Possible Eyesight Problems

[rexiam]

Chuzzy is a 6 month old Labrador.

I have noticed for about a month that at times he doesn't seem to be able to see things at a distance. He will put his head up , then back as if he is trying to focus on whatever it is he is trying to look at. He can be way down the yard, I walk out side and he will start barking and going nuts like he doesn't know its me. Molly doesn't react as she know that its me.

He is getting desexed next week and I am going to get the vet to have a look at him then.

In the meantime I thought that I would ask here if anyone else has experienced anythinkg like this.

[Tassie]

No experience of this - just wanted to say a vet check is probably a good idea. If possible, it would be good to get a referral to a canine ophthalmologist. Do any of the vet eye specialists come out to your area? (Down here in Hobart we have one from Melbourne who comes down every 6 weeks or so, which is great.)

And Chuzzy looks a real cutie - in fact al the dogs in your sig look lovely.

[dancinbcs]

You don't actually need a referal to go to a veterinary opthalmologist, you just book an appointment, but your vet should be able to tell you when one may be visiting the area. Otherwise there are four in Sydney.

Any suspected eye problem should be checked out by an opthalmologist. Many breeds, including labs, have a variety of eye problems that they can suffer from. Breeding stock have annual eye exams in several breeds, that I think include labs, and DNA testing for some eye conditions is gradually becoming available.

[Dogsfevr]

Yep forget the vet see a specialist & book sooner than latter.

[ellz]

Definitely see an opthalmologist. Labradors can be prone to PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) which can start as early as 6 weeks of age and causes gradual blindness (often night blindness).

[Sonic]

My Lab has PRA and he was certainly short sighted. I competed with him in retrieving trials and he was never able to see the dummies at a distance. We thought it was a learning problem that he was just not "looking" far enough. I never understood what the problem was until he had a DNA test which showed he had PRA.

Rexiam please understand that at 6 months it is unlikely an ophthalmologist will pick up any signs of PRA - that doesn't mean your dog doesn't have it. If you are concerned about it you can get a DNA test, that will tell you definitely one way or another.

My dog had clear eye certificates right up until the DNA test at age 4. Then I stopped getting him tested and had him neutered instead.

Having said all of that, it could be nothing at all so don't think your dog is going to go blind, just get him tested if it is worrying you.

[lappiemum]

Hi Rexiam-

Re PRA:

There are a couple of different types of PRA. PRA causes degeneration of the cells of the retina, leading to blindness. It can develop either as early onset or late onset degeneration; early onset tends to affect breeds like collies, great danes and min schnauzers - it can occur as early as 6-8 weeks. Generally, dogs that are affected will be blind by the time they are 2-3 yrs old.

Late onset (which is the PRA that has been normally seen in Lappies) usually happens around 4-6 yrs (usually first seen as night blindness), but may be spotted by a vet opthamologist at 18months. This affect breeds such as brittanys, labradors and akitas.

There is a version of early onset PRA that causes day blindness rather than the night blindness - this happens in Alaskan Mals and min poodles, and can present in the mal from 6 weeks to 6 months, in the min poodle by 3months of age. These dogs may be clumsy during daylight hours, and affected by strong lights. They tend to sleep during the day and be more active at night.

Borzois and greyhounds have their own types of PRA - in the borzoi their eyes are affected unevenly (more often with males than females); in greyhounds is develops at 12 months and only affects males.

All PRA is inherited via autosomal recessive genes, which means that a dog needs to have both of the affected genes to be likely to develop the disease. Dogs can be carriers of one of the affected genes and never develop PRA, it is in the mating of carrier to carrier that the resulting litter is at risk genetically.

In your case, it may be a number of things - I would certainly get your lab tested and (if possible with your breed) get a PRA test via DNA (I know that we can do this with lappies, but don't know the situation with labs - although there will be others here on DOL who will know).

If it turns out that your dog is PRA affected you will need to notify the breeder (if possible). PRA affected dogs need to be carefully monitored health wise, as the PRA can also lead to a number of other problems such as glaucoma and uveitis that will need treating early.

Hope that this is NOT the case with Chuzzy.

Edited October 1, 2009 by lappiemum

[rexiam]

Thank you for all the information

I am hoping that its nothing, but when I see him look/act in the way he does it does not sit right with me.

I think that the vet has said that a op;thamologist comes to town once a month. I will definately get him checked out and ask vet about a DNA check.

Tassie Thanks for commenting about my dogs. We lost Sam and Rex 3 days apart last April. Rex was 2 ( cancer ) Sam 9 (dropped dead) Molly and Chuzzy have bought us such joy after such sadness - losing our 2 special dogs has been devastating and OH and I still get quite upset about it.

I have to stay positive that Chuzzy will be ok.

Sonic How is your Lab? Does he have much sight?

[Staff'n'Toller]

Do you know if the parents were DNA tested and what the outcome was?

[rexiam]

Do you know if the parents were DNA tested and what the outcome was?

No, I was only thinking this morning that I will have to contact them and ask.

[lappiemum]

Thank you for all the information

I am hoping that its nothing, but when I see him look/act in the way he does it does not sit right with me.

I think that the vet has said that a op;thamologist comes to town once a month. I will definately get him checked out and ask vet about a DNA check.

Tassie Thanks for commenting about my dogs. We lost Sam and Rex 3 days apart last April. Rex was 2 ( cancer ) Sam 9 (dropped dead) Molly and Chuzzy have bought us such joy after such sadness - losing our 2 special dogs has been devastating and OH and I still get quite upset about it.

I have to stay positive that Chuzzy will be ok.

Sonic How is your Lab? Does he have much sight?

Rexiam - I should mention too that some people have noticed that their PRA dogs have an increase in the 'shine' of the eye at night when the condition starts to develop. Again, it may or may not be relevant to you - I hope not.

[rexiam]

Thank you for all the information

I am hoping that its nothing, but when I see him look/act in the way he does it does not sit right with me.

I think that the vet has said that a op;thamologist comes to town once a month. I will definately get him checked out and ask vet about a DNA check.

Tassie Thanks for commenting about my dogs. We lost Sam and Rex 3 days apart last April. Rex was 2 ( cancer ) Sam 9 (dropped dead) Molly and Chuzzy have bought us such joy after such sadness - losing our 2 special dogs has been devastating and OH and I still get quite upset about it.

I have to stay positive that Chuzzy will be ok.

Sonic How is your Lab? Does he have much sight?

Rexiam - I should mention too that some people have noticed that their PRA dogs have an increase in the 'shine' of the eye at night when the condition starts to develop. Again, it may or may not be relevant to you - I hope not.

Thanks lappiemum I will look at him tonight

[Sonic]

Hi Rexiam

You can get the DNA test done through a couple of places now, the one I went through is Genetic Technologies:

http://www.gtg.com.au/AnimalDNATesting/ind...?menuid=080.150

All you need is a swab from inside your dog's mouth - your vet can do this for you.

What Lappiemum says about the glow in the dog's eyes is correct in my boy's case. If the area he is in is dark but there is light coming from somewhere else, say he is in the lounge with the light off but the kitchen light is on, his eyes have a green glow to them.

At 6 years of age Razz is now night blind and has poor peripheral vision. He is still fine during daylight hours though and you would never know there was a problem. I expect in the next 12 to 18 months that will change significantly though.

I hope this is not the problem with your dog but it doesn't hurt to be aware of the possibilities. From the age of your dog your breeder should definitely have had his parents DNA tested to make sure they were not carrying the PRA gene - both parents need to be carrying the gene to produce an affected pup. There is no excuse now for any Labrador to have PRA.

Good luck and I hope it will all turn out to be nothing.