SIRIUSTAFF

SBT Health

This page covers the health issues that affected the SBT. The PPM information is something I have added as although the staffords arent classed as being an inheritant of this eye condition it can affect any breed of dog and is worth reading about.
If your are thinking of breeding from your Stafford please make sure they have had and are clear or unaffected of all relevant conditions. It is the only way we are going to erradicate these conditions from our wonderful breed.

L-2-HGA Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria

In the past few years a small number of Staffords have been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, its clinical name is L2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria or L-2-HGA. This condition manifests itself in varied ways with affected dogs displaying behavioural changes and dementia, anxiety attacks, having full blown seizures, as well as exercise intolerance and ataxia (unsteady gait), tremors and muscular stiffness. Dogs from totally different bloodlines have been found to be sufferers and the number of affected dogs diagnosed has risen. The disorder (and a similar linked disorder D-2 HGA) is found in humans, again very rare, but nevertheless devastating for those families affected by it. The disorder has an autosomal recessive method of inheritance, which means that both parents must be carriers of the affected gene to produce affected offspring.

Through excessive hard work not only on behalf of the Animal Health Trust at Newmarket and by people submitting blood and urine samples from the families of affected animals a genetic test has been determined to identify the carriers of the gene which causes L-2-HGA.

DOWNLOAD L2HGA & HC FORMS HERE

IT IS THEREFORE ADVISABLE THAT ALL BREEDING STOCK BE SCREENED IN ORDER TO ERADICATE THIS CONDITION IN THE FUTURE.
This can be done by submitting a blood sample to the AHT at Newmarket. For instructions on sample collection please download request for DNA testing form (above)

TESTING CAN TAKE UP TO 6 WEEKS FOR RESULTS SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THIS DONE IN PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE YOUR PLANNED MATING.

HC – HEREDITARY CATARACTS.

It is known that HC is inherited by and automal recessive path (i.e. both parents must be carriers of the defective gene to produce and affected offspring). HC is a progressive condition and this means that although a puppy is not born with cataracts they will start to develop at a juvenile age. (maybe from 8 months onwards), and will progress until the dog is totally blind. This condition is bilateral which means is affects both eyes equally. Thanks to the tireless research by the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket there is a now a DNA Test for Hereditary Cataracts.
For instructions on sample collection please download request for DNA testing form (above)

PHPV – PERSITENT HYPERPLASTIC PRIMARY VITREOUS

The mode of inheritance of PHPV is not so clear, but it is known that it is a congenital condition (present at birth) and that it is not progressive. This means that if a puppy is born with PHPV it can be detected by ophthalmic screening from 6 weeks of age and if it is affected, whatever the condition of the problem at that stage it will not change throughout the dogs life.

Either of the above conditions can be operated on, but it is a serious operation and can be traumatic and very expensive. It is not always covered by insurance due to the hereditary nature.

Even though the genetic test is now available for Hereditary Cataracts

it is still very important to screen for PHPV.

PPSC – POSTERIOR POLAR SUBCAPSULAR CATARACT.

This type of cataracts is found in other breeds, particularly the Labrador and Golden Retriever.
It usually remains as a small, punctuate cataract and doesn’t usually lead to sight problems in these two breeds. It has been placed on schedule 3 of the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme because a number of Staffords that have been through the Scheme have been found to have this type of cataract. This type of cataract cannot be detected through litter screening. The mode of inheritance is unknown and has a variable age of onset.

BREEDING STOCK SHOULD BE TESTED ANNUALLY TO DETERMINE THAT THE DOG IS CERTIFIED CLEAR AT THE TIME OF MATING.

LINKS FOR

The Buttons below will take you to the sites where you can read about the conditions and download forms (L2hga/hc) or you can find eyetesting clinics near you that do the Phpv/Ppsc.

What are persistent pupillary membranes (PPM)?

Persistent pupillary membranes are strands of tissue in the eye. They are remnants of blood vessels which supplied nutrients to the developing lens of the eye before birth. Normally these strands are gone by 4 or 5 weeks of age.

