Subclavian Steal Diagram

The eyes of the Border Collie

The "weakness" of the Border Collie is the frequency in this race two serious eye diseases: Eye Anomaly Collie (AOC) and the Progressive Atrophy of the Retina (APR). Here's a quick summary on the AOC from the site http://www.passionborder.com/

But first, a small photograph of the specimen most pampered ...



The anomaly of the eye Collie

This hereditary disease of the eye is caused by abnormal development in the eyeball with very different consequences depending on the dogs and the degree of damage.
The general characteristics of the AOC are: abnormal thinning of the choroid (vascular tissue present in the retina), lack of pigmentation of the latter and too low density of choroidal vessels may be more abnormal form. In more severe stages of vision can be altered to result in blindness, usually unilateral. There

2 forms of the disease: mild non-progressive who has a thinning of the choroid without vision loss (grades 1 and 2), and severe disease (grades 3 and 4).

1st Grade: Hypoplasia / dysplasia choroid
From the 45th day of gestation, can be detected by an ophthalmologist examination in puppies between 5-7 weeks to 2-3 months. If the anomaly is alone, there is no impact on visual skills.

second grade : Coloboma papillary or papillary-justa
The coloboma is a developmental anomaly of the choroid occur in stage embryo. It is with papillary or periphery, its size can vary and thus alter + or - the vision of a strong dog. At this stage it is associated with hypoplasia / dysplasia of the choroid.

3rd grade : Retinal detachment (partial or total)
The partial or total detachment associated with coloboma at this stage of the disease, bleeding may occur in this case.

fourth grade : intraocular hemorrhage
the Stade + severe. They occur in the presence of coloboma and retinal detachment but not systematically. The bleeding can lead to the formation of glaucoma in some cases.

The AOC is a congenital disease, in contrast to the RPA which is progressive development of choroidal hypoplasia and colobomas are present at birth and grow along with the eye itself, this explains that the diagnosis of the disease occurs when the dog is young (2 months-2 years) by the expression of early disease.
This disease is hereditary and caused by mutation, dogs suffering from a mild form can produce offspring that will affect a severe form.
The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive monogenic fashion. The gene is located on chromosome No. 37 regardless of race.

Screening for disease:
-Examination of the fundus with an ophthalmoscope after dilating the pupil. The examination is more reliable on a dog 6 to 8 weeks because with age, the fundus may be distorted by pigmentation and mask the signs of the disease. This test should be conducted annually.
-DNA test, by request from a company, sampling kits are sent. The buccal swab should be made and authenticated by a veterinarian to be able to issue a certificate genetics. This test identifies the presence or absence of AOC but not its severity.


There is no cure for this disease, the only way to stop it is unfortunately the spacing of the reproduction of a dog suffering.