So, I have noticed the past 5 days in Oakleys left eye slightly located on the bottom of the iris a hazy cloudy spot the size of a pencil point.. At first I just thought it was a kind of eye boogie that managed to get on the eye, but today in the light I still see it. It has me concerned, should I seek an opthamoligists opinion?
He only 15 months…I emailed the breeder to let her know I'll be seeking an exam by a specialist due to the genetic factors from Oaks father, I thought about it some more and now that i think about it, I have seen that spot every now and again but for some reason it's ll I see when I look at his eyes because I'm worrying. He has always been clumsy, falling off the coffee table, walking into things so I can't really say if it's because he is clumsy or has a cloudy eye... I just wonder if I should ask my vet to see him when I think he's automatically going to say "go to a specialist"....
Definately want opinions from the breeders here who know more about Basenjis and eyes than me...
Thanks
**Father is Smokey- BJ-1621 D3a-Iris, persistent pupillary membranes- iris to iris
Mother is Ashley- BJ-1620 CERF Sep 16 2009 Sep 16 2009 32 TESTED: 09
I know PPM is minor but idk what it looks like so perhaps that's all it is?
It's always better to go to a specialist if there is one available vs. waste money on the regular Joe vet to tell you to go to the specialist; best to only spend the money on an exam once.
Sounds like Oakley might have a punctuate cataract or a corneal dystrophy plaque deposit. The size of a pencil point is not large enough, IMO, to cause the dog to be clumsy and/or not see well unless there is more going on which you can not see with the naked eye.
The sire's PPM should have no bearing on Oakleys eye issue unless it too is PPM - which I doubt. I would not be overly concerned until you see what the specialist has to say, there is nothing you can control at this moment, so why fret?
Good luck. Keep the group posted.
I'd certainly schedule a visit. Eye issues can escalate quickly.
Thanks congomama- I too don't want to waste money when I will likely get pointed to a specialty for an exam, my local animal hospital has an opthamoligists so I'll call Saturday morning to et my vet to hopefully send over a referral. I didn't want to exaggerate on the size but perhaps I could compare it better to a quarter the size of a pencil eraser, it's opaque in nature and I tried to look from the side to see if I could get a view of its depth…. But what do I know, lol... So that did nothing... I don't think it's causing him any trouble but I do notice he's the clumsiest dog I've ever owned, he is always goofing up on tripping and falling if he's straddling the couch and coffee table, once he even fell off the bed!
I only mention his parents CERFS bc I have no idea if that a factor but I remember reading PPM is hereditary
I worry so much more about eyes since reading Sonnys story here in the forum! For all I know it could be nothing but he's the love of my life and I'd rather be safe than sorry but I also feel a responsibility to maintain good communication to my breeder about anything health wise so as to keep the integrity to her breeding program and also to publicly record his records for Basenji Health
I doubt that it is PPM - the only good picture I've seen of PPM doesn't look like a spot. Of my 4, one has Iris-Iris PPM and she is definitely not clumsy, so even if it were PPM, I wouldn't think that would have any baring on his balance. I would just take him to the ophthalmologist and skip the regular vet.
I doubt that PPM would be an issue either. I have seen Basenjis with excessive PPM, my OJ being one that the strands were visable with the naked eye and more then just Iris to Iris, which should never be a problem.
The spot could very well be that he has high cholesterol. Have you had blood work on him recently? And a visit to an ophthalmologist is never a bad thing
One of my dogs had a type of corneal dystrophy and it looked similar to what you were describing. I can't remember how old he was at the time, the post is buried on the forum somewhere. It was harmless and the eye doc suggested a lower cholesterol diet to reduce the formation of the deposits. So, best to go to a specialist to check it out. Good luck!
And I must say I really admire your desire to keep your pup's breeder informed of potential health issues. 
Also Iris to Iris PPM is acceptable in a CERF Exam. (one or two strands). My Franie has that… D3a-Iris, persistent pupillary membranes- iris to iris
I would agree with Clay that it could be a type of corneal dystrophy, which is why I asked if there had been blood work done because high cholesterol can do that (formation of deposits). I have a bitch from my litter in 2000 that had that. The spot showed up at about 2yrs.
PRA (which is what Sonny has) is typically late onset (I know that Sonny's was really early) but usually around 5yrs.
