Tutumaiao

Thanks for the links. In regards to the top, that link had already been posted. In relation to the bottom - Source - American College of Veterinary Opthamologists

I would think eyes are our biggest issue in the breed. This is something as a whole we need to address, be honest and open about in a effort to try and lesson the occurance of issues cropping up. I don't think we will ever eradicate the problem of eye diseases faced in the Siberian but by being responsible and honest we can try and make eye issues less prevalent. If the ACES scheme finally makes the database accesible and breeders ensure their results can be viewed as public record in Australia we can make some more informed decisions in the directions we take our breeding programs. I would love for a scheme like SHOR to be set up in Australia, however it takes breeders actually sending in 'ALL RESULTS'...the good, the bad and the ugly to make it worthwhile. When ACES d/base is up and running provided the owners have allowed the dogs results to be viewed as public record, this may be our only real window outside of approaching every breeder individually for the eye results of their dogs to see what is 'really' out there.

We are totally off tangent from the original topic of Eye Staining lol, but, happy to continue with this. I agree, in the Siberian Husky I think the breed is well on the lower side of the medium hip average. I'm not sure (Steve would probably have to jump in here) whether she was including hip scores of BYB's for the results of the reports she has looked at to conclude that ('we' - gather this is cross board) havent done anything 'over all' to bring them down or eradicate the issue. I could only 'assume' that BYB's don't even bother to score their dogs for them to be included in the reports Steve has??? I am of the belief that the Siberian Husky however is currently in good shape in regards to hips, I can't speak for other breeds.

The Siberian Husky Health Survey 2005/2006 is the first-ever statistically significant survey of the health of our breed undertaken by Dr. Margaret Slater on behalf of Siberian Husky Health Foundation, USA. The results and statistics were compiled by Dr. Margaret Slater DVM, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University. Her findings were Eye problems were the most reported health concern. About 15% of the dogs included in the survey were considered to have some type of eye problem. The most identified problems were juvenile cataracts and cataracts over eight years of age. Males were 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with juvenile cataracts than females. Without permission of the SHHF to print the results, I will refer you to the following link: http://www.siberianhuskyhealthfoundation.o...%20survey-3.pdf Please see Page 8 - For Eye Diseases. Note the absence of Distichia being diagnosed in 561 dogs used in the study. So considering how how they define a known genetic disorder in a breed I would say that Distichia is NOT a known genetic issue in the breed. Not even mentioned as a known issue in our breeds foremost authority on health concerns on their website either, unless I'm blind? I could only assume they 'overlooked' the issue or it isn't one? Robin's results based in 1991 although very interesting based on 40 dogs tested is also very outdated now. Not once does he or the study relate Distichia as being a hereditary condition of the breed, actually to date no one has related Distichia as being a hereditary condition of the Siberian Husky. If it was it would be high up there with on the list of concerns with the hereditary conditions of the eye that Siberian breeders are concerned about being - Goniodysgenesis, Hereditary Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy and PRA. Until such time as the SHHF, SHA, CERF notify the worlds respective Siberian breed clubs that Distichia is a herditary issue in the breed, it is NOT one. To date - the SHCV Inc hasnt' been notified as such, has the NSW Club? As a forward, please note the study of which link is included is very interesting not just in relation to eyes but of other conditions that affect the Siberian.

I couldn't answer the top sentence...I'm not a Canine Ophthalmologist who would be responsible for passing or failing a animal. I just know there are siberians that have been diagnosed with the condition that have been deemed suitable for breeding and it is not a recognised heriditory issue for the breed. As to whether 'others' if faced with the condition had a failed animal or not and bred with it - who knows? I personally do not know of anyone that has. I guess people can also ask the question why people breed with untested animals or animals with other known conditions - who knows? Provided breeders are responsible and get their dogs eyes tested are are honest and open about the results, hopefuly being well informed we can lesson the occurance of issues arising in the breed.

