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National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association

ENTLEBUCHER Eye Health

Photo credit: Sarah Puckitt

Regrettably, eye diseases and conditions occurs in Entlebucher Mountain Dogs. We are building this resource to help you as an owner.  Check back often.  Please reach out to our Health and Genetics Committee for immediate help. 

NEMDA highly recommends Entlebuchers receive an annual eye exam along with their routine health exam. 

The most serious eye conditions affecting Entlebuchers

Cataracts

The most common cause of cataracts in the dog is inherited disease. Other causes include injuries to the eye or diseases such as diabetes mellitus (“sugar diabetes”). Some cataracts appear to occur spontaneously and are age related.

Resource information about cataracts:

         AKC Cataract Information

NEMDA Articles about Cataracts

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is caused by inadequate drainage of aqueous fluid. It is classified as primary or secondary glaucoma.

Primary glaucoma results in increased intra-ocular pressure in a healthy eye. It occurs due to inherited anatomical abnormalities in the drainage angle.

Secondary glaucoma results in increased intra-ocular pressure due to disease or injury to the eye.

Current research is being conducted by Dr. Gillian McLellan on glaucoma in Entlebuchers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI. 

Resource information about Glaucoma

NEMDA Articles about Glaucoma

Progressive Retinal Atrophy – PRA

The Entlebucher carries the gene for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA is a hereditary disease of the eye that causes blindness. Entlebuchers were mostly affected by the late onset variety (PRA-prcd) with very few affected by early onset PRA.

In 2004, via fundraising, education, and cooperation amongst our breeders, NEMDA worked with Cornell University and Optigen to make a DNA test available for PRA in the Entlebucher.

NEMDA BCOE Breeders are required to test their breeding Entlebuchers to find out whether they are Pattern Normal, Carrier or Affected. Since 2004 no Entlebucher in NEMDA’s BCOE breeders has suffered from PRA.

Resource information about PRA

NEMDA Articles about PRA




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