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Dogs are said to be man’s best friend; apparently it’s all down to those puppy dog eyes! Last year scientists in Japan found that gazing into your pet’s eyes caused a spike in the same hormone that is responsible for the bond between a parent and child. So don’t worry you’re not being soppy, its science! There is another reason we will be running our eye clinic at the Sherborne Country Fair though.
Our eyes are precious and irreplaceable. Unfortunately, they are susceptible to a huge number of diseases, many of which are hereditary. This is where the eye clinic comes in! It is for this reason, the British Veterinary Association (BVA), set up a screening programme for hereditary eye disease in dogs. It is run in conjunction with the Kennel Club (KC) and the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS).
The main purpose of the scheme is to ensure there is no evidence of hereditary eye diseases in dogs used for breeding. By screening these dogs hopefully, we can prevent these diseases from being passed on to future generations of puppies. There are 12 hereditary conditions covered by the scheme in over 50 breeds! Many of these are untreatable so prevention really is the only cure. In general, the best age for eye testing is when a dog has reached one year old. Thereafter, we recommend on an annual basis. However, in some breeds, it is necessary to test them as young puppies. This is usually between six and twelve weeks of age, to detect diseases such as Collie Eye Anomaly.
Although the scheme records whether hereditary eye conditions are present or not, it also identifies any other abnormalities present in the eye or surrounding structures (such as the eyelids). It is a very comprehensive examination of your dog’s entire eye.
The eye clinic really is a worthwhile scheme. Once again we are the official Veterinary Surgeons for the Sherborne Country Fair on the 30th of May. We have therefore arranged for Nick Burden, a BVA-appointed eye panelist, to attend with us. He will be conducting eye examinations under the BVA Eye Scheme for the day. Appointments can be made in advance by contacting one of our surgeries.
An eye examination lasts approximately 10 minutes and costs £35 per dog. You will need to arrive 20mins before your appointment to allow time for eye drops to be administered. Breeds who are predisposed to Glaucoma, (a potentially blinding raised pressure inside the eye), are recommended to undergo a further test as part of their certification. This costs an additional £44 and it lasts an extra 10 minutes. £3 from each test will be donated to the Country Fair Charity fund. All dogs must be microchipped to be screened. KC-registered dogs must present their KC certificates to be added to the scheme and certified.
If you are considering breeding from your dog this is an essential part of pre-breeding screening. It is your responsibility to ensure the health of future generations. Even if your dog is past breeding age, eye examinations still play an important role in screening for inherited eye diseases presenting later in life. It also is a means of assessing eye and general health. Remember, places are limited! Please don’t hesitate to contact one of our surgeries for further information or to book a place.