Depending upon the location and extent of these strands, they may interfere with vision. They may bridge from iris to iris across the pupil, iris to cornea (may cause corneal opacities), or iris to lens (may cause cataracts), or they may form sheets of tissue in the anterior chamber of the eye. In many dogs these tissue remnants cause no problems.

How are persistent pupillary membranes inherited?

Inheritance is not defined.

What breeds are affected by persistent pupillary membranes?

PPM are known or strongly suspected to be inherited in the basenji, Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh corgi, mastiff, and chow chow. This problem is particularly significant in the basenji where the strands often bridge to the cornea, causing opacities which may impair sight. In the basenji the condition has been seen with optic nerve coloboma - a cavity in the optic nerve which, if large, causes blindness.

PPM are also seen in many other breeds, including the Akita, Alaskan malamute, American and English cocker spaniel, Australian shepherd, basset Griffin vendeen (petite), beagle, bearded collie, Belgian sheepdog, Belgian tervuren, Bichon frise, Bouviers des Flandres, Chesapeake Bay retriever, collie (rough and smooth), Doberman pinscher, English springer spaniel, golden retriever, Gordon setter, Havenese, Irish setter, Labrador retriever, Lakeland terrier, Lowchen, miniature bull terrier, Norwegian elkhound, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Old English sheepdog, papillon, poodle (all sizes), Portuguese water dog, samoyed, Scottish terrier, Shetland sheepdog, soft-coated wheaten terrier, Tibetan terrier, Welsh springer spaniel, West Highland white terrier, Yorkshire terrier.

For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed.

What do persistent pupillary membranes mean to your dog & you?

Generally persistent pupillary membranes cause no problems. However if attached to the cornea or lens, the strands can cause opacities which may interfere with vision. The cataracts that can occur with PPM usually don't worsen.

How are persistent pupillary membranes diagnosed?

PPM are seen in young dogs. You or your veterinarian may notice small white spots in your dog's eyes, or you may suspect that your dog's vision is impaired if the condition is severe. With an ophthalmoscope, your veterinarian will be able to see the membranous strands, and whether they adhere to the lens or cornea.

How are persistent pupillary membranes treated?

There is no treatment for the membranes themselves and in most cases there are no associated problems. If there is significant edema or "bluing" of the cornea due to adhesions, hyperosmotic eyedrops may help. Surgery may be required if there are extensive cataracts.

Breeding advice

PPM's may or may not be a problem in a breed and/or individual dogs. PPMs are remnants of a fetal structure called the pupillary membrane. This membrane covers the pupil before an animal is born. It is part of the blood supply to the developing lens (the structure in the eye that focuses light on the retina). Normally the pupillary membrane completely absorbs before birth in foals and calves but is partially present and continues to disappear in neonatal dogs. Absorption may not be complete in puppies when the eyes first open and small strands or a web-like structure may be seen across the pupil. These strands normally disappear by four to five weeks of age. In some dogs these strands do not disappear and become PPMs.

PPMs may be found in several configurations in the anterior chamber. They may span across the pupil (iris to iris), from the iris to the lens, from the iris to the cornea, or they may float free on one end, only connected to the iris. In general, iris to iris PPMs cause no problems. They may be single strands or a forked structure. These PPMs may break and become less prominent as the puppy gets older, but they usually do not disappear completely. Iris to lens PPMs are more problematical. These PPMs cause opacities (cataracts) at the point where they are attached to the lens capsule. The cataracts do not usually progress and cause only minor visual deficits. Iris to cornea PPMs cause opacities on the cornea due to their ability to damage the corneal endothelium (the inner lining of the cornea). These opacities may be small or may be severe due to the development of corneal edema (fluid in the cornea). Severely affected puppies (with numerous strands) may be blind (they may improve as they get older). The strands may regress but do not disappear.

PPMs are found in many breeds of dog. In some breeds, PPMs are known to be hereditary. The Basenji is the most well known but it is also found frequently in Chow Chows, Mastiffs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, or Yorkshire Terriers. Members of these breeds have been shown to produce offspring with blindness directly associated with their PPMs. In these breeds, the mechanism of inheritance is not known but breeding any of these dogs with PPMs is highly discouraged.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers