Greyhound Eye Disease – Pannus
Pannus is a disorder that affects the eye of the greyhound, and will eventually lead to blindness if it’s not managed.
It is not painful in its early stages, causes no discharge from the eye, and may be hard to see unless you look closely at your greyhound’s eyes in a good light. If it is not diagnosed or treated, the disease will slowly cover the clear part of the eye (the ‘cornea’) until the dog can no longer see.
Pannus is seen most commonly in German Shepherd’s, but is also found in Collies, Poodles, Dachshunds and Greyhounds. There is thought to be a significant genetic inheritance, with certain families and lines within a breed more severely affected, but environmental factors also play a part in the development of the disease.
What does it look like?
Pannus symptoms generally start to appear when the dog reaches 2-5 years of age. In the beginning you may only notice that the edge of the cornea seems more pigmented (coloured) than before – kind of like ‘freckles’ developing near the edge of the eye – or there may be a hazy/greyish colour to the edge of the clear part of the eye. Generally the disease will occur in both eyes, starting at about the same time, but the lesions do not necessarily look the same.
As the disease progresses, Pannus lesions may simply look like brown pigment ‘growing’ onto the surface of the eye, or it may appear more inflamed with a ‘greyish-pink’ colour (which is the eye’s version of scar tissue). If you look closely, you might even see small blood vessels growing onto the eye surface. The colour change to the clear part of the eye starts at the outside edges and spreads inwards until the entire eye surface is covered, leaving no clear window for light to enter the eye – making the dog blind.
What causes it?
Pannus is thought to be an auto-immune disease. This means the body actually starts to attack itself. The genetic predisposition to develop pannus is inherited – so it tends to affect certain breeds and certain families within these breeds more than others.
The other factor thought to contribute to pannus is exposure to Ultra-Violet (UV) light. This exposure to UV light is thought to trigger the start of the reaction, or to make the reaction worse, so it is important to keep affected dogs out of bright light, especially in the summer months when the UV level is high. Even if exposure to UV light is not the cause of the disease, the rate of progression increases with exposure to high levels of UV light (from sun light, or reflected light from water).
Can it be treated?
Once the disease has started, there is no ‘cure’ that completely eliminates pannus. All treatments are directed at slowing the progression of the pigmented lesions and to prevent flare-ups. The most commonly used treatment is cortisone eye drops, which are administered daily. The cortisone slows the immune reaction that causes the pigment, and hence slows the progression of the disease. Cortisone may also be combined with cyclosporine drops which also help control the symptoms.
What should I do if I suspect one of my greyhounds may be affected by pannus?
The first thing to do is to consult your veterinarian. They will be able to do an eye examination, and discuss the disease with you. They can also refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist (eye specialist for dogs) who can give more specific advice and recommend treatments for more severe cases. Getting to the disease early gives the best chance of treatment, so don’t hesitate – take the greyhound to the vet for a check up.
Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Gromit
Just like Wallace’s trusty side kick, this Gromit is a real life version of everyone’s favourite clay cartoon character. With his beautiful fawn coat, striking white socks and stunning dark points, he is a real handsome boy that turns heads!
One of his ears likes to flop around on his head as he walks and we think it's too adorable. Gromit can sometimes be a little shy in new situations, but he soon relaxes and shows his sweet, gentle nature. He is lovely to walk on the lead and think he may suit living with families with children 10 and over and another medium or larger dog that likes to play. As Gromit is still only a young boy, he is still a bit of a puppy at times so a home that understands he will be a bit silly and bouncy will be best for him.
Jackson
This handsome lad is Jackson, he has some unusual white markings that reach up around his neck which makes him stand out in a crowd. Apart from his looks, this boy is a charmer and loves to interact with people and dogs, sometimes a little too enthusiastically so we think he may better suit a home with children 10 and over and another robust medium or larger play buddy. Jackson would love a yard to run around in and play so this is a must too. He may be ok with full time workers as long as he gets his energy out daily!
Cruise
Cruise is a very affectionate boy who adores leaning up against his people. He has the cutest underbite which is really endearing. This social boy can be a little excitable at times (he is only a young boy after all!) so someone that can involve him in adventures would be amazing for him so he can get his short burst of energy out whilst also making friends where ever he goes! Cruise would likely suit a home with children aged 10 or older and may be fine with full time workers.
Lee
How handsome is this young chap! Mr Lee here is a stunning, sleek, shiny boy that is just as sweet as he is handsome. Lee is still a young one getting to know the ropes so he can be a bit silly and on the go but he does sometimes step back and take it all in. He can be a little shy in new situations but soon forgets what he was worried about and is back to his usual playful self. We think Lee may suit living with children 10+ and maybe another medium or larger companion. He has requested a backyard though please as he wants to show you his epic zoomies and play till its nap time!
Violet
Meeko
Crystal
Like a precious gemstone, our Crystal is one of a kind. She is a pretty little blue girl that has the cutest little snoot! Crystal may be small but she has a big, friendly personality. We think she may suit living with another medium or larger male dog or maybe even children 5 and over. Crystal might also suit living in an apartment!
Shy
Shy by name and shy by nature but this sweet blue girl has a lot of love to give to a patient owner that will give her the time to come out of her shell. When she is comfortable she is a chill, quiet, couch potato that loves too lazy around.She feels more at ease when she has another dog for company so we think she may better suit living with a calm and confident male dog of any size to show her the ropes. She also may suit living with children 10 and over as long as they are respectful of her quiet nature. A quieter home would be best for her as she adjusts to becoming a beautiful, placid member of the family.
Shelby