Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vitreous degeneration and eye problems in dogs by breed and age
By Krishnan, Harathi et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2020·Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vitreous degeneration and associated ocular abnormalities in the dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at eye problems in dogs and found that certain breeds, like Italian Greyhounds, Shih Tzus, and Brussels Griffons, are more likely to develop vitreous degeneration (a condition affecting the gel-like substance in the eye) as they age. For every year a dog gets older, the chance of developing this issue increases by 24%. However, the research did not find a link between vitreous degeneration and other eye problems like cataracts or glaucoma. This means that while some breeds are more prone to this condition, it doesn't seem to lead to other serious eye issues.
People also search for: dog eye problems · Italian Greyhound eye issues · cataracts in Shih Tzus · aging dog eye health · vitreous degeneration in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of vitreous degeneration and its association with ocular comorbidities including cataracts, lens luxation, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 4217 dogs from the Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) that underwent breed screening ophthalmic examinations between 2013 and 2016. The breeds analyzed included the Italian Greyhound, Shih Tzu, Affenpinscher, Bichon Frise, Brussels Griffon, Whippets, and Greyhound. Data collected from CAER included age, gender, number of examinations, and whether vitreous degeneration, along with cataracts, lens luxation, glaucoma and/or retinal detachment were present in either or both eyes. RESULTS: The study found that breed and age are significant drivers for developing VD. Italian Greyhounds, Brussels Griffons, and Shih Tzus have a significantly higher likelihood of VD compared to the negative control breed, the Greyhound. Additionally, with every 1-year age increase, there is a 24% higher likelihood of developing VD. However, no association was identified between vitreous degeneration and cataracts, lens luxation, glaucoma, or retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: While the study found that breed and age were significant drivers for developing VD, no association was found between VD and the other ocular comorbidities examined.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31464365/