COLLIE EYE ANOMALY
This is the most common of the Collie eye diseases, but it should be noted that Collies share this disease with several other breeds. Researchers first noted this problem nearly fifty years ago. It was later found to exist in most Collies and in most Collie families. This so-called syndrome, meaning a group of conditions which appear in conjunction with each other, is present prior to birth. Collie Eye Anomaly can be easily checked when the puppies are 5-6 weeks old, by a qualified Board Certified Ophthalmologist. It is something that your average Veterinarian is not qualified to diagnose. The eyes must be dilated prior to the examination, so the interior of the eye can be examined with an Ophthalmoloscope.
A dog is either given a “Normal” or "Affected" rating. If given "affected" the type of abnormality is noted. It used to be popular to use a Grading System and still is being used in certain parts of the country. Currently there is no universal, standardized grading system.
Normal: A “Normal” eye rating is of course the best grading there is. (There are also "Go Normals", which are so mildly affected at a young age, that later, the pale areas disappear, leading to what is termed a "Go Normal". Keep in mind that these are still in fact affected with CEA). There are variations even in "Normal" eyes. These correspond somewhat to a dog's coat color. Thus it is often difficult to judge the pigment in a Blue Merle's eyes as it is diluted along with his coat color.
Choroidal Hypoplasia,
Chorioretinal Change:
These refer to
abnormalities in the coloring or pigmentation of the choroid
or central layer of the eye's lining. This is the most
common abnormality found in Collie eyes. Often referred to
as mild CRC, Grade I or Grade II, it is the least harmful
and least severe form of CEA. Most dogs with this eye grade
function normally with no ill-effects or loss of vision.
Staphyloma, Coloboma, Ectasia:
While not completely synonymous, these terms all refer to a
cupping or bulging in the eyeball usually in the area of the
optic disc.
Vascular Disease, Tortuous Blood Vessels:Defects
in the vessels of the eye which are responsible for its
blood supply or "nourishment." These may be malformed,
undersized, or even lacking.
Retinal Detachment:
Loosening or separation of the inmost, or retina, layer from
the wall of the eye. This may involve a tiny area or the
entire retina. It can be either one or both eyes. The
complete detachment of the retina results in blindness in
that eye.
There
is a new Genetic Test for Collie Eye Anomaly / Choroidal
Hypoplasia. Please visit the
OPTIGEN
website for details:
Can the Collie's eyes become worse? Might he later go blind?
The basic answer is "No" as CEA is present prior to birth.
However, a dog born with a severe Staphyloma or with
Vascular Disease may later suffer loss of sight if a
detachment or severe hemorrhage occurs. The majority of dogs
that are slightly affected, will have perfectly adequate eye
vision throughout their life. (Even a dog with one blind eye
will adapt perfectly well in his surroundings.)
What have breeders done to improve Collie eyes? When the eye problem was discovered more than 50 years ago, it was estimated that 90% of the Collie population was afflicted with some form of eye disease. Because CEA has involved such a large percentage of the breed, eradication has been slow . Over the years, with selective breeding and eye checking of breeding stock, the numbers of affected Collies has greatly reduced. ALL reputable breeders eye check not only their breeding stock, but all puppies that are offered for sale.
How is CEA inherited? Most of the specialists agree that Choroidal Hypoplasia is carried as a simple recessive. For a dog to show symptoms, both parents, even if they show no signs themselves, must carry a gene for the condition. Evidence exists that some other parts of the syndrome are inherited differently. Staphyloma, for instance, rarely occurs except in the presence of Choroidal Hypoplasia. Dogs recommended for breeding will vary according to the standard set by the individual doctor. The ideal, of course, is to eliminate all but the clear, non-carriers, from the breed. Please note: Even among the dogs that examine "normal", most are carriers of the gene. They have a "hidden" or recessive gene for the condition and will transmit the gene to half its offspring.
Two other
conditions not part of the CEA, which can occur, should be
noted:
Hypoplasia of the Optic Nerve:
An undersized nerve which is noted where it enters the
eyeball. In extreme cases, this can cause blindness.
Corneal Dystrophy:This
condition comes on when the dog is mature, often during
stress. Opaque spots appear centrally on the surface of the
cornea. (It is often confused by the layman with cataracts
which occur in the lense.)
