| What Is Collie .. Eye Anomoly? |
| Dogs Like people are subject to a large number of inherited diseases. Two which affect Collie eyes should be of concern to all breeders. The most common is called Collie Eye Anomaly. This is often referred to as CEA. Veternarians first noted this problem nearly fifty years ago. It was later found to exist in most Collies. This so-called syndrome, meaning a group of conditions which appear in conjunction with each other,is present prior to birth. It can be diagnosed by a trained observer, i.e., a canine ophthalmologist, when a puppy is just a few weeks old.. It is of most importance that each and every prospective buyer looking for a puppy, inquires to the prospective Breeder, in asking in detail if she or he participates in the screening of all their puppie's and Sire and Dam, of puppies, and past prodigy,have been tested. Most 85% to 90% of collies are affected with what we call CHORIDAL HYPOPLASIA, Chorioretinal Change. These terms refer to abnormalities in the coloring of pigmentation of the choroid or central layer of the eye's lining. There are variations even in normal eyes. These correspond somewhat to a dogs coat color. Thus it is often difficult to judge the pigment in a blue merle's eyes as it is diluted along with their coat color. Puppies that are affected with Choroidal Hypoplasia will have a perfectly normal vision and a long lasting happy life,as this having no affect on them what so ever. NOW WHAT IS A COLOBOMA ? STAPHYLOMA-ECTASIA While not completely synonymous, these terms all refer to a cupping or bulging in the eyeball, ususlly in the area of the optic nerve. A Collie who has a small or moderate sized Coloboma will have perfectly adequate vision during their lives. A Collie who has an extremely large Coloboma does have a high risk of retinal detachment or retinal hemorrhage. Any reputable breeder placing a puppy with this condition has enough knowlege of CEA , together with their qualified ophthalmologist, to be able to assess any puppies that might have a good chance of blindness.These puppies should only be placed within a situation where their impairment is known. A puppy with this condition can function perfectly normal as a pet, but must not be placed in a breeding situation.. NOW WHAT IS A RETINAL DETACHMENT? This is a condition of loosening or separation of the inmost, or retinal, layer from the wall of the eye. This may involve a tiny area or the entire retina.. The latter is termed as a complete detachemet, the result being blindness in the affected eye.. But if the other eye is nomal or mild CEA,, the puppy again can function as a perfectly normal, happy, puppy ,with vision from the one good eye compensating for the loss of vision in the other. Again this puppy must be placed on a spay nueter contract and not,be sold as a breeding prospect. There are many more conditions of Collie Eye Anomoly to be mentioned ,but as not to confuse the average lay person looking for a collie pet and companion ,these are the most common seen in the collie,of today.. There is further documentation available from Jupiter Collies, if anyone reading this would like me to expain in further detail the pro's and con's of the normal eyed collie and the mildy affected collie. VASCULAR DISEASE,TORTUOUS BLOOD VESSELS This refers to defects in the vessels of the eye which are responsible for its blood suppy or "nourishment". These may be malformed, undersized, or even lacking. A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO ASK Can the collie's eys become worse? Might he later go blind? The basic answer is "NO" as the CEA is present prior to birth. However, a dog born with a severe Staphyloma or with a Vascular Disease may later suffer loss of sight if a detachment or severe hemorrhage occur. The majority of dogs which are slightly affected have perfectly adequate eyesight during their lives. (Even a dog with one blind eye will cope perfectly with his surroundings.) It should be noted that CEA can exhibit such subtle variations that among mildly affected dogs we find differences of opinion among experts as to which are clear or not.. WHAT HAVE BREEDERS DONE TO IMPROVE THE COLLIE EYE? Because CEA has ivolved so much of the breed, eradication has had to be slow in order to keep other desirable qualities. Even among dogs that examine clear, most are carrirs for the condition. They have a "hidden" or recessive gene for the condition. Such a dog will transmit the gene to half its offspring. The other conditions not part of the syndrome which can occur should be mentioned: HYPOPLASIA OF THE OPTIC NERVE-An undersized nerve, noted where it enters the back of the eyeball. In extreme cases, this can cause blindness. CORNEAL DYSTROPY-This condition comes on when a dog is mature , often during stress. Opaque spots centrally on the surface of the cornea. (It is often confused with cataracts which occur in the lens.) WHAT EVER YOU DO AND WHOM EVER YOU PURCHASE YOUR NEXT COLLIE FROM , SEARCH OUT A BREEDER WHO PRACTICES SCREENING FOR GENECTIC HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THEIR COLLIES. IT IS YOUR RIGHT AS THE PROSPECTIVE OWNER OF THE NEW PUPPY YOU ARE SEEKING ,TO INSIST ON DOCUMENTATION FROM THE BREEDER ON ALL ISSUES CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF YOUR NEW ADDITION TO YOUR FAMILY... DEB KAY JUPITER COLLIES AT THE LANDINGS |
| Deborah Kay Owner of Jupiter Collies Lakewood NY |