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.
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Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Rubharb Ruby ARP
Like he rname, Rhubarb Ruby is equal parts sweet and full of character. This little girl is friendly, affectionate and always happy to make new friends. With her puppyish personality and enthusiastic approach to life, Ruby brings plenty of fun wherever she goes. Ruby loves treats, enjoys being around people and has a wonderfully sweet and personable nature. Her happy, excitable energy is guaranteed to keep you smiling. Ruby may be suited to live as an only pet or may suit living with medium or large dogs. Ruby may be suitable to live with children 5 and over. Rhubarb Ruby has a deformed jaw and will need regular 6 monthly teeth check ups.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Colt ARP
Don’t let the name fool you – Colt is much more of a gentle gentleman than a wild stallion. Quiet, calm and polite, this sweet boy loves spending time with people and has a friendly and affectionate nature. His adorable eye contact is guaranteed to win you over.
Colt would suit living as an only dog or may be suitable to live with a canine friend of any size. He may also be suitable to live with children aged 5 and over.Because of his lovely nature he may be suitable to live in an apartment.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Zari ARP
Zariis a sweet and affectionate girl with a gorgeous grey face and plenty of charm. Friendly and outgoing, she loves meeting new people, although her gentle and submissive side shines through at times., Zari is sure to win hearts whereve rshe goes. Zari may be suited to living as an only dog or with medium or large dogs, and could live with children aged 5 years and over.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Micah ARP
-Micah is a handsome boy with a zest for life and plenty of love to give. Sweet, friendly and outgoing, this boy adores people. Toys are one of his favourite things, and his playful and puppyish personality means there is never a dull moment when Micah is around.Whether he is zooming around the backyard or bouncing over for some affection,this enthusiastic boy is bound to make you smile. Micah is looking for a home with a secure backyard where he can stretch his legs and burn off his playful energy. He may be suited to be an only dog but may also suit living with robust small, medium or large dogs. We think he may be suitable to live with kids aged10 and over. Because of his active and excitable nature, Micah will not be suitable to live with old or frail people or dogs.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Jayde
