Hereditary eye conditions in dogs are very common in most dog breeds. These can range from eye disorders which cause no or minimal problems to eye conditions that affect the dog’s vision severely or cause serious problems, pain and discomfort.
Some of these conditions that lead to eyesight or vision problems in dogs have already been identified as of hereditary nature and screening to minimise the frequency of these conditions is underway. More information about the known hereditary conditions can be found on the British Veterinary Association’s website.
Our clinic offers regular screenings for hereditary conditions and more information can be found on our website.
Common hereditary eye diseases in dogs
- Cataract
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Entropion and distichia
- “Cherry eye”
- Lens luxation (PLL)
- Glaucoma
- Brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS)
1. Cataract
Cataract is an eye condition that can affect a dog’s eyesight and ranges from mild vision compromise to blindness. Although it is usually associated with diabetes in dogs, it also commonly seen as a condition developing with a hereditary predisposition in many breeds such as the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Bichon Frise, Schnauzer, Poodle and many other breeds.
2. Progressive retinal atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy (or PRA) is a condition that leads to progressive blindness over a period of months to years. This is a strictly hereditary condition that, when carried by both the bitch and the dog, can be passed on to the puppies and will eventually lead to eyesight problems (initially at night and later in daylight too).
Some of the most common breeds suffering from this condition are the Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Schnauzers, Poodles, Dachshunds and Collie dogs among others.
3. Entropion and distichia
Entropion is the inward rolling of the eyelids causing pain and irritation and distichia is the presence of additional eyelashes on the eyelids, leading to chronic irritation and tearing of the eyes.
Although the exact hereditary nature of these conditions has not yet been identified, it is very common to see this in puppies born from bitches who suffer from these problems
4. “Cherry eye”
Cherry eye is the prolapse of the third eyelid gland and is commonly seen in breeds such as the Bulldog (English and French Bulldog), Boxers, Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso in addition to Mastiff breeds. The prolapse of the gland occurs early in life and surgical repair is needed in these cases
5. Lens luxation (PLL)
Lens luxation is a condition affecting middle aged dogs (usually at the age of 5 years) and has been proven in many Terrier breeds to be associated with a genetic mutation which is of hereditary nature. Some of the breeds affected are the Jack Russell terrier, Miniature Bull terriers, Patterdale terriers, Chinese Shar Pei, Portuguese Podengo, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen among many others. Lens luxation is a condition that will cause problems to your dog’s eyesight and affect their vision, even lead to blindness, unless surgically corrected. Genetic screening for these conditions can eliminate the possibility of a dog being born affected
6. Glaucoma
Glaucoma causes elevation of the pressure in the eye, which can be a painful and blinding condition that can affect a dog’s vision and has been proven to have a hereditary predisposition in many dog breeds
7. Brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS)
Brachycephalic dogs (Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Boxers, Boston terriers among other breeds) have become very popular in the past years. Sadly, the poor and improper breeding of these dogs has led to changes affecting their eyes and eyelids that lead to an increased likelihood of eye problems.
Due to the hereditary predisposition of these changes, these will affect their future puppies
Can genetic tests help?
For some of the of the known inherited canine and feline eye disorders, genetic testing is available via many labs in the United Kingdom. The process is easy and straight-forward as these tests can be ordered and performed by the owners at home.
For diseases such as the lens luxation (PLL) or many forms of PRA, the known mutations can be tested and a clear yes/no answer can help in the selection of a puppy or give you some reassurance about the possibility of your dog developing an eye condition.
For tests that the inheritance is not known or when more than one mutation is known to be the cause of the problem, a definitive conclusion cannot be drawn by the genetic test alone. Therefore, the genetic tests play a valuable role only for the genetic diseases that are caused by a known, identified genetic mutation.
How to manage a hereditary eye disease in your dog?
For most conditions, prevention of the eye conditions and problems is better than management or treatment. This is one of the reasons we would always recommend making sure to test, if possible, the dog you are about to welcome to your family for known conditions associated with their breed.
Management of some of the conditions can be challenging or, in few cases, not possible at all. For the management of each individual eye condition that can lead to vision problems, we recommend an assessment with one of our ophthalmologists.
Prevention and accurate information are paramount to prevent the development of some of the hereditary conditions in dogs; therefore, be sure to research the possible breed-related known conditions and problems before rehoming or buying a pet.
For more information about Vet Eye Care, our services or our prices, please contact us on 01733 304364 or email info@veteyecare.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. I’m getting a purebred puppy. How can I reduce the risk of it developing a hereditary eye disease?
The best practice is to ensure both parents have had and eye test and have been examined under the BVA eye test scheme, ask for any proof of genetic tests (DNA tests) performed on the parents to ensure they are clear of genetic eye conditions and considering an eye test for the puppy you are about to get.
2. Which dog breeds are most at risk for inherited eye problems?
Any dog breed could potentially get an inherited eye problem but a list with the recognised breeds that are more prone to certain conditions can be found here.
3. Can a DNA test tell me for sure if my dog will get an inherited eye disease?
For certain conditions that have been identified to be associated with a genetic mutation, yes. However for conditions which we are unsure of their way of transmission, a DNA test won’t be able to provide this information.
4. My dog was diagnosed with a hereditary eye condition. Does this mean it will go blind?
The severity of the hereditary eye conditions vary from non-significant and incidental to those that might cause blindness. As the prognosis varies significantly for each condition, we would recommend that you ask the advice of an ophthalmologist about the specific condition you are worried about.