There are many diseases of the eye that dogs can be affected with. Diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, eye lid (entropion, ectropion) and eye lash (trichiasis and distichiasis) problems are some that Tollers can be affected with. Examination of breeding stock should be done annually, until at least eight years of age and preferably longer, as hereditary eye problems can develop at varying ages. The examination should be made by a Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist who has the special equipment and training needed to properly examine the dog's eyes.
Dogs that have been examined by a Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and found to be free of hereditary eye disease can be registered with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) which assigns the dog a number.
Dogs with hereditary eye disease should not be used for breeding.
For more information regarding eye
disease see the following links:
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This page gives great explanations of slit-lamp testing and ERG, as well as information on many inherited eye disorders. http://www.eyevet.org/
The following link will take you to the home page of the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF), find general information on CERF as well as a searchable database of all CERF numbers given to all breeds.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
The first link is to Cornell University. This page is
frequently updated and provides indepth information on PRA research. The
second link is to an explanation of the NSDTR Club of Canada's Hip/Eye/Heart
Registry.
http://www.sheepdog.com/diseases/pra/pramenu.html
NSDTR
Club of Canada's Hip/Eye/Heart Registry
Want to understand eye clearance certificates? Click
here for more information.