Hi, my siberian husky puppy is 6 months now and found out that her father has developed posteria cataract although previous eye tests came out unnaffected.
My dog is not kc reg but i was wondering if i can still get my dog eye tested to see if she has developed or developing the same problem??? If so is it possible to have her eyes tested now (at 6 months old) and regualrly test them to keep and eye out for developing problems?, how old does the dog need to be tested?, and more to the point, can she be eye testedalthough she is not kc reg?????
By the way, i have no interested in breeding her, wouldn't dream of it , especialy after her fathers developing condition,.
Thanks, Miranda

Hi, I am not absolutely sure, but I think you can have her eyes tested even if she is not KC registered.  I can't see why a qualified vet wouldn't do it.  Someone who knows better may be along soon.

Fiona

It needs to be done by a BVA/KC/ISDS pannelist Fiona. And yes, unregistered dogs are quite often tested at our sessions.

I've already answered this on another of your posts Miranda :)

Best wishes, John

John, that is what I was (inefficiently) trying to say but couldn't remember off hand what 'qualification' the vet had to have :).  Thanks John :)

Fiona

It is the Glaucoma which worries me Fiona and that was the reason why I stressed a pannelist rather that an ordinary vet. As I said on the other post by this guest, I dont know how many Siberian Husky's are affected but as they are on the list for it and as it is such a painful sight threatening ailment I cannot stress how important I feel it is to test for.

Best wishes, John

Hi John,  wondered why you considered that  it is important that the vet is a pannellist?  Best opthamologist in my area is not , and I would be happy to recomend anyone goes to him for eye problems.
bye
Gwen

The reason I say this Gwen is that although most vets should be able to recognise a hereditary cataract, indeed, I could mysels and I'm not a vet, very few would be able to perform a Gonioscopy in order to check for Glaucoma. This is really a job for a specialist ophthalmologist.

To me, in any breed where there is a risk of glaucoma then this is the number one problem. I've known far too many dogs go blind most painfully from this including a friends Flatcoat which had to have both eyes removed!

Best wishes, John

Hi again John,  I think we are at cross purposes, as you will see from my reply to the poster, I recomended an opthamologist (we have lots of eye problems in Am cockers! ) but wondered why you specifically recomended a panelist?
bye
Gwen

Mainly because of the Glaucoma link Gwen. As you know, the usual veterinary practise is the animal equivalent of the family GP and not an expert in eyes. My friend, before I knew her, took her dog to her vet and it was primarily that which meant the dog loosing both eyes. Also I would doubt many vets would have experience of doing a Gonioscopy.

As you know, I am co organiser of eye testing sessions and as far as price is concerned it would generally be cheaper to come to someone like us than to use the person's own vet. By the time you have added consultation fees and surgery overheads onto the BVA charge you are over doubling what we charge so there is no cost benefit. Breed shows often arrange testing sessions (Which would no doubt be out in this case) also Game Fairs and sessions such as ours which are advertised in the pog press so most people have access to them.

Best wishes, John :)

I understand the whole eye question, and the need for specialisit Opthamolgical advice, not just a general vet, but, in this instance where recording is not relevant, wondered why your stressed a BSAVA panelist, rather than a good opthamlogist?  In the instance described I would consider it extremely important to get the pup to have its eyes tested asap, and distance to a testing session can be prohibitive, and not conducive to ongoing progress checks.  In my own area, for example, the nearest resident panelists are in Edinburgh ( 2 - 3 hour drive) and in Preston (3 hour drive)  with occasional surgeries in Carlisle (1.5 to 2 hours) and Lancaster (2 to 2.5 hours).  However, within a 15 minute drive is an excellent, specialist opthamolgist, with first class equipment and in depth, up to the minute knowledge.  Not on the panel, but definetly the man I go to for first class opinions and on going eye care.  My sessions with him typically take 30 to 40 minutes, for a thorough eye test/examination, including gonioscopy where indicated appropriate.  My experience of panelist testing sessions, although invaluable for certificates and the breed records, are quick, much less in depth (and occasionally less reliable).  As I live in the North East, hardly the 'ends of the earth" I assume other areas of the country have similar distances to contend with, and other speciallists may be in those areas who are not affiliated to the scheme? 
bye
Gwen

30 to 40 minutes! Wow! Around here that kind of time would set you back a couple of hundred pounds at least! I would think he could take the eyes to bits and put them back together again in that time! I took Anna to my vets this afternoon, was only in the consulting room for about 8 minutes and with no treatment other than a look it cost me £30.

We use, who I believe, is the very top man in the field. We allow 5 minutes per dog, 10 minutes if a gonioscopy is needed and because we only use a village hall with a low rent are able to cover our expenses at half that cost. He never rushes and always has time for the people as well as the dogs. (To the extent that we very often end up running late!) Of course the 5 minutes does not include the time for the eye drops to take effect. We are well covered in this area anyway. Within an hours drive of me I can attend three permanent eye test surgeries not counting the one I organise.

The official scheme incidentally is not BSAVA, It is the KC/BVA/ISDS scheme and was originally a combination of the scheme established by the Irish Setter people to try to eliminate night blindness which was so bad in the breed at that time, and a scheme run by the International Sheep Dog Society. Hence the ISDS part of the title.

Best wishes, John :)

He certainly gives a very full examination, with the aid of on site equipment, records on computer with photos of the dogs previous exams, etc, etc.  This is why I wondered if you were pushing the KC/BVA/Scheme because of some inherent advantage which I had missed, or had not realised that some experienced, excellent specialists are simply not part of the scheme?  We have had dozens (possible hundreds going back over the years) of eye tests with panelists, using both the above mentioned scheme and the Europoean scheme.  However, at best you get a cursory examination, as you state, a mere few minutes per dog, although you do get the all important certificate.  However, if what you are after is an in depth opinion on the eye, and availabiltlity of follow ups with state of the art equipment, records, photos etc, then the scheme does not (and was never meant) to cope for this.  My guy charges approx £38 for a full eye examination.  More than the routine panel check, but well worth it in my opinion for anything potentially serious.  Nothing against panel vets, just wanted the original poster to be aware that an eye specialist is what is needed, regardless of affiliations to any scheme.  After all, in her case, a certificate would not be possible anyway.
bye
Gwen

Yes, of course you can have her eye tested, the only thing you cannot do is have her tested and results recorded under the BSAVA/KC scheme.  You can either find a local eye testing session (advertised in teh dog press) and ask the organisers to check if the vet will be willing to include your non-registered bitch, or (the better option as you want ongoing updates) find a vet who is an opthamologist in your area.  If you register so you can then post your area someone is bound to be able to recomend a vet within travelling ditance for you.
bye
Gwen

Where do you live, there are specilists all over the country, loads of testing sessions are set up each year and I think all the Vet training hospitals can deal with it.

Because the dog MUST be tested thoroughly for pre disposition...it's a Siberian even though it is unregistered and the breed is prone to this.  Cataracts will never harm the dog, this will