A Miniature Schnauzer’s expressive, small, dark, sunken eyes covered by their bushy eyebrows are one of their most signature features.
But they are prone to some eye conditions.
Since Miniature Schnauzer’s are so susceptible to eye issues, you should never get a puppy whose parents have not been certified by a registered Veterinarian Optometrist.
These certificates are done yearly.
Always ask to see these eye certificates from both parents of your puppy.
Progressive retinal atrophy causes dog’s retina to slowly deteriorate.
PRA is an inherited disease that appears when the dog is still young, at around three years old. It begins with night blindness, but will eventually develop to completely blind the dog in both eyes within a year or two. Although the condition is not painful for the dog, there is no cure for PRA.
There is a simple DNA test available for PRA in Miniature Schnauzers, that enables you to find out if your dog has PRA, is a carrier, or is clear of the disease. Breeders should have their breeding stock checked annually to help reduce the frequency of the condition, so be sure to ask for an eye certification before you get a Miniature Schnauzer from a breeder.
Cataracts occur when the eye lens is gradually covered by an opaque cloudiness. Miniature Schnauzers are prone to severe cataracts, which can appear anywhere from birth to six years old.
The condition will affect the dog’s vision and can lead to complete blindness. However, sometimes the condition can be corrected and vision can be restored with surgery.
When cataracts are present at birth, the condition is called Congenital Juvenile Cataracts (CJC).
Other Eye Conditions
Other less common eye conditions that have been seen in Miniature Schnauzers include retinal dysplasia and lens luxation.
Since Miniature Schnauzer’s are so susceptible to eye issues, you should never get a puppy whose parents have not been certified by a registered Veterinarian Optometrist .
This test is done yearly.
While this isn’t a guarantee your puppy will not develop an eye condition in his life, it at least gives you the comfort that eye diseases do not run in his family, so he should be less genetically connected to these health problems.
Here at Free Range Pooches we highly recommend Pet Insurance
Vet bills can be very expensive
We highly recommend Pet Insurance
Click the link below to get your best quote
All our puppies at Free Range Pooches go home with PD Insurance.
Comments