Persistent Non Patent Hyloid Artery:

[sandgrubber]

I took my girl in to get CERF'd and the vet diagnosed she has persistent non patent hyloid artery. The vet said it was harmless, and not known to be hereditary in Labradors, but that she wasn't sure the girl would pass CERF with this on her charts.

1) does anyone know anything about the condition?

2) if it's harmless and probably not hereditary, why bother to scare us with the diagnosis?

With a little more web scanning, I realise the problem is what is sometimes called 'floaters' in humans . . . and that its only bad effect is that it sometimes interferes with reading. Bonza is not big on reading.

Edited January 13, 2012 by sandgrubber

[LizT]

I took my girl in to get CERF'd and the vet diagnosed she has persistent non patent hyloid artery. The vet said it was harmless, and not known to be hereditary in Labradors, but that she wasn't sure the girl would pass CERF with this on her charts.

1) does anyone know anything about the condition?

2) if it's harmless and probably not hereditary, why bother to scare us with the diagnosis?

With a little more web scanning, I realise the problem is what is sometimes called 'floaters' in humans . . . and that its only bad effect is that it sometimes interferes with reading. Bonza is not big on reading.

When my daughter was born and I first looked into her eyes I could see a tiny grey speck floating in her dark pupil area. I was told by the doctor it was of no consequence.

I think this is an eye floater? It has never bothered her though and she has 20/20 vision with no problems at all.

She will be 19 this Australia Day.

[sandgrubber]

Surprised and impressed. I wrote to CERF and got a quick and thorough reply! Here's the scoop:

This condition is inherited in Labradors (or at least based on numbers (incidence) listed in the book of inherited ocular conditions of purebred dogs considered so). There's not really a great place to read about this but basically it is a remnant or incomplete regression of an embryologic blood vessel that runs from the optic nerve at the back of the eye to the back of the center of the lens to nourish the lens during development. In dogs (this varies with species) if it persists after puppy-hood, it is called a persistent hyaloid artery. It may be blood filled still and then potentially result in bleeding in the back of the eye (though it usually does nothing). It is rarely associated with an opacity or cataract of the back of the lens. It can also be non-patent (without being filled with blood) and/or partial (not spanning the entire distance from the nerve to the lens). So as you were told, I agree that you should expect no consequences. As for the breeding implications and CERF, in breeds where this is an issue, it still passes CERF because it is so benign. It will pass with breeder option qualifier of F1 for persistent hyaloid but really the only thing would be to try or ideally breed away from it by breeding to individuals that don't have F1 which is pretty easy to do as not that many have it, and possibly avoiding E1s (cataract significance unknown) that are posterior capsular (at the back of the lens) and might have a relationship to persistent hyaloid arteries or other similar issues that labs get - in order to know what a specific E1 on a CERF certificate is, you'd have to see the actual exam form.... Anyway, this really shouldn't be a big deal at all and the only reason to monitor it at all is to avoid breeding it "in" with potential more serious consequence in the pups (pretty unlikely). Hope this helps but feel free to email with further questions or concerns.

[LizT]

Surprised and impressed. I wrote to CERF and got a quick and thorough reply! Here's the scoop:

This condition is inherited in Labradors (or at least based on numbers (incidence) listed in the book of inherited ocular conditions of purebred dogs considered so). There's not really a great place to read about this but basically it is a remnant or incomplete regression of an embryologic blood vessel that runs from the optic nerve at the back of the eye to the back of the center of the lens to nourish the lens during development. In dogs (this varies with species) if it persists after puppy-hood, it is called a persistent hyaloid artery. It may be blood filled still and then potentially result in bleeding in the back of the eye (though it usually does nothing). It is rarely associated with an opacity or cataract of the back of the lens. It can also be non-patent (without being filled with blood) and/or partial (not spanning the entire distance from the nerve to the lens). So as you were told, I agree that you should expect no consequences. As for the breeding implications and CERF, in breeds where this is an issue, it still passes CERF because it is so benign. It will pass with breeder option qualifier of F1 for persistent hyaloid but really the only thing would be to try or ideally breed away from it by breeding to individuals that don't have F1 which is pretty easy to do as not that many have it, and possibly avoiding E1s (cataract significance unknown) that are posterior capsular (at the back of the lens) and might have a relationship to persistent hyaloid arteries or other similar issues that labs get - in order to know what a specific E1 on a CERF certificate is, you'd have to see the actual exam form.... Anyway, this really shouldn't be a big deal at all and the only reason to monitor it at all is to avoid breeding it "in" with potential more serious consequence in the pups (pretty unlikely). Hope this helps but feel free to email with further questions or concerns.

