[Inherited eye diseases in the Entlebucher mountain dog]

Ophthalmoscopic examinations of 276 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs between 1987 and 1992 revealed a high incidence of inherited ocular diseases in this particular breed. A posterior polar cataract was seen in 42.4% of dogs examined. This cataract develops between one and two years of age and is in the majority of cases stationary. Development of mature cataracts was noticed in 8% of dogs with polar opacities. A progressive retinal degeneration (rod/cone-abiotrophy) was observed in 24.9% of the dogs examined. The fundus abnormalities are comparable to other forms of retinal degeneration, such as hyperreflectivity of the tapetal fundus, attenuation of the retinal vasculature, depigmentation of the non tapetal fundus, and pallor of the optic disc. Visual deficits were first seen at the age of 3 years, the majority of affected dogs going blind between 6 and 8 years of age. As a third suspected inherited ocular disease glaucoma was seen in 3.3% of the dogs examined. Glaucoma affects older animals. In the nine cases examined by gonioscopy goniodysgenesis was observed. Initially, glaucoma occurs unilaterally, but the opposite eye may also become affected, in which case animals go blind. Pedigree analysis revealed an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance for the cataracts and the PRA, whereas the mode of transmission is unclear for the glaucoma. 11.9% of the dogs examined had more than one inherited eye disease.