Greyhound Eye Disease – Pannus

Health & Well Being
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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Shimmer

4 years old

Shimmer is one bright young pup! Shimmer is a friendly and personable girl and absolutely loves to be silly and puppyish. She has the most adorable little face with eyes that truly stare into your soul! Shimmer can't wait to find her forever family, and she would love a new fam who can play with her, take her on walks and just show her all the enjoyable things that come with living the pet life. We think Shimmer may be okay as an only dog or she may enjoy the company of another doggo and children aged 5 years and older. Shimmer has recently been desexed and would appreciate some quiet time in her new home.
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Leaf

1 years old

If those ears were any bigger, he would almost be an elephant! This handsome young boy is still very much a puppy and can still find the world a bit overwhelming at times. He would love a home that would help him gain confidence and learn about being a pet. Leaf is a big softy once you get to know him and we think a home with a nice yard for him to relax in would be better for him whilst he settles in. We also think he may be ok with children 10 and over as long as they are respectful of his space whilst he is getting to know his new life. Leaf has a low-grade heart murmur, which doesn't require any treatment or daily medication.
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Clover

3 years old

Meet Clover, a bubbly and outgoing greyhound who's full of energy and enthusiasm! This playful girl loves to have fun, whether that means chasing toys or running around with her favourite friends. Clover's excitable nature means she needs plenty of exercise and playtime to keep her happy and healthy. Clover's looking for a household with or without kids aged 10+, where she can be the only dog or live with a medium to large dog companion. She's not suited to apartment living or elderly owners, as she needs space to run around and play. If you're an active family or individual looking for a fun-loving companion to join your adventures, Clover might be the perfect fit!
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Greta

4 years old

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Meet the sweet as sugar girl, Greta! Greta can be a little anxious to begin with but when she warms up is very friendly and has a lot of love to give to her special person/s. She is only little but on occasions can be strong on the lead initially then soon settles. Greta may suit living with or without a canine brother of similar size and children aged 10 years and older. Greta has successfully completed some further training in our onsite behavioural program and is now ready for adoption.
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George

2 years old

Gorgeous George! Is there anything better than a hound named George? We are smitten with this loveable lad, he is sweet, affectionate, loves looking up at you with his beautiful eyes and asking for just one more chin scratch please! He is quite an unusual Red Brindle as he has minimal stripes on his coat, just another quirky thing to love about him! We think George may suit living with another canine friend of any size and teenagers 15 and over.
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Lucy

6 years old

Meet the adorable Lucy, she has the cutest face and a white chest like someone has thrown a bucket of paint on her! Lucy is a bit of an introvert and can be a bit shy and unsure at first of new people and situations, but soon warms up and is very sweet, quiet, personable and affectionate. She may suit living with or without a canine brother of similar size and children aged 10 years and older. Lucy's birthday is on 25th October, can we find her a home by then so she can celebrate with her people!?! Lucy has a low-grade heart murmur which requires no medicating and doesnt affect her day-to-day life.
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Wolf

3 years old

Wolf is a young boy who can be a little unsure in new environments, but once he feels safe, his true personality shines through—he’s playful, puppyish, and full of affection. Wolf has low vision, which doesn’t require medication and isn’t expected to worsen. He navigates the world with confidence once he’s familiar with his surroundings, and his gentle nature makes him a joy to be around. Wolf would thrive in a calm, supportive home where he can be the centre of attention. He’s best suited to being the only dog, as this will help him build trust and settle in at his own pace. He may also do well with older teens who understand his needs and can help him feel secure. To support his ongoing care, Wolf will be adopted with approval for a follow-up appointment with an eye specialist, fully covered by GAP.
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Jacko ARP

4 years old

Jacko's dream is to be in a home witha family that can include him all of their activities; he is up for camping,going to the café, beer garden, local markets, you name it! He loves nothingmore than human attention and affection. He may suit living with another dog ofsimilar size or if living as an only dog may need to have some training earlyon to learn to be home alone. He may suit living with children aged 10 yearsand older.

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Boppy ARP

4 years old

Are you ready to get Boppy!! Cause this sweet girl is ready to take on life with her own family and show them what having fun is all about. Boppy is an affectionate and happy girl that thinks life is GREAT! She cant wait to have many adventures in her new home with possibly some side kicks (children 10 and over) or just a fun loving owner that is wanting to get out and about and “Bop” around. We also think she may suit living with another medium or larger male dog companion and full time workers.

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Zoom ARP

2 years old

How adorable is Zoom? She is a lovely, quiet and sweet girl who thinks the world is a bit of a scary place. She will be looking for someone special who can show her the way and help her to build her confidence. She really tries hard to please so we think she will flower into a lovely dog. Zoom might be best suited to a quieter home with no children, however she may suit full time workers.

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