Mary Allen
Veterinary ophthalmologists today are often able to differentiate between acquired and inherited eye diseases. This examination is painless for the dog and only takes a few minutes. Diseases can be detected in most dogs from the age of twelve months; this means that ideally disease can be detected before the dog is used for breeding. Ask your veterinarian for advice on preventive check-ups.
Progressive retinal atrophy PRA is a slowly progressive disease of the retina that can lead to total blindness over time. Two forms of PRA have known as the generalized form, where the dog can go completely blind, and the central form, which does not always lead to complete blindness. A dog suffering from central PRA sees better in dim light than in daylight in the early stages of the disease. Early detection is important for breeding. However, PRA can only manifest itself quite late, after a bitch has already given birth to several puppies or the male has already covered dozens of bitches.
Retinal dysplasia RD: Retinal dysplasia is an abnormal development of the retina that can occur together with retinal detachment. The disease can be secondary to other diseases developing in the eye, or it can be a primary inherited disease. In this case, it is already present after the completion of eye development and is not progressive. It can be diagnosed at around eight weeks of age. The impairment of vision depends on the extent of the change. In the best case, no significant visual disturbances can be seen, in the worst case, an animal is blind on both sides. Inherited retinal dysplasia has often been observed in connection with other disorders of the eye, but also of the skeletal and cardiovascular systems.
Cataract: A cataract (cataract) is any clouding of the lens that can have various causes. The best known is senile cataract, which occurs in many breeds and can be considered a normal occurrence in old dogs. Cataracts can be secondary to diabetes, high cortisone doses, uveitis, infrared lamps during rearing, or retinal disease, or they can be inherited as an independent disease. The development of a cataract leads to impaired vision, in the worst case to blindness.
Microphtalmus: an eye that is too small, eye anomaly that is typical of the breed and partly due to the standard.
Distichiasis: duplication of a row of eyelashes directed against the eyeball or even just a few eyelashes. The eyelashes cause constant irritation of the cornea and conjunctiva.
Entropion: inward rolling of the lid margin
Ectropion: outward rolling of the lid margin
CCA or CEA (Collie’s Eye Anomaly): CCA is a congenital, inherited eye disease that can occur in varying degrees and affects one or both eyes. The disease includes an embryonic developmental disorder of the fundus of the eye with non-pigmented areas, pronounced torsion of the retinal arteries and veins, depressions, and worm-shaped streaks near the optic disc up to retinal detachment.
Dermoid cysts: Cysts on the cornea that need to be surgically removed.
Lens luxation: misalignment of the lenses.
Goniodysplasia: deformity of the chamber angle.