What is CEA?

What is PRA?

Eye examination

Already at 7-8 weeks of age, the dogs eyes are almost at the stage of an adult. Some increment of the pigment at the bottom of the eye will develop until 7 months of age. This means that a mild form of CRD, that has been considered at 7 weeks of age, may become hidden by pigment when the dog is mature. The dog seems to have become well. In english litterature, these dogs are called “go normals”. The defect is there, but is covered with pigment. Since the pigment is increasing when the dog is growing, it is important that the dog gets examined at 6-8 weeks according to CEA.

The eye examination means that the inner parts of the eyes are studied in an opthomalscope. To make sure that ligth from the instruments or daylight will not cause the pupil to detract, the dog is given eyedrops that will dilate the pupils aproximately 15 minutes ahead of the examination, and the exam will be made in a dark room. Eye examinations can be made from the day the pup is 6 weeks old.

The veterinary surgeon will grade the defects (mild, moderat, severe). This is to give a judgement of the dogs eye vision since it is important to be able to describe the dogs ability to function in his surroundings. The grade is important both to the dog and the breeding value. In later research, Berit Wallin Håkansson and other veterinarians have found that the dividing in mild/moderat/severe CRD is of outmost importance in breeding.