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Dr. Wendy Townsend, associate professor of ophthalmology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine\u2019s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, has focused her career and research in veterinary medicine on diagnosing and treating eye conditions in animals. \u201cThe most common question I get is if we fit animals with glasses,\u201d Dr. Townsend says. \u201cWhile that\u2019s not what we do, our goal is to help animals see better and improve their quality of life if they\u2019re having issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although her patients span a variety of species, her research is focused on a particular breed of dog that reigns as one of the most popular dog breeds in America: golden retrievers. Golden retriever pigmentary uveitis is a disease almost exclusively found in purebred golden retrievers. It\u2019s an inherited form of uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract, which includes the iris). And though the disease is inherited, the onset and diagnosis usually occurs when the dogs are older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disease can often result in blindness due to cataracts and glaucoma, and there are no current methods to prevent or reverse it. Mild symptoms, such as redness and drainage, usually don\u2019t appear until the dog is around eight years old and can progress to an advanced stage before dogs see a veterinarian, Dr. Townsend says. The disease affects about 10% of senior golden retrievers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Townsend is leading a study that is trying to identify the gene that causes the disease. If the gene can be identified, the disease can be detected earlier, and breeders will be able to identify which of their dogs might be carriers and how they can keep the disease from being passed on to future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe problem breeders are facing right now is that even if they\u2019re being responsible and making good decisions, they don\u2019t know their dog is affected,\u201d Dr. Townsend says. \u201cThey can be several generations down their pedigree before they know there\u2019s a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Townsend grew up owning golden retrievers and was completing her residency in veterinary ophthalmology when the disease was first recognized. \u201cIt was bizarre because nobody could understand why it was happening in this specific breed,\u201d Dr. Townsend says. \u201cBut since I loved golden retrievers and had a passion for ophthalmology, it seemed like a natural fit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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And although the disease presents itself primarily in purebred golden retrievers, Dr. Townsend explains that it can appear in some crossbreeds \u2013 especially Labrador and golden retriever crosses. \u201cThat becomes a concern because Labrador and golden crosses are frequently used as seeing-eye dogs,\u201d Dr. Townsend says. \u201cAnd because the disease doesn\u2019t show symptoms until these dogs are older, they could be struggling with their own vision and you might not even know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why Dr. Townsend says having dogs screened \u2013 especially service dogs \u2013 is critical. \u201cThe earlier you can catch something, the better,\u201d Dr. Townsend says. \u201cThat goes for all vision problems with any animal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a veterinary ophthalmologist, Dr. Townsend says it\u2019s not uncommon for her to see dogs from across the country affected by golden retriever pigmentary uveitis. In addition to those patients, she commonly sees animals with corneal ulcers (scratches on the eye), cataracts, and glaucoma. Her patients include mostly dogs, horses, and cats \u2013 but she also has treated penguins, tigers, and other exotic species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And although she doesn\u2019t fit animals with glasses, she has fitted a dog or two with contact lenses. They\u2019re usually dogs that participate in agility and have trouble focusing or struggle with nearsightedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes animals struggle with the same eye problems that people do. They\u2019re just not as good at telling us when something is wrong,\u201d Dr. Townsend says. She consistently encourages pet owners to be cognizant of their pets\u2019 eye health for that very reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnimals are good at compensating when something isn\u2019t working right. So if one eye is bothering them, they\u2019ll just rely more heavily on the other eye,\u201d Dr. Townsend says. \u201cAnd most of our pets don\u2019t need to have super-sharp vision to lead normal everyday lives. But in some cases \u2013 like with dogs that participate in agility \u2013 being able to focus both near and far is important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Dr. Townsend continues her mission to solve the mystery behind golden retriever pigmentary uveitis \u2013 in addition to seeing her patients \u2013 she hopes she can build some awareness around the field of ophthalmology. \u201cThe eye might be small, but it\u2019s a powerful organ that we all use and it allows me to work across a wide variety of species,\u201d Dr. Townsend explains. \u201cI frequently have clients tell me, \u2018I had no idea this was an option,\u2019 or, \u2018I didn\u2019t know there were eye doctors for dogs.\u2019 The impact this field can have on our patients and their quality of life can be significant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Townsend\u2019s work is supported by the American Kennel Club\u2019s Canine Health Foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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