Distichia is not a hereditory issue in the Siberian. It would be up to the Canine Ophthalmologist testing the dog to determine whether or not that dog (Siberian) should be bred with. So in cases where there is 'a' additional eyelash in a Siberian, and the dog has passed gonio, HD, CD, PRA, the Canine Ophthalmologist will either note suitable for breeding or not...however that would be up to the individual examiner. If Distichia is pronounced I could not imagine them passing an animal, regardless of whether its not a Heriditory issue in the breed as a abundance of excessive eyelashes can result in other issues such as Corneal Ulcers. End of the day when it comes to a breeding program the Canine Ophthalmologist would have to determine whether the animal was suitable or not viewing the state of the condition in front of them.

Hope what I wrote made some sense in my tired state and was in some ways helpful. Sorry to hear of your friends dog. Sucks to have a promising dog eliminated from a breeding/showing programme due to failed reports - eye/hip etc. It will certainly be interesting to know what condition it failed on, abeit, it wont change the fact the dog can not impact a breeding programme though. Interested out of curiosity and to extend ones knowledge more than anything. I knew I would forget something in this lack of sleep state. Most importantly I hope the dog in question is not/has not suffered, regardless of the condition/symptoms and why the dog failed, its wellbeing is of the most importance.

Hope what I wrote made some sense in my tired state and was in some ways helpful. Sorry to hear of your friends dog. Sucks to have a promising dog eliminated from a breeding/showing programme due to failed reports - eye/hip etc. It will certainly be interesting to know what condition it failed on, abeit, it wont change the fact the dog can not impact a breeding programme though. Interested out of curiosity and to extend ones knowledge more than anything.

You would probably be better off asking a Canine Ophthalmologist that question rather than I. However, being present at one exam where a dog (not my own) was diagnosed with such - notes (Extra Eyelash - ok for breeding, not genetically related), animal has been bred with. Who am I or the owner to say the Ophthalmologist has no idea what they are doing. If they deem the dog ok for breeding and note it as such, then the dog is ok for breeding. As I've stated earlier this is not a genetic nor a common issue in the Siberian.

