Glaucoma in PBGVs Health

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is an inherited disease which can be found in PBGVs in the UK I don't know if it is the breed in other countries. It is a serious, painful and blinding disease which the breed are working hard to eradicate and have now developed a genetic test. The article is incorrect when it says that there are no hereditary diseases. If you have a PBGV you should be having it eye-tested every year just in case you are unfortunate to have a dog who has the disease. Don't even think about buying a puppy unless you can find out about incidence of POAG in it's bloodline.

If it's stated a breed doesn't have health problems that simply means people don't know about them. As time goes by more people learn about the diseases as information spreads.

Geneticists at the Animal Health Trust identified this mutation, and developed the DNA test for POAG. This is a cheek swab test, which was launched at Crufts, and is to be subsidised by the BGV Club. The AHT say that the PBGV is the only breed in the UK currently certified under the BVA/KC/ISDS to have this condition. Once a dog has been DNA identified as clear there should be no need for subsequent testing, but ideally all breeding stock should be screened.
However, there is a second type of Closed Angle Glaucoma which is the next challenge for the geneticists, and which affects a greater number of breeds.

This has been condensed from an article in 'Dog World', 06.03.15.