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.
.png)
Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Puddles
Kennard
Vix
Ammonite
Summer ARP
Summer is a sweet and gentle little girl whose quiet charm is impossible to resist. Calm, polite, and sensible, she moves through the world with a soft grace that perfectly matches her pretty looks. She’s a little introverted by nature — not shy exactly, just thoughtful — and has a warmth and personability about her that draws people in without her ever needing to ask for attention. She is simply, and wonderfully, herself. She would thrive in a calm, loving home where she can take life at her own sweet pace, and whoever is lucky enough to adopt her will find a truly special little companion. Summer may suit living with or without a canine pal of any size and children aged 5 years and older. Due to her calm demeanour she may suit living 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.
Buddy ARP
Buddy is the kind of dog who enters a room and instantly makes it brighter — a big, handsome, boofy boy with a personality to match his size. Friendly, outgoing, and brimming with confidence, he approaches life with boundless enthusiasm and a happiness that is utterly contagious. Excitable and boisterous, Buddy is not what you’d call a wallflower — standing still is simply not in his vocabulary — but his joy is so genuine and so exuberant that it’s impossible not to smile in his presence. Throw in a tasty treat or a favourite toy and you’ll have one very happy boy on your hands.
Buddy is a dog who needs space to match his enormous energy and even bigger personality, so a home with a backyard is a must — somewhere he can zoom, bound, and burn off that glorious enthusiasm of his. He will thrive with an active family who can match his zest for life and keep him engaged, stimulated, and loved. In return, Buddy will bring laughter, liveliness, and a whole lot of heart to whoever is lucky enough to call him theirs. Buddy may suit living with or without a canine likeminded friend of similar size and children aged 10 years and older.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain 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 this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Mia ARP
Mia is a sweet and gentle soul who, despite the anxiety she carries, faces the world with a quiet determination and a willingness to try that is truly heartwarming. Calm and polite, she is the kind of girl who will never impose herself, always erring on the softer, more submissive side — but underneath that gentle exterior is a friendly, personable little dog who genuinely wants to connect. She may need a little extra time and reassurance to find her confidence, but every small step she takes is a reminder of just how hard she is trying.
A patient, understanding home is where Mia will truly begin to flourish. She would do well with children aged 10 and older — those who are calm and kind and will give her the space to settle at her own pace. In the right environment, with gentle routines and plenty of quiet encouragement, Mia has every chance of blossoming into a deeply loving and devoted companion. She deserves someone who will champion her, and in return, she will give everything she has. She may also suit living as an only dog but may thrive best in a home with a confident canine companion of similar size to help bring out her confidence.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain 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 this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Astra ARP
Astra is a sweet girl. She is friendly, confident and affectionate. She may suit living with small, medium or large dogs and may suit living with kids 5+.
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.
Billy
Haley ARP
