(L-R) Finn was by all measures a healthy and happy dog until he very swiftly developed symptoms of glaucoma and lost sight in his left eye at age four.
Watching Finn and Luka, two beautiful and energetic Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, play fetch in their backyard in Texas, you likely would not notice that one of them relies on auditory and tactile cues to claim his prized tennis ball. Finn does this because, at just four years of age, he has already lost both eyes to glaucoma.
Across the country at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, where Finn’s eyes were shipped after removal, Dr. Gillian McLellan prepares slides for analysis as part of an ongoing clinical study, Genetic Basis of Glaucoma in Entlebucher Mountain Dogs. Over the past five years, McLellan, along with Dr. Peter Muir, has led a team of researchers working to detect genetic associations and causal variants that predict the development of glaucoma in this breed. The end goal is to develop a genetic test that will lessen the occurrence of this very painful and rapidly blinding disease in thousands of dogs – not just Entlebuchers.
And back down in a different part of the Lone Star state, Christena Stephens monitors and fields a stream of emails and text messages as she strives to fulfill what she sees as one of her primary duties as president of the National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association (NEMDA): to connect Entlebucher owners to the organization, to each other and to Dr. McLellan.
The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest of the four Swiss Mountain Dog breeds. Known historically in Europe as an excellent herding dog, the breed is thought to have become nearly extinct around the time of World War I, after which renewed interest led to a small resurgence. Still, the breed’s low numbers and lack of genetic diversity were predictably problematic. Today’s Entlebuchers – considered a versatile, loving family pet – have a higher likelihood of developing certain health conditions, including glaucoma.
“Some people say glaucoma is only affecting some of our dogs, not necessarily a huge percentage, but there are still too many and we’re missing something with breeding that we have to figure out,” Stephens says. “We’re so grateful for how receptive and generous our members are when it comes to this research, and to Dr. McLellan for all her progress and work.”
Dr. McLellan, who previously identified a gene that causes glaucoma in cats, is now looking to isolate and identify the same in Entlebuchers with the hope of deepening our understanding of genetic determinants that cause glaucoma in animals and humans. “At this point, we are optimistic we’ll soon have a DNA test that will help breeders identify which dogs have two copies of the gene variant that causes glaucoma, which are “clear,” and which are carriers, since it is likely a recessive trait in this breed,” she says. “Ideally, over time, that will be a factor in helping to reduce the significant occurrence of glaucoma in Entlebuchers.”
Lilla Caho fell in love with the breed when she first discovered them, and she and her husband, Chris, worked diligently to find and secure Finn – no easy task considering Entlebuchers are still significantly fewer in number than more common breeds such as retrievers and labradors. But they persisted and brought Finn home in spring of 2020, and by all measures he seemed to be a healthy and happy pup. Two years later, they added Luka, a female Entlebucher, to the family.
Finn’s situation changed suddenly around Christmas 2023. One morning, Chris noticed that Finn’s eye was cloudy, he lacked energy and was moving clumsily. Even though they immediately got Finn to his primary care veterinarian and a veterinary ophthalmologist, it was too late to save Finn’s eye. The veterinary ophthalmologist knew of Dr. McLellan’s work and suggested they could help spare dogs from Finn’s fate in the future if they submitted Finn’s eye to the University of Wisconsin.
Finn recovered from his first surgery and adapted well. Unfortunately, his family knew the signs when Finn’s remaining eye started showing symptoms of glaucoma about four months after he lost his first eye. They went through the same process, including donating his eye for research.
Dr. McLellan cites the support of Entlebucher owners, those willing to donate eyes, and NEMDA, as well as funding from the American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation, as critical to advancing the research.
“Clinical studies such as this one demonstrate why veterinary medical schools are often at the forefront of research that benefits both animals and humans,” she says. “Every advancement we make as far as understanding the genetics and presentation of glaucoma in dogs is helping to also develop better treatment options and solutions for humans, too.”
Despite everything he has been through, Finn continues to amaze Lilla and Chris with his resilience and adaptability. By early summer of this year, Finn was back to chasing tennis balls in the backyard – sometimes following Luka’s cues when he needs a little extra guidance. Thankfully, while the family watches her closely and ensures frequent check ups, Luka has not shown any signs of glaucoma.
“It was so hard to see Finn in pain and to watch him need to make so many adjustments, and we certainly wish he hadn’t had to go through any of this,” Lilla says. “But we’re incredibly thankful for the work of Dr. McLellan and for NEMDA under Christena’s leadership – both have been so kind and supportive. Most of all, we’re grateful that Finn today is just as happy and loving as ever.”
Maggie Baum
GLAUCOMA WARNING SIGNS
Glaucoma can strike extremely quickly in dogs. In Finn’s case, it was only about 24 hours from the first warning signs to complete blindness. Watch for these warning signs:
- Redness of the white of the eye
- Color change to the eye
- A dilated pupil that doesn’t respond to light
- A cloudy eye
- Intermittent blindness
- Squinting
- Discharge from the eye
- Sudden changes in activity or interest level
Contact your veterinarian immediately if you recognize any signs of glaucoma in your dog. If you own a higher risk breed, consider researching a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist through the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists at www.acvo.org.
The National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association (NEMDA) has a variety of online resources pertaining to Entlebucher eye health and finding reputable breeders at www.nemda.org.