Why so many blind Cockers??

[rubyduby]

I am quite gobsmacked at the number of old and young Cockers that are semi or totally blind, mainly from breeding establishments...I have met hundreds of Cocker owners through the years but have never found anyone with a blind dog.

Is it in-breeding , lack of care (ingrowing problems entropia etc)
Maybe the rescues get more, simply because they arent as rehomable

[Jane S]

This came up not so long ago :-

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=79958.0

You have been lucky to have come across hundreds of Cocker owners and not come across one owning a dog with sight problems, especially in years gone past when we did not have access to a DNA test for PRA.

[Mel]

I wouldn't presume to be able to give you a definative or very complete answer but I would guess from what I have found out about Tali's dry eye, that a good majority of blindness in cockers is genetic. I always remember people telling me when I had Niki back in the 80's, that cockers generally go blind and deaf in old age. It seemed to be an accepted weakness as part of growing old.

However, from stuff I have read I don't think it's confined to cockers. Niki had sight and hearing when he went, Keli was deaf and as Tali has dry eye in one eye, it's a weakness which may or may not cost him his sight. But it seems these days there are many forms of eye and ear related issues with many breeds.

I guess with cockers being gun dogs, their sense of smell and hearing are more prevalent and maybe their eyes are subject to being weaker.

I don't know but I don't think it's just cockers.

[Jane S]

I always remember people telling me when I had Niki back in the 80's, that cockers generally go blind and deaf in old age. It seemed to be an accepted weakness as part of growing old.

I think in the past when a lot of Cockers went blind in old age, this was often down to late onset PRA and it was just dismissed as "old age" but having had a number of elderly dogs in recent years who did not go blind, I now know it's not an inevitability. But I think the OP was really talking more about the blind puppies and breeding dogs that come up on the Rescue board nowadays rather than elderly dogs - causes of blindness in these cases are not necessarily going to be genetic although some probably are.

[lindseyp]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along with better expertise than myself but IMO could it possibly because of better health care & the availabilities of rescue centers like Many Tears  
From our experience with Tinker her condition (microphthalmia) usually affects a whole litter & shortly before her initial visit to the specialist, he had to PTS a whole litter of boxers as all had been born with it     We were offered the same for Tinker but declined    With much better health care & knowledge  (like with humans!) pups that previously would of been PTS, can now lead very happy lives.
I also feel that many years ago, there weren't these wonderful rescues that dedicate themselves to saving dogs, that in previous times, wouldn't of been given a second thought about - I also believe that as a nation, we have become more warm, loving & giving - years ago a dog was owned to work but now we have them as part of our families & look after them accordingly      

[Mel]

I always remember people telling me when I had Niki back in the 80's, that cockers generally go blind and deaf in old age. It seemed to be an accepted weakness as part of growing old.

I think in the past when a lot of Cockers went blind in old age, this was often down to late onset PRA and it was just dismissed as "old age" but having had a number of elderly dogs in recent years who did not go blind, I now know it's not an inevitability. But I think the OP was really talking more about the blind puppies and breeding dogs that come up on the Rescue board nowadays rather than elderly dogs - causes of blindness in these cases are not necessarily going to be genetic although some probably are.

Yes, sorry, read the post in the link and realised OP possibly meant specifically puppies and breeding bitches. Though I guess other puppy farmed breeds are at as higher risk and so produce a similar amount of blind ex breeders and/or pups.

What was said in the linked post about lack of uv tolerence, nutrition and exercise would all go towards under developement of the eyes, I would guess.

[Mudmagnets]

Maybe too, some breeders in earlier years would not allow their pups with obvious disabilities to be rescued - they would have been PTS (by various methods   ) and certainly would not have been allowed the chance to be found new homes.

They obviously could not forsee the future for those whose disablility showed up in later life cos the tests for the parent dogs would not have been available like they are now. (and in some cases, would not have been taken up, had they been available).

[PennyB]

I think also its down to large numbers being bred per se without thought for breeding health just the thought of money and putting any old 2 dogs together