In the beginning there was a lack of veterinarians trained
to examine eyes. Then in 1972, the American Veterinary
Medical Association formed the American College of
Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO), thus providing
specialists in the animal eye field. The Collie Club of
America encourages its members to have all their puppies
checked as young as possible by a member of the ACVO. Where
there is none in the area, the alternative is to sell a dog
contingent on a later check. No dog should be used for
breeding until examined and found to be above the examiner's
standard.
Note: There are other health problems in our breed. Please visit the
Collie Health Foundation for more information.
Breed History
Unfortunately, the Collie's exact origins are shrouded in
obscurity. It has been the subject of much research and
speculation. The word "Collie" is as obscure as the breed
itself. The name has been spelled many different ways: Coll,
Colley, Coally and Coaly. Generally, the most accepted
origin of the word is "Coll" - the Anglo-Saxon word for
black.
In the 18th century, the Collie's natural home was in the highlands of Scotland, where he had been used for centuries as a sheepdog. The dogs were bred with great care in order to assist their masters in the herding and guarding of their flock.
While the breed as we know it may have originated in Scotland, invariably we think of England as the true home of the breed. Without a doubt, it is to the English fancy of the late 1800s that the breed owes its development as a popular show dog. Collies were first exhibited in 1860 at the Birmingham, England dog show, in the generic class "Scotch Sheep-Dogs."
In 1879 the first English Collie was imported to this country. It is from England that we find the famous pillars of the breed, from which the American fanciers sought not only their next big winner, but also their foundation stock.
By
the turn of the century, the American Collie was in a state
of continued development. The breed continued to flourish in
England. American show prizes were dominated by the British
imports. As a result of the imports, the breed made rapid
progress between 1900 to 1920. These dogs built the
foundations upon which the present day Collie is based and
paved the way for the emergence of the great American
kennels of the 1920s and 1930s. Names such as Alstead, Arken,
Arrowhill, Tazewell, Tokalon, Hertzville, Lodestone, Noranda,
Sterling, Bellhaven and Honeybrook began to dominate the
American dog scene. This signaled the true emergence of the
golden age of the American Collie. Our Collie legacy since
that time has been rich and varied. For more detailed
information regarding the history of the Collie, contact the
Collie Club of America, Inc., for various books and
publications.
Smooth vs Rough
The collie is beautiful, elegant and is well known as a loving, faithful family dog. Popularized by the movie and television canine Lassie, the collie is an easily recognized breed. The dog comes in two separate varieties: The rough collie, the one most people are familiar with; and the smooth collie, that does not have the flowing coat of the rough collie, but is just as loyal and affectionate and is gaining
This
is the only difference between the two types. It is
surmised that the rough coated variety was used in the field
for herding and protecting flocks, usually sheep. The heavy
coat would protect the dog from the harsh weather (Scotland,
Northern England), briars, thorns, and animal bites. The
smooth coated Collie would be used for driving the sheep to
the markets. The roads used would be muddy and the dog's
short hair would tend to be less apt to show or hold the
dirt.
Appearance
and Size
The
collie is a tall, lean, elegant dog with a long and tapered
nose. The difference between the rough and smooth collie is
primarily the hair coat. The rough collie has a long flowing
hair coat that can be sable and white, tricolor, blue merle
or white. The outer coat is long and abundant and the inner
coat is soft. The smooth collie has similar colored hair
coats but the hair coat is short, dense and flat with a rich
undercoat.
The collie, both smooth and rough, stand 22 to 26 inches in
height at the shoulder. Collies typically weigh 50 to 75
pounds.
Personality
Collies
are loyal and affectionate dogs with natural protective and
herding instincts. They are intelligent and quite active and
some may be high strung and sensitive.
Home
and Family Relations
A devoted
and faithful family dog, the collie is ideal for homes with
children. Due to their tolerant nature, they are also
excellent in homes with other dogs. Though not known for
having guard dog tendencies, collies will alert the family
when strangers approach.
Training
The
collie takes well to training. The breed thrives on mental
and physical stimulation. Collies have a natural herding
instinct, which must be overcome through proper training to
prevent the breed from inappropriately herding small
children and other pets.