Corneal dystrophy - Page 1

Anyone here with experience on corneal dystrophy? I have a 5 year old female gsd with corneal dystrophy and the type is epithelial.

The eye specialist said that this is quite a harmless condition that comes and goes due to hormones. It shouldn't effect on vision and the heredity is small, the vet only told me to avoid males that seem to be having this condition if I should use her for breeding.

I red that it's some what common with gsd's, but here in Finland we don't check gsd's eyes that often since it's not required for breeding. There are only 2 possible CD's, one discovered CD with no type reported and an other one of stromal type and then my dog with the epithelial type.

I took my dog to the eye specialist because she had a flat circular formation in her eye diameter of maybe 0,5 cm. It looked as if something sharp had hit it but we wanted to be sure. Her eyes are now clear of the formation and if I would take her to examination now she might even come up clear.

Does anyone have any info on this condition or maybe wondering if your dog was having this? I would be very interested on the pedigrees of dogs known to have this.

I had a dog with this back in the 90s but his was related to hereditary cataracts so different type to yours
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=670855

It's a harmless condition and is thought to run in certain families. One day it's there, the next day it's gone. I had a GSD with it. It disappeared on its own. Fred Lanting has written an article on it, I think you can find it on the net if you google his name.

ACVO will not cerf some breeds with Corneal Dystrophy;  Siberian Huskys, Samoyeds, and other breeds.  Not sure of the complete list but know these two for a fact.  So if y ou want to cerf your dogs for eyes, the whole theory is to have clear eyes, no Dystrophy, no cataracts, no PRA, no nothing.  BOL  Nan

I think it's a breeder's option in this breed but I'm not positive. I imagine there are GSD's with superficial dystrophies that cleared on their own that could get a CERF cert without a breeder's option. Once it's gone, it's gone unless it's one of the more serious types that aren't normally seen in GSD's. My dog's was superficial and it took about a year to disappear.

Thanks for the answers and I red the article aswell. :)

I have a strong feeling that the epithelial type might have more to do with nutrition than being an actual abnormality in an eye (or having any influence on other more severe eye diseases). I'm fine with what it is now and don't feel need to take her to an eye specialist again. Whatever the cause is I believe is minor to other health problems.

My younger male was diagnosed at about 11 months with corneal lipid dystrophy. It seemed only I could see it (along with my vet). We went to any eye specialist. I was told the same, that it wasn't a problem, wouldn't affect vision and would likely just go on it's own.  It did disappear within about 9 months and I have never seen it since. He's now middle aged.

The vet I used said it was probably a deposit of cholesterol so the nutritional source would make sense.

Kali had that in one eye, when she was about 2, we were feeding Orijen at the time. My vet said cholesterol/lipid deposit, & it resolved spontaneously. And, yeah, no one else seemed to see it besides the vet & I! jackie harris