We are once again the Official Veterinarians for the Sherborne Country Fair on the 29th of May. Following the huge popularity of last year’s eye clinic, we have arranged for Nick Burden to attend with us. Nick is a BVA-appointed eye panellist. He will be conducting eye examinations under the BVA 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 purpose of the scheme

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 is the only cure. In general, the best age for eye testing is when a dog has reached one year old, annually. However, in some breeds, it is necessary to test them as young puppies (usually between 6 & 12 weeks of age). This is 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. It covers the eye and surrounding structures such as the eyelids. It is a very comprehensive examination of your dog’s entire eye.

What happens during the test

An eye examination lasts approximately 10 minutes and costs £35 per dog. You will need to arrive 20 mins before your appointment at the Sherborne Country Fair. This allows time for eye drops to be administered. Breeds which are predisposed to Glaucoma (a potentially blinding ‘raised pressure’ inside the eye) are recommended to undergo a further test. This is part of their certification costing an additional £44 lasting 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 and 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 essential. It is not only an essential part of pre-breeding screening but also part of 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, and as a means of assessing eye and general health. Places are limited so please don’t hesitate to book a place.

In other very exciting news and by the time many of you read this, our New Yeovil Surgery on Preston Road will be completed. We hope to open our doors on Monday the 15th of May. We look forward to welcoming both new and familiar faces through the doors together. Please visit our website for more details.