Hmm, I feed him Fromms but he also gets a bully stick everyday now…wonder if that's changing his cholesterol, last bloodwork he had was before his neuter so it's been about 6 months or so ( if I recall correctly)... Buyhos diet has completely changed since then... I'll go to the opthamoligist and if they don't do bloodwork ( or find the cause) I'll get a panel drawn... I just hate seeing anything-for me it's like my first kid, anything is cause to sound the alarms, lol. I'll keep everyone updated on the results, thanks
I just hate seeing anything-for me it's like my first kid, anything is cause to sound the alarms, lol. I'll keep everyone updated on the results, thanks
Kipawa IS my first kid, so I understand your feelings completely. You are a great basenji owner!
My lure coursing boy had corneal dystrophy and it did not affect his eyesight. It depends on which kind/type it is. I am certain that whatever kind he had was noted on the CERF from as breeder discretion and for him it only affected one eye.
Jennifer
Corneal dystrophy were most likely not present at the puppy eye test….
http://www.vmdb.org/dx2.html
/QUOTE]"I worry so much more about eyes since reading Sonnys story here in the forum! For all I know it could be nothing but he's the love of my life and I'd rather be safe than sorry but I also feel a responsibility to maintain good communication to my breeder about anything health wise so as to keep the integrity to her breeding program and also to publicly record his records for Basenji Health
Try not to worry too much before you see the specialist! 
I'm sure its nothing as severe as Sonny's PRA. It's been a year now since I found out that Sonny was blind and life has gone on not much different then before. Once I got over my initial freak out and few weeks of crying Sonny just kept looking at me as if to say "are you over it yet? can we just go play now!" He still runs and plays with his best friends. And to those that don't know Sonny is blind are amazed to find out after they've watched him go out his business. Sonny turns 5 next week and life is good! So try not to worry too much ( I know easier said then done). I'm sure Oakley will be ok & you'll breath easier after the appointment..Be positive!!!!!
I don't think it's severe either… My fear is that I don't want to hear it could progress into anything detrimental to his sight... Im hoping the best and it was the push I needed to get his eyes CERFd anyway for peace of mind. He comes from a good line and all the health tests were done via the breeder which is always a feeling of security but one can never know what just pops up. Keeping positive it's just trauma from the hiking with tall grasses or something I can fix like diet ( even though I try to feed the best)...
He's very young and resilient so this will just be crossing the T's and dotting the I's...
It amazes me how sonny is so unaffected by his blindness... I'm sure it was a hard diagnosis to swallow originally; it was definitely hard to read... But a lesson for me that eyes are a big deal....
Oh and regarding Opthamologists, I would try to find one that has looked at basenjis before. If you don't have a reference to one, I would take him to Tufts.
UPDATE: so I did some searching and also asked my breeder for opthamologists references and one name seemed to keep coming up so I scheduled Oakley for an exam on Wednesday the 3rd at ocean state veterinary specialists to see Dr. Marcia Aubin. It's about 40 minutes and the exam isn't necessarily cheap but I'm happy and confident its the best choice so it looks like I'll have feedback to share then; and in the meantime I'll just survive on ramen noodles and water (lol). Luckily we got a quick appointment and my regular vet didn't put up a fight about giving the referral so I'm about as happy camper as you can get spending 170$ bucks at once.. Anything for a happy and healthy bop
Are you doing a CERF exam? If so and that's what you want then that's fine. But if you just want to figure out what the issue is, you probably don't need an official CERF and there might be a cheaper exam option. Only reason I bring it up is that is what I did and the eye doc I went to gave me a break and charged me for a cheaper exam when I was there rather than the CERF.
Hmm, good to know. I really only want the issue diagnosed: he's neutered and therefore doesn't really need the CERF… I just asked how much it was for the exam to see him for his issue and they quoted 170$plus anything additional the doctor needs to do. I'll ask when I'm there though- I'm not opposed to less money for the same outcome...But on the flip side of the coin I don't think there's any limit on what I'd pay for him to be healthy
I hope all goes well on the 3rd. Please let us know how things go.
I just can't understand the 'clumsiness' - so unusual in a Basenji. It could be because of his sight. Hugs to Oakley.
