As some of you have noted, a cataract is considered to be "inherited/juvenile" if it appears prior to the age of seven and is without known cause, so to thoroughly test for the development of juvenile cataracts, one would have to do exams up until the age of 7. While a mode of inheritance for juvenile cataracts is suspected in some breeds, it has not been proven in cavaliers, so it is theoretically possible for two normal parents to have a puppy with juvenile cataracts. One might do the exams yearly as long as the dog was being bred, but otherwise just examine the retired animal at age 7.
Retinal Dysplasia should theoretically be found on the initial exam in a six-week-old puppy, and no further exam should be required for that condition -- but it is possible to miss it in young puppies, so it is probably prudent to do a repeat exam prior to breeding anyway. A hyaloid artery remnant is technically a cataract, because a cataract is merely any opacity of the lens, regardless of cause, and I suppose there are a few vets that automatically disqualify any animal with a cataract, regardless of cause. But the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists considers a persistent hyaloid artery or a persistent pupillary membrane to be "breeder option", as far as breeding is concerned, (putting it in the same category as folds, distichia and epithelial corneal dystrophy for cavaliers) while a true juvenile cataract would be consider a "NO" for breeding. The inheritance of the hyaloid artery remnant is also unknown. Leanne ----- Original Message ----- > Our eye specialist likes to see them at 8 weeks as well. However, on the > last litter, we had a little girl who had a remnant of the Hyloid Artery > still visible. The first specialist said that she couldn't be used for > breeding (she was the nicest puppy I think) and the second specialist said > that she certainly could, and that it was probably still there because she > was the runt. So....I thought maybe I should have waited a bit for the > exam. Myra Savant > > > >From: Annette Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >The same applies here in the UK the certificate only lasts for a year. We > >can get a litter screened up to 13 weeks old - no individual certificate is > >issued - just one certificate that identifies each puppy individually. The > >chap I go to likes to screen a litter at between 6 and 8 weeks > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Myra Savant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > It is my understanding that it is recommended to have eyes examined > >yearly > > > because the CERF certification is good for only one year. Seems to me > >like > > > a way for the CERF people to make money, but I am told by others that it > >is > > > a way for the CERF people to maintain their data base, and I don't have > >an > > > argument with that. Our eye guy says the same that Peggy is saying. If > > > they are examined as pups for retinal folds/dysplasia, they are good for > > > life except for the development of J. cataracts, or corneal problems. >Myra Savant > > > > > > > > > >From: Annette Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >I understand that the ophthalmologist here in the UK are advocating > >testing > > > >annually until the dog is either 6 or 7 - I forget which without > >looking > >it > > > >up in the files. Apparently there is evidence (how much I know not) > >that > > > >some Cavaliers are developing cataracts at about four years old - again > >I > > > >have only half the information because I have no idea what number have > >been > > > >diagnosed. No doubt I should be able to get some information of our > >health > > > >rep. if you are interested. > > > > > > > >Annette > > > >----- Original Message ----- > > > > > It is my understanding that if a Cavalier's eyes are cleared and > > > >CERFable > > > >even once that there is nothing new that can develop that is genetic > >EXCEPT > > > >for what used to be called juvenile cataracts...and anyone following > >the > > > >protocols about not breeding dogs/bitches unless their parents are > >heart > > > >clear at 5 would also be aware of > > > > > any juvenile cataracts that exist and the potential for developing > >them. > > > >Of course, nobody is breeding dogs that carry the potential for > >juvenile > > > >cataracts, right? So why test eyes every year? Can we get some > >informed > > > >discussion on this? > > > > > Peggy ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author.
