The Brittany Forum

Mugi · Bretonnier Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 1304

I know Gill has had Mabeleen eye tested but don't think anyone routinely tests as Brittanys are not on either Schedule for Eye Disease.

On Saturday however I had a long chat with the vet at the CLA as I have Piper with eye problems and had Freddy who did. Upshot was that Chase had his eyes tested (not for Glaucoma as that needs to be done in good sterile conditions, not a blackout tent in a field Wink

). I didn't have his Reg Docs on me but as he is not technically needing to be registered on a BVA Eye Scheme I went ahead without and will be posting up his Reg Document to the vet who tested him so the data will be officially recorded although not as yet included in the KC records as they don't record results for dogs not on the Schedules.

Anyway, his eyes are Unaffected and I will almost certainly get him tested for Glaucoma at some point too - for my piece of mind as opposed to any thought he may have a problem.

He was a very good boy having the vet up close and personal and the vet thought he was lovely - he had never tested one before and was mortified to be reminded they are NOT Brittany Spaniels Laughing

.
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Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.

Never forgetting Mugi and Freddy

doganjo · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject:

I know some people do this but there's no record of any incidence of eye problems in the Breed and the KC don't recommend testing. Doesn't do any harm I suppose.
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Annie

Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away

Mugi · Bretonnier Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 1304

A very valid point Annie - however (remember I come from a health background so do find this interesting too) 'we' are numerically a fairly small breed when it comes to registrations and it is hard to categorically state we don't have a problem unless a pool of dogs are tested from different lines to prove we don't have a problem.

I am certainly not thinking we should all go out and test our dogs for anything and everything BUT having some dogs proving that we don't have an issue is not a bad thing either.

I can't speak for Gill but certainly for me having affected dogs from breeds with hereditary eye conditions and knowing the Brittany has behind it breeds that do have eye issues my peace of mind meant it was £30 well spent. As long as the dog can cope with sitting still and having a vet up close and personal peering in their eyes it is not difficult for them.

As for the KC - they are only recording the results on the Health Results Site from dogs on Schedule A or B but they do say that any breed can be screened. From the BVA perspective however the panel vets welcome all breeds as the more info they collate the more they can understand about problems. I certainly was put under no pressure to have Chase tested and I was advised up front that he would have been VERY surprised if the results had been anything other than Unaffected.
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Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.

Never forgetting Mugi and Freddy

Ghilliegumdrop · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject:

Ghillie was done at a Cavalier Ch Show when she was around 18 months old. I think it was Dr Bedford that did her [along with my Cavalier] anyway she was clear as well.
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Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!

doganjo · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

Don't the eye tests have to be done every year to be of any use?
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Annie

Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away

lagopuslagopus · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

You're right Annie - just because a dog has an unaffected eye certificate doesn't mean that it can't change at a later date, which is why, when deemed necessary, the dog has to have a clear eye test done during the year before it is bred from.
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karen

Mugi · Bretonnier Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 1304

The only eye test that is one off is the Glaucoma Test, however as we are not on the schedules having a 'snapshot' is still of use for information gathering.
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Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.

Never forgetting Mugi and Freddy

doganjo · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:19 pm Post subject:

Wyngold · Bretonnier Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 131

Brittanys have "eye conditions" not frequent but they do exist in the Breed. These are the most Common ailments reported for the breed not in order of frequency.

1) Late onset Progressive Retinal Atrophy (after age 5)
2) Cataracts (related to PRA) might be worthwhile to do screening for retinal folds in 8 week old litters as a prediction tool.
3) Luxating Lens (Primary not only due to Trauma)
4) Glaucoma

Know of 1 case of early PRA in a France puppy exported to Portugal
was a bit of a scandal on the Forum a few years back.

I check all of my dogs prior to using in a breeding program and I do check every 2 years then once a year after age 8.
So far lucky with no PRA have had luxated lens in a senior dog after age 10
They do exist and thankfully not with much frequency as of yet. But as with all things if you don't check or be mindful of these things it can creep in. Keeping ears open and observant when cases do crop up help you to control them.

Bravo for doing the checks as info only helps the breed!
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Goldie Coats
Wyngold Britanys
Bend, OREGON, USA

gundoglover · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

I have been reading about late-onset PRA described for Brittanys and it sounds similar to the one affecting English Springer Spaniels. Given that this form of PRA may be undetected throughout a dog or bitch's breeding life (onset is typically after 5 years, from what I have read), then annual eye-testing won't help breeders. We will need a DNA test.

I notice that there is a charitable group in UK doing Animal Health testing, including DNA. Perhaps the UK Brittany breeders could contact this group with a view to developing a DNA test for this disease. Apparently, testing in the English Springer Spaniels showed 80% were affected or carriers of this late-onset PRA:
www.aht.org.uk/genetics_tests.html
It would be sad to have Brittanys is a similar state if it could be prevented by cooperating to have a DNA test developed. I would be happy to send mouth swabs from my Brittanys to such a scheme.