HEALTH - INHERITED EYE DEFECTS - PART I
Cocker Spaniel Update PURINA PRO CLUB
Inherited Eye Defects Common in Cocker Spaniels
Most breeders are keenly
aware of the Cocker Spaniel’s susceptibility to inherited eye problems.
Numerous eye conditions can afflict the breed, causing minor visualimpairment to blindness.
Currently, intensive research is underway to identify causative genes for many canine eye conditions. Until those genes are identified and DNA tests to detect carriers are developed, judicious breeding decisions are critical to help reduce the incidence of these eye conditions.
Kerry Ketring, D.V.M., DACVO, a noted canine ophthalmologist, author and diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology, sees more than 8,500 patients a year at his All Animal Eye Clinic in Cincinnati. “For our canine patients in breeding
programs, we strongly recommend annual exams,” says Ketring. “Routine examination by a board-certified canine ophthalmologist assists in early recognition of inherited condi¬tions and helps breeders to observe prudent breeding practices.”
Until significant heritable eye conditions are eliminated, breeders need to be aware of some of the most common and/or serious Cocker Spaniel eye disorders. Here is an overview of some of these disorders
Cataracts
The canine eye, like the human eye, has a clear lens inside it that is used for focusing. A cataract is an opacity that forms on this lens, inhibiting light from reaching the retina. Cataracts may begin as small cloudy sections
of the lens that do not impair vision. Typically the opacity grows to cover the entire lens and functional vision is lost. Cataracts may develop in one or both eyes quickly over the course of several weeks or slowly over several years.
For most dogs, surgery to remove the cataract(s) becomes necessary. “As long as a dog is in good general health with no other significant eye problems, the animal is considered a good candidate for cataract surgery,” says Ketring. “The success rate for cataract surgery is now greater than 90 percent. That is due, in part, to more sophisticated equipment and ever-improving surgical techniques
The most common method of canine cataract removal is phacoemulsification, the same procedure that is used for human cataract removal. In phacoemul-sification, a small incision is made through which a probe breaks up the cataract with ultrasonic vibration. After the entire lens is removed, an artificial replacement lens, called an intraocular lens, is put in place.
How You Can Help Safeguard Cocker Health
Cocker Spaniel breeders can help improve the health and welfare of the breed by participating in programs, such as the ones listed below.
Cocker DNA Bank
The American Spaniel Club Foundation (ASCF) encourages breeders and owners to submit their dogs’ DNA to the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine for the Cocker DNA Bank. This ready resource of stored DNA will be available for research on a variety of canine health conditions
For the first year, the ASCF will pay each dog’s $10 storage fee. Breed clubs hosting blood draw clinics can raise $2 for each dog submitted to the Cocker DNA Bank.
Comprehensive Breed Health Survey
Participate in the ASCF Cocker Spaniel confidential online survey and be a part of an international database of Cocker Spaniel information invaluable to breeders and researchers alike. Please Note: The survey is currently being reconstructed. ASCF will notify breeders when it is available on-line.
VetGen Research Projects
DNA samples are needed from American Cocker Spaniels with cataracts and their affected and unaffected family members, and from American Cocker Spaniels with PRA. The DNA is collected with small brush swabs provided by VetGen. All is free of charge and completely confidential. Contact Cheryl Hogue at healthydog@vetgen.com.
Another reason cataract surgery is so successful is the introduction of better anti-inflammatory drugs. “Post-operatively, owners can expect aggressive drug therapy for their animals for several weeks. Non-steroidal anti¬inflammatory drugs have proven quite useful at controlling the inflammation that is a consequence of cataract surgery,” notes Ketring.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA, refers to a group of eye conditions involving gradual deterioration of the retina, eventually leading to blindness. The retina is located at the back of the eye. It takes the light gathered and focused by the other eye structures, converts it into electrical nerve signals and sends it on to the optic nerve and then the brain for interpretation
In Cockers, PRA has a variable age of onset, from as early as 18 months to as late as seven years.2 PRA is not painful, and the outward appearance
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