Firstly, I didn't find the post of Hotwyr to be nasty or sarcastic in any way, shape or form - now you may have, however as individuals people will always read into something written how they see fit and each individual will view any post, not just Hotwyrs uniquely. Hotwyr also replied to the following: which could also be deemed a tad nasty and sarcastic. Myself, I don't find either posters posts offensive. That being said... getting back to the topic at hand. The Eye Examination Certification is not all that complex. A dog will either be affected or unaffected from the conditions listed above. For the Siberian Husky Ophthalmologists are specifically looking in regards to hereditary conditions the following - Goniodysgenesis, Hereditary Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy and PRA. Distichia is NOT a hereditary condition of the Siberian Husky. In fact there are dogs in Australia, US and Canada of which have been diagnosed with Distichia of which have all passed their respective countries eye exams. For those that don't know Distichia are Extra Eyelashes found right on the eyelid edge, and they grow from glands in the eyelid edge. In addition to Distichia, dogs may be affected by Ectopic cilia, again NOT a hereditary condition in the Siberian Husky. Etopic Cilia are usually single eyelid hairs that are growing the wrong way, and they actually grow right onto the eye. Entropian is a condition in which the eyelids fold INWARD, eyelashes rub against the cornea of the eye causing irritation, this is also NOT a hereditary condition of the Siberian Husky. Then on the flip side of Entropian there is Ectropion. This is a condition in which the lower eyelid turns OUTWARDS. It is one of the notable aspects of newborns exhibiting Harlequin Ichthyosis. Ectropion is also found in dogs as a genetic disorder in certain breeds, the Siberian Husky NOT being one of them. Then Corneal Ulceration. Corneal ulcers are one of the most common eye issues in dogs. They are caused by trauma, detergent burns, and infections. Other eye conditions can cause corneal ulcers, such as entropion (already described above) Distichia (already described above), Corneal Dystrophy (will get to this later) and conjunctivitis (dry eye). There have been only a few cases where corneal ulceration was caused by the canine herpes virus. Superficial ulcers involve a loss of part of the epithelium. Deep ulcers extend into or through the stroma and can result in severe scarring and corneal perforation. Descemetoceles occur when the ulcer extends through the stroma. This type of ulcer is especially dangerous and can result in perforation. We had a pup which at 4 days of age developed Descemetoceles, his eye was removed. Its was NOT hereditary. It was Immune-mediated. The location of the ulcer depends somewhat on the cause. Central ulcers are typically caused by trauma, dry eye, or exposure from facial nerve paralysis or exophthalmos. Ulcers in the inferior nasal cornea may be caused by foreign material trapped under the third eyelid. We had a bitch of which got a grass seed trapped under the third eyelid which developed this form of Ulcer of which has since also passed a eye exam. Entropion or distichia (described above) may cause ulceration of the peripheral cornea due to irritation on the cornea. Ulceration of the cornea is NOT genetically related in the Siberian Husky. There is NO hereditary disease aside from Corneal Dystrophy of which affects the Siberian Husky and the Cornea. In regards to the Siberian of the conditions you described - they are NOT Genetically related to the Siberian. No one is saying that what Mickatie said isn't true, just that it doesn't add up. Not having a shot, however, if one comes in on a thread with a statement that is only half supported with no evidence or condition reported then people are going to ask questions to try and ascertain the condition in which a dog failed its eye exam in which as she stated tearing was a symptom of the condition. The other thing that is confusing is that its been stated twice now by two different posters that the owner of 'said dog' gives permission for 'said dog' to be discussed. How then do we not know what the condition is? Surely the condition has been discussed for approval to be sought to post on this dog??? So getting back to Tearing: As mentioned in a previous post - 'Excessive tear staining is a result of a medical condition called Epiphora. Properly formed tear ducts connect the eye area with the naso-pharyngeal area and provide a drainage between these areas. When the tear ducts are closed, shallow, or narrow, the tear ducts overflow because there is an inadequate (or closed) channel for the passage of fluids. This excessive fluid causes staining.' The causes of tearing unrelated to Epiphora referenced from Eye Care Handout: 1. Irritation - This causes an increase in tear production. Such conditions include extra eyelashes, ectopic cilia, conjunctivitis, entropion, corneal ulceration. 2. Decreased tear drainage This causes an overflow of the tears. Tear duct blockages, punctal atresia, medial entropion, are causes for the decreased drainage. The most common cause of increased tear production is conjunctivitis. Long term treatment with cortisone drops is usually required in dogs. Other causes of irritation to the eye include entropion, ectropion, extra eyelashes, ectopic cilia and hairs on the inside eyelid corner. In most cases surgery is required to correct these problems. Again, none of the above are genetically related in the Siberian, nor are they common place. Short answer to this question is NO, there is no relationship between the two. Corneal dystrophy affects the cornea or the outer transparent portion of the eyeball. In most cases, Siberian Huskies with this disorder have an abnormal collection of lipids in the clear cornea of the eye which results in a hazy or crystalline opacity. Ophthalmologists describe the location of the opacity as anterior, mid, or deep stromal. The Siberian Husky is prone to deep stromal dystrophy which involves triglyceride deposits. Annular dystrophy also occurs and appears as a doughnut shaped opacity in the peripheral cornea. Corneal dystrophy is usually seen in young adult dogs and may affect females more than males. Vision is seldom affected and no effective therapy for the condition exists at this time. Unfortunately, with CD in the Siberian, this condition is now also cropping in maturity and biggest issue is that generally its showing up after animals have been bred with early and its cropping up when they are 5-7 years of age. Goniodysgenesis refers to abnormal and incomplete development of the intraocular fluid egrss channels inside the eye. Normal intraocular fluid (aqueous humor) is produced inside the eye by the ciliary body (faucet) and then flows around the lens, through the pupil and into the drainage angle (drain) in the front of the 'eye'. The pectinate ligaments are small channels that form tunnels for fluid to drain from the eye. If an animal has goniodysgenesis, the flow holes are compromised and the animal 'may' have an increased glaucoma risk. Goniodysgenesis itself is NOT related to tear production. The normal pressure within the eye is 10 to 25 mm Hg. When the pressure is increased (usually > 30 mm Hg) a diagnosis of glaucoma is made. Primary Glaucoma in some dogs the outflow of fluid from the eye is blocked by an abnormal drainage angle. Secondary Glaucoma is glaucoma that develops due to inflammation of the eye (uveitis), lens luxation, blood in the eye (hyphaema), or due to growths inside the eye. The early signs of glaucoma 1. Redness of the white of the eye 2. Blue, hazy eye 3. Dilated pupil that will not become smaller when a bright light e.g. penlight, is shone into the eye. There is NO tearing during early stage Glaucoma. Late stage Glaucoma 'may' cause tearing due to light 'irritating' the eye only. However, if the dog in question has late stage Glaucoma for tearing to be a symptom of it, it wouldn't take a Ophthalmologist to work that out as the condition is clearly visible to the naked eye and the owner should certainly be aware of it. I would hope it was not a breeding animal if it has this condition and feel terrible for the owner as by now the dog would be blind. Also hope this has helped answer the original question. As stated above: The causes of tearing as noted from a Canine Ophthalmologist handout: 1. Irritation - This causes an increase in tear production. Such conditions include extra eyelashes, ectopic cilia, conjunctivitis, entropion, corneal ulceration. 2. Decreased tear drainage This causes an overflow of the tears. Tear duct blockages, punctal atresia, medial entropion, are causes for the decreased drainage. The most common cause of increased tear production is conjunctivitis. Long term treatment with cortisone drops is usually required in dogs. Other causes of irritation to the eye include entropion, ectropion, extra eyelashes, ectopic cilia and hairs on the inside eyelid corner. In most cases surgery is required to correct these problems. Again, none of the above are genetically related in the Siberian, nor are they common place. You will find irritant/allergies being the main cause of tear staining in the Siberian Husky. Written enough for this month...lol...back to tend to puppies