Well a least it's not one of the "nasties" that dogs can get.

I wonder if my daughters is gone? Can't say I've gazed into her eyes since she was an infant. :laugh:

[Wyn]

Surprised and impressed. I wrote to CERF and got a quick and thorough reply! Here's the scoop:

This condition is inherited in Labradors (or at least based on numbers (incidence) listed in the book of inherited ocular conditions of purebred dogs considered so). There's not really a great place to read about this but basically it is a remnant or incomplete regression of an embryologic blood vessel that runs from the optic nerve at the back of the eye to the back of the center of the lens to nourish the lens during development. In dogs (this varies with species) if it persists after puppy-hood, it is called a persistent hyaloid artery. It may be blood filled still and then potentially result in bleeding in the back of the eye (though it usually does nothing). It is rarely associated with an opacity or cataract of the back of the lens. It can also be non-patent (without being filled with blood) and/or partial (not spanning the entire distance from the nerve to the lens). So as you were told, I agree that you should expect no consequences. As for the breeding implications and CERF, in breeds where this is an issue, it still passes CERF because it is so benign. It will pass with breeder option qualifier of F1 for persistent hyaloid but really the only thing would be to try or ideally breed away from it by breeding to individuals that don't have F1 which is pretty easy to do as not that many have it, and possibly avoiding E1s (cataract significance unknown) that are posterior capsular (at the back of the lens) and might have a relationship to persistent hyaloid arteries or other similar issues that labs get - in order to know what a specific E1 on a CERF certificate is, you'd have to see the actual exam form.... Anyway, this really shouldn't be a big deal at all and the only reason to monitor it at all is to avoid breeding it "in" with potential more serious consequence in the pups (pretty unlikely). Hope this helps but feel free to email with further questions or concerns.

My Specialist Veterinary Ophthalomologist tells me it isn't inherited, can happen in any breed, may disappear as the dog gets older but isn't a problem if it doesn't. No breeding restrictions as far as he is concerned.

[sandgrubber]

My Specialist Veterinary Ophthalomologist tells me it isn't inherited, can happen in any breed, may disappear as the dog gets older but isn't a problem if it doesn't. No breeding restrictions as far as he is concerned.

I sent a note to the sire's owner, who had never heard of the condition and checked with her her Vet Opthamologist. Her eye-guy also said it's not hereditary. Tempest in a teapot, but tends to make me a little skeptical about required health tests. If they're gonna stamp health certifications for trivial conditions with dubious genetic components . . . jeez . . . we've got much bigger things to worry about.

[LizT]

My Specialist Veterinary Ophthalomologist tells me it isn't inherited, can happen in any breed, may disappear as the dog gets older but isn't a problem if it doesn't. No breeding restrictions as far as he is concerned.

I sent a note to the sire's owner, who had never heard of the condition and checked with her her Vet Opthamologist. Her eye-guy also said it's not hereditary. Tempest in a teapot, but tends to make me a little skeptical about required health tests. If they're gonna stamp health certifications for trivial conditions with dubious genetic components . . . jeez . . . we've got much bigger things to worry about.

I would think it's right up there with the likes of "Lipid Dystrophy"....inconsequencial.