Prevalence of pectinate ligament dysplasia in golden retrievers in Switzerland

Abstract

The prevalence of pectinate ligament dysplasia was evaluated in a prospective multi-center examination of randomly selected Golden retrievers of variable sex and age. The examinations were carried out by qualified veterinary ophthalmologists between May 1 and May 31, 2013. A total of 92 dogs (29 male and 62 female dogs) were examined. The dogs were between 6 months and 14 years old (4.53 ± 3.02 years). Gonioscopy was performed under topical anesthesia using a Koeppe lens and a hand-held slit lamp with ≥ 10-x magnification. Four quadrants (dorsal, lateral, medial, ventral) were examined in each eye. For each quadrant a score between 3 (normal) and 0 (grossly abnormal) was assigned. The average total score for all quadrants was 2.14 ± 0.95. The width of the drainage angle W was 2.29 ± 0.88, while the score for mesodermal dysplasia MD was 1.98 ± 0.98. There was no significant difference between left and right eyes, however, a significant difference was found between female and male dogs, as well as between young dogs and older dogs. The width of the drainage angle decreased with age and the degree of mesodermal dysplasia increased. Female dogs had lower total scores compared to male dogs and the ventral and lateral quadrants had significantly lower scores than the other quadrants. In conclusion, 52/92 (56.5 %) showed signs of Pectinate ligament dysplasia and would have to be excluded from a breeding program according to the guidelines of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.