He's got a lot more Mastiff in him than Boxer and measuring his feet at the widest point is around 8.3 or 8.4 cm, so XX-Large it was! I'll be trying them on with a sock or stocking of some sort first, of course, just in case... He's a big boy - at the dog beach the only dogs bigger than him are Danes. Erin Hi Erin, We have a similar problem with our 13 year old Goldie who is damaging both his back paws through dragging (spinal nerve damage). I'm thinking of getting the Grip tex boots and was wondering how they worked out for you. My concerns are: will they be too hot and sweaty (we are in a sub tropical climate) and will the sides be strong enough as it is the side of the paws that get damaged. Any feedback on how you went with them would be much appreciated. regards Paul Based in the US http://www.dogbooties.com/index.html Lightweight Justine.

Excessive tear staining is a result of a medical condition called Epiphora. Properly formed tear ducts connect the eye area with the naso-pharyngeal area and provide a drainage between these areas. When the tear ducts are closed, shallow, or narrow, the tear ducts overflow because there is an inadequate (or closed) channel for the passage of fluids. This excessive fluid causes staining. Like Stirling said earlier: The drainage angle of the eye ball itself (measured on gonioscopy), has NO bearing on tear production/staining. The drainage angle is INSIDE the eye and has nothing to do with tear production/drainage, it refers to drainage of aqueous (fluid in the front chamber of the globe). There is no correlation at all b/n tear staining and hereditary narrow drainage angles in the Siberian at all. Regardless of whether a Siberian failed a eye exam, the tear staining of that particular animal is totally unrelated. Tear Staining in Siberians is not common, it is not a issue in the breed. It will show in animals who are sensitive and suffer from allergies, other conditions that can cause tear staining are foreign irritants to the eye causing excessive tearing to clear out the foreign irritant, or, conjunctivitis. However, allergies, foreign irritants or conjunctivitis can occur in any breed, it is not isolated to the Siberian. There are also some Siberians with very unfortunate facial markings of which can give an illusion of tear staining, especially in red siberians, examine the dog closely and one will find its coat markings. Hope this helps.