| Hereditary Eye and Hip Disease in the Siberian Husky |
| Eye Disease There are several hereditary eye diseases in the Siberian husky. All breeding stock should be checked yearly by a veterinary ophthalmogist, and only clear dogs should be bred. Juvenile cataracts is the most prevalent eye problem in the breed. These are spots on the lens which are opaque and keep light from pentrating to the retina. Juvenile Cataracts tends to develop between 6 months and 2 years of age. It's true your dog can be affected and the owner never knowing, unless they have a eye exam. However, occasionally the opacities are large enough the dog goes blind. In this case, a replacement lens can be surgically implanted to restore vision in these cases. Corneal Dystrophy is a condition in which fat cells are deposited on the cornea of the eye. It makes the dog's vision a bit obscured, like looking though a dirty window, but the dog does not go blind. Most affected dogs do not develop the condition untill after age five, making it hard to identify them and keep them out of a breeding program. It appers to be inherited as a simple dominant gene. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) is a condition in which the blood vessels in the retna of the eye gradually shrink and disappear, causing total blindness. It is quite rare in Siberians and seems to only affect males. It does not show up untill the dog is over age two. Glaucoma is caused by abnormally high pressure inside the eye. A test which measures the drainage angles of the tear ducts can indicate if a dog has the potential to develop glaucoma, as these dogs have abnormally narrow angles. However, many dogs with narrow angles never develop the problem. The condition is rare and mode of inheritance is unknown. Please read on the treatment of cataracts in dogs Hip Dysplasia The dog must be at least two years of age at the time the regular veterinarian takes the X-ray. According to the latest information released by OFA, the incidence of affect Siberians is only 2.2%, third lowest of all breeds. In order to maintain and "even" improve this precentage, it is vital that "All" breeding stock be X-rayed and evaluated. What a great way to improve the breed... This is the importance of testing before breeding, also buying from a reputable breeder. Read more on Hip Dysplasia in dogs |
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