Re: [pyrnet] Pyr eyes

[Jack & Charlotte Perry <pyreau@erols.com>]

Darrell, thanks so much for the information on CERF and eye problems.  Although we have had some of our
dogs checked and none had any problems, I did not realize that we should do this more than once.  I'm all
for doing any checks we can to ensure that we are breeding healthy animals.  (of course,  the dogs that I
thought didn't see well passed all the checks!).
Charlotte

darrell goolsbee wrote:

> Eye exams for breeding stock are recommended yearly by CERF. For pets or
> other dogs not being bred, it would not be necessary as often, but eye
> conditions change with age. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), one of
> the most serious eye diseases in Pyrs, comes in both early and late
> onset forms, so a single examination of a young dog might well not catch
> it. There are also early and late onset forms of cataracts.
>
> It also should be noted that as of early this year, less than 1 percent
> of all Pyr breeding stock in the U.S. had been certified by CERF.
>
> <<We are being told now that this new
> > condition is "one no big deal", but I suspect differently from what you and others have reported.>>
>
> Multifocal retinopathy involves detachements of the retina that form
> lesions. But the disease does not APPEAR to affect the dogs' vision and
> does not seem to worsen with age.
>
> I don't know that I would put it in the same class as PRA and juvenile
> cataracts -- two devastating and blinding eye diseases. But I don't
> think it should be dismissed, either. I have talked to Dr. Grahn, and he
> described the reason Pyr breeders should be concerned by comparing it to
> Collie Eye Anomaly. You wouldn't want to deliberately produce an
> abnormal eye. And if unchecked and ignored, you could reach a situation
> like collies and CEA -- where it is almost impossible to find a collie
> with normal eyes (up to 90 percent of collies have CEA.)
>
>
> << I am not sure there is any evidence in the breed though that PPM, is
> > anything
> > to worry about.  I have talked with now five specialists including the
> > head
> > fo the department at vet school at Univ of Ga and they do not think in
> > pyrs
> > this is anything other than a non resolving primitive developmental
> > condition
> > that does not affect their sight.  I have not had one tell me that
> > PPM, will
> > be a precursor of cataracts.  I have had them tell me that it is
> > probabaly
> > nothing to worry about.>>
>
> I don't think I would get too worried about PPMs either. They appear to
> be common in the breed and do not appear to cause problems.
>
> However, I do think they bear watching and a breeder would be wise to be
> aware of them in his or her stock. In several other breeds, including
> Mastiffs, CERF will not certify a PPM dog. Clearly CERF does not have
> enough information to make this kind of determination in Pyrs, and Pyrs
> with PPMs are certified.
>
> There are three basic types of PPM, though there are variations and
> unattached PPMs. Iris to iris PPMs cause no problems. Iris to lens PPMs
> can cause cataracts at the point they are attached to the lens. Iris to
> cornea PPMs can cause damage to the inner lining of the cornea, which
> can in extreme cases lead to blindness. (CERF News, June 1997).
>
> Of the 10 dogs to be diagnosed with PPMs at the eye clinic at Nationals,
> one did have a potentially more serious iris to cornea PPM -- my late
> Pyr Cody.
>
> My thought is that multifocal retinopathy and PPMs both bear watching. I
> would not say absolutely do not breed a dog with either of these
> conditions, but it would be best not to double up on them. And if a dog
> has other "problems" as well, these could add to the case for deciding
> not to breed.
>
> Darrell Goolsbee
> Fort Worth, TX
>
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