The importance of eye exams

[MillysMom]

What exactly would "allergies" in the eyes look like? Runny like a horse's eyes with allergies? Milly gets quite a few crusties in the corner of her eyes - I have to wipe them out almost daily, but they aren't runny at all, more like eye boogers. Are there any other signs to look for?

I'm a bit concerned because the white in one of her eyes has a black raised dot on it. You can only see it when she turns her head to the side or looks sideways, and it's only in one eye. She's had it since I adopted her, and the vet said it doesn't seem like something to be concerned about, because it's only in one eye and hasn't changed at all.

I'm starting to think I better get her checked out by an ophthalmologist just to make sure. Not that it would do much good for the breed as a whole, since goodness only knows where she came from. Better safe than sorry.

This sounds like it is a problem that is really effecting the breed, and the unknowns are going to cause a lot more havoc on the breed than honest breeders being straight coming with this information. Thank you for posting this, I'm sure this is very difficult for you and Sylvia, but it really shows your devotion to bettering the breed.

I hope that with more testing and honesty, that the cause of this will be pinpointed, and we can eradicate the problem completely by fixing the root of the problem. My biggest concern is that it will be difficult to get many of the pet owners to do annual testing, especially those who live in remote areas. This needs to be something all breeders advocate for, especially with pet homes, until the root of the problem is discovered, and a solution is in place. It seems like it will be relatively easy to get many honest and ethical breeders on board with this, but it might be hard to do entire litters and truly track this without getting the pet owners on board too.

[GoldenSail]

PG my heart goes out to you I felt like crying when I read that it was Zoom and how enormous the implication must be. Darn it, I pray that we will find a way to definitely catch these things at younger ages.

Thank goodness Scout has cleared her first CERF, but if I wasn't going to show her I wouldn't have thought to CERF (and heck, even that is not a fail-safe since they can develop it later). I will now advocate it to all GR owners that I now pet or otherwise.

[BayBeams]

My Golden girl, Baylee, was diagnosed at age 8 with PU by an opthomologist. Prior to that I was told she had allergies. She gets the drops daily and has regular rechecks.
Baylee was a BYB dog before I knew better...she came from a litter of 12 puppies. I can only wonder about Baylee's siblings as I have no contact with the owner of the dam and sire. Based on the circumstances where I located Baylee I am sure the owners of the puppies and whatever offspring that exist, have very little idea about this eye disease.

[Ljilly28]

Thanks for posting about this, and thanks to all the brave people adding Pigmentary Uveitis to k9data openly and honestly. Someone made the good point that if "PU" is added to Honorifics, is comes up when searched as Best pUPppy. In the past, I've only checked yes "officially" at age 1 to 2, and then not until veteran years except by the regular vet. I'll be making appointments today.

[Ljilly28]

Originally Posted by MyMaggieGirl

Thank you for posting about PU in our Goldens. Flirt was diagnosed at age 4.5 years. She has a mild case in both eyes and is treated twice daily with NSAID drops and we see the veterinary opthamologist every six months now. We are participating in Dr. Townsend's study. Didn't cost me anything - my vet drew the blood and mouth swab for no charge.

Yes the visits and drops are very expensive but to me it is a small price to pay for her eyes. My regular vet admitted that he knew very little about PU and fortunately I have a wonderful opthamologist in my area.

Those of you whose vet diagnosed "allergies" PLEASE take your furkid to a veterinary opthamologist PRONTO for an accurate diagnosis.

PointGold, interesting that you mention Gold-Rush because they appear way back in Flirt's bloodlines.

And kudos to Doolin Goldens for being honest about Flirt's PU.

Is Flirt the Sunnyglen girl? If so, she is SO gorgeous. It's awesome you are participating in the study. We do it with the Idexx Anaplasmosis/Lymphoma study, and it feels good to contribute.

[Pointgold]

Originally Posted by Katie and Paddy's Mum

Just to add another point, when both Katie and Paddy developed distachias I called our breeder to have them inform the other dogs, and she literally shrugged me off. It was so distressing to me. And irresponsible.
PU is a much more serious eye disease and here are brave breeders going public about it and acting responsibly for the wellness of the breed.
It boggles the mind.

I get very upset and emotionally charged when talking about eyes, as I saw my beautiful little Katie suffer so much.

Kim

We are somewhat encouraged by the response that we have gotten so far, but we are also realistic enough to know that there are so few breeders who will actually go public and do the right thing. Too many excuses are made, and too many are in denial.

[CarolinaCasey]

Very informative post, thanks for sharing this. I know that it wasn't easy.

[Pointgold]

Since Sylvia made her post on some of the GR breeder-oriented lists, much of the discussion is now revolving around "pet owners" not getting eye exams. Many are saying that their pet buyers just don't see the need, when they aren't having any symptoms. Personally, no one that I have asked to have their dogs done have balked. Having annual exams, a relatively inexpensive undertaking, can literally save you thousands of dollars, let alone save your dog's eyesight. This forum is an incredible venue for educating the general pet owning public, and I am begging you all to prove those naysayers wrong - "pet people" DO care. And they WILL do annual exams, if they understand the implications not only for their own beloved dog, but the breed as a whole. We have a greater opportunity to make this right than we ever have with any other disease. We have far more access to information, and far more access to more owners. PLEASE, please please... this is no joke, no small thing. No dog, show, pet, intact, altered, breeding, non-breeding, champion show dog or champion couch potato, should suffer needlessly.

[MyMaggieGirl]

Originally Posted by Ljilly28

Is Flirt the Sunnyglen girl? If so, she is SO gorgeous. It's awesome you are participating in the study. We do it with the Idexx Anaplasmosis/Lymphoma study, and it feels good to contribute.

Thank you Ljilly! Yes, Flirt is a Sunnyglen girl: Sunnyglen's Lil Hussy. I agree with you, it feels good to participate in the study and to talk to others about PU in our dogs.

MillysMom, please have those eyes checked! The runny eyes and raised spot could be iris cysts.

What to look for? The opthamologist told me to be on the lookout for eye discharge (other than morning sleepies), redness in the white of the eye mostly above the iris area, rubbing of her eyes and little brown floating things that may look like caviar - those are the cysts. Any of these symptoms require immediate attention by the opthamologist.

Megora, search for an animal opthamologist in your area. I did not need a referral from my vet although my vet was contacted prior to our first appointment, to submit health history.

Again, thank you for posting about this.

[Pointgold]

This issue is so important.
For those who love to see a Golden Retriever gazing adoringly at you, think about this - if left untreated, PU and glaucoma can result in the necessary enucleating of the eye. In other words, the REMOVAL. Not so pretty.

Please. Get ophthalmology checks. That "allergy" could be far more than that, and it really does need an ACVO vet to diagnose properly.