The Eye Exam

Back in March I took Gambler, Glory and Preacher to have their eye exam/CERF done, this is when I found out Preacher has Juvenile Cataracts which you can read about that visit here. I also explained Juvenile Cataracts in this post. I was certain that the ophthalmologist was correct on his diagnosis but I wanted to be absolutely sure so I took Preacher in for an second opinion. Since I was going and it had been 5 years since Nellie had a eye exam/CERF  I  made an appointment for her also. These exams were done at Madison Veterinary Specialist.

Grandma put your tongue in your mouth this isn’t that bad!

When my breeding stock is actively breeding I have a eye exam/CERF done on them before the breeding to make sure nothing has cropped up in the eyes.  The CERF exam is only valid for one year because there are eye conditions that can crop up at anytime. One condition that can appear at anytime is Cataracts. Preacher had cataracts crop up when she was 8 months old. Since she is young they are classified as Juvenile Cataracts which can appear anytime between 6-18 months of age typically.

When I first got to the clinic the technician put some drops in their eyes. The drops were going to dilate the pupils so they were nice and big. When the pupils are dilated the doctor and get a good look inside the eye all the way to the back of the eye. Nellie was first up (she wasn’t to impressed with having to go first). The doctor checked her blink reflexes and did a visual of her eyes with no equipment.

Next the doctor used several different ophthalmology devices to get a good look into Nellie’s eyes checking for different eye diseases. One eye showed a small cataract which was classified as a old age cataract since Nellie is 11.5 years old and has never had a cataract before on her exams. If your dog lives old enough they usually will develop old age cataracts, these cataracts are not genetic. Everything else was fine with her eyes so she received a  pass on her CERF exam.

Next up was Preacher’s second opinion. I didn’t tell the doctor that this was a second opinion. I just let the doctor do her exam and when she told me Preacher indeed had Juvenile Cataracts I told her I already knew. She continued on with her eye exam.

On another day I made appointments for eye exams/CERF for Preacher’s sister Josey as well as exams for Blue and White out of Glory and Bear’s litter that was born in February. Since I don’t know where Preacher’s cataract came from I wanted to get a base line on the two young puppies. Josey, Blue and White went back to Dr. Collins at Eye Care For Animals.

The puppies had a great visit at the eye clinic as the staff came out and gave them lots of pets and then gave them tennis balls to play with and pass the time while we waited for our appointment.

Josey’s along with the pups eyes were dilated before the appointment so the doctor could get a good look inside the eye.

Josey wanted to give the technician lots of kisses. You see three puppies as green came along for the ride and exposure to a clinic setting but didn’t have an exam.

Josey’s eyes were examined and no cataracts were found in her eyes. She passed her CERF exam and could get a CERF number on OFA.

The puppies both had great exams as no cataracts were noted. For 8 weeks old they did very well sitting still for a close up exam. Dr. Collins filled out the CERF exam paperwork that would be submitted to the OFA database.

Even know these gals passed their CERF exams now they still aren’t out of the woods for developing Juvenile Cataracts as they can develop from 6-18 months of age usually. So yearly eye exams will be done to make sure they don’t develop. If they do we will take care of it at that time. I’m hoping since Preacher’s showed up at 8 months and Josey’s did not that she won’t develop them. Only time will tell.