 teaspoon per 10 lbs. of the dried herb twice daily. Another Chinese herbal formula called HACHIMIJIOGAN is shown to slow cataract progression.