VELVETFIELD'S BORDER COLLIES

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), a hidden cause of blindness, is a recessively inherited congenital defect in which we see pale areas at the back of the eye (Called choroidal Hypoplasia). Increased tortuosity of retinal blood vessels (Colobomas) in optic nerve head and occasional retinal haemorrhage and detachment. Not all CEA positive dogs shows all these signs

Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL) CL (sometimes referred to as Storage Disease) is a disorder that affects the cells of the body, and in particular the nerve cells CL is Not Contagious and it is inherited from a simple recessive gene in the dog’s parents. Affected dogs are normal at birth until about 18mths of age, afflicted dogs rarely live past two years of age. The mutation causing the form of disease found in Border Collies was identified by Scott Melville in the laboratory of Dr. Alan Wilton of the school of Biotechnology of Biomolecular sciences at the University of NSW. There is no treatment and no cure, but a DNA test is now available to detect carriers as well as affected dogs

Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS) TNS was recognized in Border Collies about 8 years ago in New Zealand and Australia. Puppies aged between 6 weeks and 7 months have a range of symptoms including lameness, chronic diarrhea, fevers and loss of appetite. The pups also persistent bone and gastrointestinal infections. The bone marrow of the affected dogs identifies that neutrophils are not released into the circulation. Consequently, the bone marrow becomes clogged with neutrophils - a state called myelokathexis. It is thought the condition has a genetic basis, as there seems to be some familial correlation in the pedigrees of affected dogs