Hi can anyone give me some information about Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia. I have been offered a lovely puppy which is about 16 weeks old, she has had her eyes tested and was found to have this problem. The owner wanted to breed from her when she is old enough, and was told that the eyes had failed the test, therefore she will not be able to breed from her after all, which is why she has offered the puppy to me. I only want a pet and have got no intention of breeding. Will the puppies eyes be affected at all or will it only affect the offspring? Would I be wise to buy this pup and what should I expect to pay for her? She is georgous, help, I don't know what to do.

Hi Debbie.
MRD or to give it it’s full name Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia is an eye ailment which affects a number of breeds but particularly Goldens. Latest thinking is that it is inheretid as anautosomal recessive trait. (Rather like the yellow colour in Labradors) in other words:-

Clear mated to clear will produce clear.
Clear mated to affected will (on average) half clear and half carriers
Carrier mated to carrier will produce quarer clear and three quarters carriers
Carrier mated to carrier produces carrier

Some or all of the carriers could be affected.

The defect can miss generations.

Close line breeding is more likely to produce affected dogs.

So far in this country no Golden has gone totally blind from this although it has happened abroad. Twenty years ago we saw nothing at our testing sessions but it has escalated like wildfire in recent years.

Very simply, the retina viewed through an ophthalmoscope shows what appears to be folds in the retina. It is possible for these areas to become detached and this is exactly what has happened to the overseas Goldens which have gone blind. Certainly there is a degree of loss of vision although not great.

As to the future, according to my info it is still not too late to breed this out IF THE WILL IS THERE but the effort must be made or sooner or later there almost certainly will be a blind Golden!

As for your Golden, enjoy her! It is unlikely that you will ever notice any effects at all. Your breeder is being a very responsible person.

Regards, John

John,

Thank you so much for the information it is a great help. From what you are saying then, it should be O.K. to go ahead and take this puppy. You have actually confirmed what the owner told me that understood of the condition. Could you tell me, should I pay for this puppy what I would pay for any other or should I expect to pay less due to knowing about the condition, and that she can't be bred from? Thanks, Debbie

I don't know anything about Goldens, but I'd pay less for this 'faulty' pup than for a pup that hasn't been diagnosed with anything.

Having said that the age of the puppy, and the fact that she's probably had her jabs will almost certainly increase the price. So you may end up paying the same as you would for a 'perfect' 8wk old that hasn't been wormed/vacinnated etc.

Confused yet??? :D

Fiona

As a Labrador person I can’t really advise you on that score Debbie, although I’m sure there are plenty of Golden people who can. One thing I will say though, is to remember that the cost of producing a litter is just the same regardles of the eye problem. Also this breeder appears to be responsible in that he or she has carried out the health checks and as such deservers a pat on the back. Believe me, so many people only pay lip service to health checks! This breeder is trying! Because of the fact that a dog can be a carrier without showing any signs it is so easy for a breeder to get caught out! Life is extreemly difficult. I feel so sorry for this person because their life has come crashing down as a result of this litter. All their hopes and dreams are squashed! From your point of view, apart from the fact that you should not breed from this bitch, anything else is open to you.

Regards, John :)

Wiyh you all the way there John,seems like a nice responsible honest breeder.
Christine

At least this breeder is testing. Another can tell you that nothing has been diagnosed and their puppy is fine BECAUSE THEY DON'T TEST!! I would be much happier knowing what you are taking on and with a responsible breeder behind you.

I think you misunderstood me, this breeder was keeping the puppy for breeding, which is why she has had it tested. The others in the litter were all sold without having been tested, but to be honest, she wasn't aware of the problem then. Thank you all for your help anyway.

She's now presented with a very difficult problem. Should she tell the new owners about this or not?

If it was me I'd call the new owners and offer them the chance to have the tests done at my expense and then if they were positive offer some sort of compensation.

Presumably she'd also need to tell the stud dog owner that he's produced at least one puppy with this problem.

Fiona

Eye problems in dogs can provide an awful lot of heartache. The breeders I really feel sorry for are the ones who, although testing their dogs still end up in trouble.

Labradors, Goldens and for that matter quite a few other breeds, the usual hereditary cataract is late forming. This often occurs at up to 8 years old. Just imagine, you breed a litter or two from a tested clear bitch. Possibly some of the offspring are bred from. Then at 8 years old you are told that your dog has cataracts! Imagine how devastated you would feel! My old Bethany was 8 when she was failed! As it was, because of the fact that she was epileptic, there was no way of me having a litter from her. Even so, I was so very sad when I found out.

From this it’s so easy to see why REGULAR Testing is so important. To just test occasionally is to kid yourself.

Regards, John

Well said John.
we are haveing trouble with lens luxation and collie eye in the lancashire heeler as a breed. What people forget or do not no is that you need to test eyes on a regular basis when breeding. But lots of breeders think if they are clear as pups thats it WRONG.

True. Eye testing is not perfect I know and dogs have been failed, (And for that matter passed) incorrectly at times but it is still, at the moment the best guide we have. Sometime soon I have no doubt we will have genetic testing for all these defects but If we dont do the best we can until that time, the chances arethat there will be no clear dogs! just affected and carriers! What a terrible thought!

Regards, John

Yes as soon as we get the DNA test it will be wonderful.
But like most other things its all a bit political.