Purdue Veterinary Hospital Participates in One-Day National Effort to Preserve Sight of Service Dogs

An indirect ophthalmoscopy is performed to look at the dog’s retina in the back of his eye.

The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital’s Ophthalmology Service came to the aid of canines dedicated to lives of service recently during a special day set aside for checking the eye health of service dogs. On May 12, the Ophthalmology Service participated in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO)/Epicur National Service Animal Eye Exam event by providing free eye exams for qualified service dogs. About a dozen service dogs received eye exams that screen for cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases and disorders that can impair the dogs’ vision.

According to Ophthalmology Client Liaison Abigail Lottes, “This was one of our most diverse years regarding the variety of working/service dogs we were able to see.”

Some of the dogs examined included:

Jake, a Labrador Retriever that works as a search and rescue dog.
Rosco, a Golden Retriever who works as a seizure response dog for one of our own Purdue employees.
Tate and Josie, who are both Labrador Retrievers that work as guide dogs.
Two police dogs

Ophthalmology team members, including students, veterinary assistant Kristen Earley, veterinary nurse / technician Megan Scheulin, and two ophthalmology residents, Drs. Leah Douglass and Julie McLaughlin, were involved in the free eye screenings, and Dr. Wendy Townsend, associate professor of ophthalmology, who is board-certified by the ACVO, conducted the actual exams.

Dr. Julie McLaughlin, a first-year ophthalmology resident with Megan Scheulin, veterinary ophthalmology nurse.

This is the 16th year for the annual ACVO/Epicur National Service Animal Eye Exam event, during which participating ophthalmologists provided more than 5,300 of these complimentary screenings across the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, and the UK.

“The goal is to ensure excellent ocular health for the service dogs,” Dr. Townsend said. “I love participating in this event because we can celebrate the wonderful bond between the dogs and their handlers. The services these dogs provide are amazing.”

Writer(s): Kelly Dold, Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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