Physical eye examinations are conducted At Animal Eye Care generally by Dr Robin Stanley. I have been having eyes certified under the Australian Canine Eye Scheme (ACES) since it's inception. To qualify for the ACES the dog must be identified by its microchip at the time of the examination. Prior to ACES Dr Stanley or one of his team performed the eye examinations on my Basenjis.

Since 2007 all puppies have been tested at 6-8 weeks of age which gives an overview of any Persistent Pupillary Membrane (PPM) before the are absorbed and disappear. Most forms of PPM may disappear as the dog ages. However, without testing at an early age it is feasible that such PPM would go unnoticed. Testing at 6-8 weeks offers the worst scenario result. Conditions such as PPM and coloboma are congential which means the pup is born with the condition. Unlike PPM, coloboma will not get better.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a condition that is generally late-onset in Basenjis. In 2013 a DNA test for late-onset PRA was developed. Late on-set PRA is a recessive disorder with dogs tested as normal | carrier | affected dogs that are carriers will not develop the condition but care must be taken when mating them - only to a normal. Late on-set PRA is thought to be one of 2 or 3 tyes of PRA affecting Basenjis. It is thought to be the most common with over 50% of cases attributed to this form of PRA.

My dogs are given a follow up examination mid-life and then a final examination at 9+ to ascertain if any abnormality has come to the fore.