Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Microphthalmia and eye defects in Portuguese Water Dogs
By Shaw, Gillian C et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2019·University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Microphthalmia With Multiple Anterior Segment Defects in Portuguese Water Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Portuguese Water Dog puppies and one adult dog were found to have microphthalmia, a condition where the eyes are abnormally small, along with other serious eye problems like cataracts. This condition was seen in nearly all the puppies and the adult dog, indicating a possible genetic issue that affects eye development. The affected dogs showed various abnormalities in their eye structure, which could lead to vision problems. Unfortunately, the study did not mention specific treatments or outcomes for these dogs, but it highlights the need for careful breeding practices to avoid passing on these genetic defects.
People also search for: Portuguese Water Dog eye problems · microphthalmia in dogs · congenital cataracts in puppies
Abstract
Portuguese Water Dog breeders and veterinary ophthalmologists recognize microphthalmia with multiple congenital ocular anomalies. Fifteen Portuguese Water Dog puppies (<8 weeks of age; 8 females, 7 males) and 1 adult (5 years old; castrated male) with microphthalmia were examined. The 2 most common abnormalities were microphthalmia (31/32 eyes; 97%) and lens abnormality (congenital cataract or aphakia; 32/32 eyes; 100%). Other common histologic lesions included lack of both a ciliary cleft and trabecular meshwork (15/32 eyes; 47%) and abnormal relationship of anterior segment structures (15/32 eyes; 47%). Many of the observed lesions were similar to those described in various types of anterior segment dysgenesis in humans. Our findings define the histologic lesions in affected Portuguese Water Dogs and suggest a genetic defect that causes anterior segment malformation early in development.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30131012/