[sabrina]

For the past couple of months I have wondered if Rascal was seeing properly. As he was checked over by the vet as a puppy my OH kept telling me that I was being silly. Yesterday Jake and Rascal had a trip to the vet for their flea and tick treatment and overall health check. I decided to mention my worry over his eyes. Turns out he has a problem that affects up to 97% of collies world wide. CEA ( collie eye anomaly )nothing can be done but there is a test that breeding animals should have. Rascal came from working stock, both his parents are fine but must carry the gene to pass it on. It explains why Rascal does not seem to see distance or can go in a straight line to retrieve his ball. He barks and growls at shapes and is not good walking on his lead in the town. Gets into a panic. All we can do is keep an eye on him, use our voice if we are some distant from him to let him know where we are. My OH is so upset but in my mind Rascal has never seen his world in any other way than he does now so it is up to us to make sure he is always safe and happy.

[in the hills]

Sorry to hear about Rascal, Sabrina 


We had a retriever who had an inherited eye condition. He was blind from an early age.All I can say is that he was a wonderfully happy dog and led a very active life until the age of 14(old for a Flat Coated Retriever). Tell your OH to try not to worry. We made sure we used lots of verbal commands/ reassurance and of course looked out for dangerous situations that he would be unaware of eg. things he could run head first into, drops, caution when meeting other dogs. Also kept furniture in the same place, didn't leave vacuum in unfamiliar place, etc. He was a very friendly, outgoing boy but always said his name if strangers were about to touch him so that he was never shocked by the sudden touch.


My children grew up with him and he went everywhere with us .... holidays, the park, town and so on. You get used to thinking of the little things that make life easier/safer for them and it becomes second nature.


Hope that eases any concerns your OH may have 

[Rosemary]

Lucky Rascal to have a famiily that cares about him and will help him live a long and happy life.

I suppose this is what Annie's always banging on about - prebreeding health checks

[kaz]

I have a white collie with a very little bit of black on him. I have had him since he was six weeks old. I had put my name down for a puppy when they had some in at the local animal santuary. He has one blue eye and a very small blue eye. He sees very little, but knows his way around by feeling things with his feet and smell. He can adapt very quickly to new changes in his environment.  Out and about he walks on a lead, maybe not in a straight line as that is harder for him to do and in the local forest, he can find his own way home without a lead. He is now close to 12 and that is how his life has been all the time. He knows no better so it is not an issue for him and he is probably one of the best dogs we have had.
I now have Goldies as well and have started going done the line of testing them for eye conditions that they can get. The last one being a DNA test for prcd-pra and the next will be a DNA swap test for another form of pra which will be done by the Animals Health Trust, this I am doing as I want to breed from my dogs without passing on the health issues they can have to another generation. The bitch has already had hip scores of 3/3 and elbows of 0. The dog is only 9 months so I can't do him until he is a year old, but the eyes he has had tested.
It's lucky Rascal has a owner who is prepared to look after him.
 

[sabrina]

As the farmer we bought him from assured us that his dogs were all in the best of health, good working dogs who we saw were full of life and bounce. He only breeds a litter when he wants a young dog to bring on. With the amount of sheep he had he would soon know if a dog was not up to its job.. I also took Rascal to the vet as soon as we got him for this very reason to double check he was OK. His problem is picked up when the pup is just weeks old. I do not understand why our vet said he was fine. At least I know why he is the way he is.Been on the hill with me most of the day and as long as I kept him in my sight he was fine. If he wanders and I call him he cannot see me so I will just have to remember that.

[robert waddell]

yes rosemary that is why Annie was very passionate about testing prior to breeding

[HelenVF]

Sorry to hear that.  Sounds like he is managing ok.

I do know that it is tested for and I think that some dogs can be carriers, without actually having it themselves. 

Helen

[kaz]

As the farmer we bought him from assured us that his dogs were all in the best of health, good working dogs who we saw were full of life and bounce. He only breeds a litter when he wants a young dog to bring on. With the amount of sheep he had he would soon know if a dog was not up to its job.. I also took Rascal to the vet as soon as we got him for this very reason to double check he was OK. His problem is picked up when the pup is just weeks old. I do not understand why our vet said he was fine. At least I know why he is the way he is.Been on the hill with me most of the day and as long as I kept him in my sight he was fine. If he wanders and I call him he cannot see me so I will just have to remember that.

It might be worth while to use a whistle to help him know where you are as the sound of your voice does not travel as far as the sound of the whistle.   
All of my dogs will come to the whistle.

[sabrina]

Good idea, will get one tomorrow.
 

[SallyintNorth]

As the farmer we bought him from assured us that his dogs were all in the best of health, good working dogs who we saw were full of life and bounce. He only breeds a litter when he wants a young dog to bring on. With the amount of sheep he had he would soon know if a dog was not up to its job.. I also took Rascal to the vet as soon as we got him for this very reason to double check he was OK. His problem is picked up when the pup is just weeks old. I do not understand why our vet said he was fine. At least I know why he is the way he is.Been on the hill with me most of the day and as long as I kept him in my sight he was fine. If he wanders and I call him he cannot see me so I will just have to remember that.

As I understand it, with Collie Eye Anomoly, they are tested at a young age but must be tested again later as it doesn't always show up until later on.

[SallyintNorth]

I suppose this is what Annie's always banging on about - prebreeding health checks

As I understand it, if the parents are registered with the International Sheepdog Society they are both clear of CEA.

[Moleskins]

Good idea, will get one tomorrow.

Get a Gundog whistle something like a 210.5 (two ten and a half) reason being, if you lose it, and you will, you can buy another of the same pitch.
Otherwise you get a different sounding whistle and you're suddenly speaking a different language to the dog.

[Bramblecot]

Get a Gundog whistle something like a 210.5 (two ten and a half) reason being, if you lose it, and you will, you can buy another of the same pitch.
Otherwise you get a different sounding whistle and you're suddenly speaking a different language to the dog.

Very good point,  I should know .  The black plastic ones are good and quite cheap.  Your boy should pick up the commands fairly quickly and will be fine 

[Moleskins]

Try here for other colours
http://www.solwayfeeders.com/products/dog-whistle-210-1-2-high-pitch-p5029-c483.html

[robate55]

Hi
CEA is a recessive gene so the parents can be clear on eye tests but be carriers. However there are some dogs which are 'go normals' which appear normal on testing as adults. They can be detected as very young puppies so are checked at about 6 weeks by an eye specialist as it can be difficult to detect. There is now a DNA test which can show the carriers.
The ISDS require the parents to be eyed tested clear or to have the DNA test with 1 clear parent & the other clear or carrying the gene. If the stud dog produces affected puppies in 2 litters they will no longer register his puppies if he is only eye tested clear - although that may have changed since DNA testing
Rose