Cataracts form in diabetic dogs because of the disruption of normal lens metabolism. The pathophysiology seems to be a combination of increased lens cell membrane permeability, reduced cell membrane function, damage from accumulating osmotic products (polyols), glycosylation of lens proteins, and oxidative injury. Lens-induced uveitis must be recognized and managed in presurgical preparation of dogs with diabetes cataracts. Phacoemulsification is the current treatment of choice for diabetic cataracts in dogs and can be performed at an earlier time than traditional extracapsular lens extraction. This may allow for greater success rates after surgery.