As many CDers know I run three eye testing clinics a year with Prof Peter Bedford. I know some members are coming to the eye testing next Tuesday, so I thought this is the best way to let them know about the latest development.

As you all know from the 1st Jan 2010 all dogs will need to be micro-chipped or tattooed to take part in the BVA testing schemes and I have been telling those booked that we would be running it trying to see how well things will proceed and if the scanning or otherwise recording will make a difference to how we need to run the clinic. The BVA have been in touch with me today to ask me to provide them with information, such as any problems we encounter. They would probably be interested in other comments from breeders. We are hoping to have a representative from the BVA at the eye testing next week as well, but if not they will certainly be at one of our clinincs.

They have told me that some breeders have raised concerns as have some vets, regarding when and how to identify the dogs, even with chips and tattoos. Hence the decision to attend next week. I hope this will not put any of you off attending.

all my dogs are microchiped so would not worry me .

Sorry, not with it today, RU saying that already you will not be doing the eye testing unless the dog is microchipped etc?

Can I ask where the eye testing is next week?

where is this held and how much is the testing?

My dogs are all microchipped, and the number is printed on their KC registration documents, except for my old girl.

However, one of mine has had her chipped replaced. The KC document has her old number on it though the KC know about her change of chip number. This would be a source of fun if I had to prove who she was :-D

Hi
To answer a few questions posed here.

We are doing an ordinary testing session, but as of Jan 1st 2010 we will have to check micro-chips and tattoos before putting them on the BVA form. In order to do this at a large session like ours we need to see how it will work practically, to that end we will be scanning all dogs attending with micro-chips and we will be checking tattoo numbers as requested by the BVA and as it will be from 2010. If your dog is not permanently identified or has a  tattoo or has a micro-chip which cannot be read for one reason or another we will be testing your dog as usual. this is an area of concern with the BVA that in some cases a tattoo or micro-chip might not be readable.

We are holding the eye testing in the Mabel Parkinson Room Haddenham Village Hall between Aylesbury, Bucks and Thame Oxfordshire on the 24th Feb (next Tuesday evening) starting at 5pm and ending when we finish! lol We are expecting the cost to be around the £26 mark per dog. Peter Bedford usually gives me the price to charge when he gets there as usually as our regulars know there is a BVA meeting just before our first testing clinic of the year. We hold three clinics a year, (this will be our 28th year of running a clinic).

From next year the micro-chip or tattoo number should match the number on all your BVA certificates and KC reg as I am led to believe from the BVA. They are hoping that by doing this we can spot any problems which might crop up before 2010.

What we don't want in 2010 is to have somebody turn up at an eye testing clinic and then not be allowed to have their dog tested due to the tattoo number or micro-chip number not being readable. I know some breeders will travel very long distances to go to the eye specialist of their choice or as nominated by their breed club.

Can I ask another question???

I met with a human eye specialist yesterday and she was shocked that gonioscopies are only done once in a dog.  Do we know why this is as she says that the human eye as the dogs changes so much that she's surprised that it's just a one off test.

It depends on whether the glaucoma is caused by a drainage angle fault or is another type of glaucoma. Glaucoma in dogs has two main types.

In flatcoated retrievers we have an official one off test as recommended by the BVA because we have a primary drainage angle closure glaucoma, our breed society have asked us to get our dogs rechecked at 7 to 8 years of age as there may be age related changes. Peter Bedford agreed with this, that there can be age related changes occurring in the eye.

Gonioscopy is really a test to see if your dog has a predisposition to get glaucoma. If you know you have a higher chance of getting glaucoma then you could of course monitor the dog more closely and have a test done every couple of years. The mildest affected dogs might pass under one specialist and fail under another, so I think it pays to keep a watch on this condition.

I certainly test all my dogs for this condition at least every two or three years, regardless of the fact they do not display a predispostion to glaucoma.

The Kennel Club have experts available so that breeders and owners to ask such questions at Crufts as well. I know the BVA usually share the big stand with the Kennel Club and they have various leaflets and booklets explaining all the health schemes these are free! They also have a daily set programme of lectures with question and answer sessions afterwards.

hi i have been looking all over the place for someone that does pra testing do you have to be a member of the bva to have one done and were can i get one done closer to were i live as  can not travel too far i live in yorkshire humber region hope you can help

http://www.bva.co.uk/public/documents/CHS_Eye_Scheme_List_of_Panellists.pdf

Follow the link to the list of panelists, BVA is for the vets it is the British Veterinary Association, you should find a panelist nearer to you who will do the tests at their own practise or can advise you of any clinics, testing sessions they will be doing over the year at shows, clubs etc

The eye testing clinics are regularly advertised in Our Dogs and Dog World.