There are five main Springer Spaniel eye problems - some are hereditary and some may occur because of the shape of the eye and lids, which after all is a hereditary predisposition. Accidents to the eye (perhaps grit getting in - we know how springers love muck and water) can also trigger a problem. Most are treatable, and laser surgery and impants may be recommended.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy ("PRA")
This is a degenerative condition affecting the eyesight and can lead to partial or total blindness in its various forms (it can also affect other breeds). The gene can skip generations and therefore it is difficult to know whether your dog will suffer from it.
Retinal Dysplasia
This again is an eye condition which can vary from unnoticeable to total blindness. This is widely tested for and test results should be on the pedigree papers.
Entropion
This is the eyelashes growing inwards and irritating the eyeball. This can be cured by removal of some eyelashes at its simplest, or surgery if it is more severe. It usually presents in a pup by the age of 6 weeks (congenital occurrence). It can also be caused by eyelid damage healing improperly, for example. It can also occur on the lower eyelashes. If you notice red eyes in an adult dog, then check his eyelids. If allowed to go untreated, ulceration and serious eye damage may result. This condition is sometimes known as 'redeye'.
Ectropion
Ectropion is less common than entropion, and is the outward rolling of the lower eyelids. Corrective surgery is possible in many cases.
Cataracts
Noticeable by a milky whiteness of the iris, these can lead to total blindness (you may notice your dog colliding with the furniture due to impaired vision). Besides a hereditary cause, cataracts can occur for other reasons, including as a consequence of other diseases (e.g. diabetes) or treatment for other conditions (e.g. radiation for cancer). Surgery may be possible - some veterinarians may recommend implants depending on the age, general condition of the dog and the severity of the condition. In humans, doctors do not operate on cataracts until they are sufficiently developed or 'ripe'..
Avoiding and Treating these Conditions
As with most genetic matters, a good place to start is with the parents. So, when you consider buying a springer spaniel, then seeing the parents first is always a good step, if possible. Check the pup's pedigree papers for the obvious.
If you are unfortunate to have a dog with one of these problems, then treatment is possible, but could be expensive particularly if you are referred to a specialist veterinary eye surgeon who may be in another city. So, pet insurance could be a worthwhile investment, but check the policy terms and conditions carefully to ensure that specific problems or treatments (such as laser surgery or implants) are not excluded.
Of course, whatever dog you buy will be susceptible to health issues - they age seven times as fast as we do and age inevitably brings problems. None of us ages without something going wrong eventually.
Springer spaniel eye problems are part of the range of health issues which your spaniel may face, but on the whole springers are reasonably fortunate - after all, breeders are keen to breed out these issues from their stock.
(c) 2010 Phil Marks
Author Resource:
The author has owned springer spaniels - English and Welsh for many years, including a rescue dog. Find out more about springer spaniels and consider the Springer Spaniel Companion for a detailed guide on owning, training and having a fun time with a Springer Spaniel.
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