Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER)
The purpose of the OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) is to provide breeders with information regarding canine eye diseases so that they may make informed breeding decisions in an effort to produce healthier dogs. CAER certifications will be performed by board certified (ACVO) veterinary ophthalmologists. Regardless of whether owners submit their CAER exam forms to the OFA for “certification,” all CAER exam data is collected for aggregate statistical purposes to provide information on trends in eye disease and breed susceptibility. Clinicians and students of ophthalmology as well as interested breed clubs, individual breeders and owners of specific breeds will find this useful.
All breeding dogs at DanBar get these eye tests as close to an annual basis as possible. Both Cairn terriers and Dobermans suffer from a variety of genetic eye issues.
Conditions that prevent eligibility for an OFA CAER Number:
There are currently ten disorders for which there is an unequivocal recommendation against breeding in all breeds. These diagnoses are ineligible for OFA Eye Registry certifications. These are conditions which frequently result in blindness and for which there is definite evidence of heritability in one or more breeds. *Note: The prudent approach to these disorders is to assume they are hereditary except in cases specifically known to be associated with trauma, other causes of ocular inflammation, specific metabolic diseases or nutritional deficiencies. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) – Breeding is not recommended for any animal demonstrating keratitis consistent with KCS. The prudent approach is to assume KCS to be hereditary except in cases suspected to be non-genetic in origin. Cataract – Breeding is not recommended for any animal demonstrating partial or complete opacity of the lens or its capsule unless the examiner has also checked the space for “significance of above cataract unknown” or unless specified otherwise for the particular breed. Lens luxation or subluxation Glaucoma Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) Retinal detachment Retinal dysplasia Optic nerve coloboma Optic nerve hypoplasia Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – Breeding is not advised for any animal demonstrating bilaterally symmetric retinal degeneration (considered to be PRA unless proven otherwise).
All breeding dogs at DanBar get these eye tests as close to an annual basis as possible. Both Cairn terriers and Dobermans suffer from a variety of genetic eye issues.
Conditions that prevent eligibility for an OFA CAER Number:
There are currently ten disorders for which there is an unequivocal recommendation against breeding in all breeds. These diagnoses are ineligible for OFA Eye Registry certifications. These are conditions which frequently result in blindness and for which there is definite evidence of heritability in one or more breeds. *Note: The prudent approach to these disorders is to assume they are hereditary except in cases specifically known to be associated with trauma, other causes of ocular inflammation, specific metabolic diseases or nutritional deficiencies. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) – Breeding is not recommended for any animal demonstrating keratitis consistent with KCS. The prudent approach is to assume KCS to be hereditary except in cases suspected to be non-genetic in origin. Cataract – Breeding is not recommended for any animal demonstrating partial or complete opacity of the lens or its capsule unless the examiner has also checked the space for “significance of above cataract unknown” or unless specified otherwise for the particular breed. Lens luxation or subluxation Glaucoma Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) Retinal detachment Retinal dysplasia Optic nerve coloboma Optic nerve hypoplasia Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – Breeding is not advised for any animal demonstrating bilaterally symmetric retinal degeneration (considered to be PRA unless proven otherwise).
Motherhood: Notice the expression on Wee Bonnie's face when her best doggy friend (Wee Mikey) approaches her first litter. The love and protectiveness of a mother - instantly when pups are born - is a privilige to see. Interestingly, she does not have this threatening stare when humans (even strangers) approach. Just other animals. That is a real testimony to the love dogs have for us.