Canine Eye Problems in Welsh Springer Spaniels

Welsh Springer Spaniels, unlike English Springers, English Cocker or American Cockers, rarely suffer from genetic/hereditary eye disorders that may cause blindness at a young age. For example, it is extremely uncommon to have Welsh Springers develop Juvenile Cataracts or Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), but it is not unknown in the breed.  The major eye disorders that pet owners may see in their Welshies include:
  • Primary Narrow Angle Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a buildup of fluid inside the eye, which leads to damage to structures within the eye and may eventually cause blindness and swelling of the eye. In dogs, if there is a blockage to the structures that allow drainage of eye fluid, pressure increases, followed by pain and destruction of the optic nerve, causing the blindness. Two forms of glaucoma are considered to be inherited in the dog: open-angle glaucoma (very uncommon) and narrow-angle glaucoma.  This narrow-angle glaucoma is the disease considered to be inherited in the Welsh Springer Spaniel, based on research with dogs and their pedigrees published in 1988 (see Cottrell & Barnett, 1988) and again in 1996 (see Animal Health Trust article).  Those dogs with a documented narrowed drainage angle may be predisposed to acute onset glaucoma, usually in middle-age. (See WSSJHG Fact Sheet 3, 2013). This disorder has been researched in the breed extensively in the UK where it has been classified as a heritable condition with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This means that only one parent of a dog may need to have the disorder in order to pass it on to progeny. The condition does not always appear in dogs who are genetically susceptible based on pedigree, and closed or narrow angles does not necessarily mean that the dog will definitely acquire the disorder. While there has not been a big push among US breeders to do complete testing to identify those dogs who may be at risk for developing narrow-angle glaucoma, some breeders are having their breeding stock undergo gonioscopy examination to assure they have normal eye structures. This exam is done IN ADDITION to the usual ACVO eye examination. I believe this testing will become more common as more breeders become aware of the incidence of the disorder.
  • Entropian
This is a hereditary condition where there is a rolling-in of the eyelid so that the hairs on the eyelid actually rub on the surface of the eyeball. It is not commonly seen in Welsh Springer Spaniels, but can occur occassionally. This condition is painful and can cause corneal ulcers or erosions on the eyeball. If left untreated, it can result in corneal scarring severe enough to interfere with vision. Usually the dog will squint and tear excessively and appear to have discomfort. Treatment for entropion is by surgical removal of excess skin folds and the eyelids are tightened-essentially, this is canine plastic surgery. Very young puppies with entropion will often have "lid tacking" performed instead, in which temporary lid sutures are placed to roll out the lids. Often, these puppies do not require permanent plastic surgery once they have matured and "grown into" their facial skin. Permanent plastic surgery is usually not performed in puppies, giving the dog some time to develop its mature head conformation. Dogs with entropion should not be used in breeding programs since they will transmit this condition to their progeny and require pet owners to bear the future burden to pay for entropian repair.
  • Distichiasis and Ectopic Cilia
This condition is perhaps the most common eye issue in Welsh Springer Spaniels, but the incidence is still low. Eyelids of dogs can grow abnormal hairs from the oil glands of the lids and are called distichia if the hair protrudes from the oil gland opening onto the edge of the eyelid. Distichia are often irritating, especially if the hairs are long and stiff. Ectopic cilia are also hairs growing from oil glands on the eyelid, but the hair protrudes from the inner surface of the eyelid and is very painful, often causing corneal ulcers. Dogs with distichiasis may or may not show signs of discomfort, ranging from slight intermittent squinting and/or rubbing of the eyes, to severe squinting and discomfort. Dogs with ectopic cilia are always uncomfortable. Most dogs with ectopic cilia are young adult dogs or older puppies. Treatment for both conditions is by surgical cryoepilation-the abnormal hair follicles are frozen using a liquid nitrogen probe, and the hairs removed. New abnormal hairs can grow from new sites after the surgery, but this is uncommon in dogs older than 3 years old. With cryoepilation, 85-90% of the treated hair follicles will not regrow. Repeat surgical treatment is rarely required, unless the animal is a puppy and grows new hairs in new sites. 
  • Nuclear Sclerosis
All geriatric dogs (usually beginning at 6 years of age) develop a hardening of the lens of the eye. This is called nuclear sclerosis. This may cause the lens to have a grayish or blue-gray hazy appearance, which increases as the dog ages. Nuclear sclerosis is NOT a cataract, and does not usually interfere with vision. A veterinary opthomologist can distinguish between nuclear sclerosis and cataract formation. 
  • Age-related Cataracts
Dogs can develop cataracts with age (often after 8 years of life). However, age-related cataracts in dogs are usually small and do not significantly interfere with vision. This is not a hereditary condition, but it is a natural part of the aging process in dogs. Dogs can have both nuclear sclerosis and age-related cataracts at the same time.