Macular Corneal Dystrophy, MCD
This condition causes abnormal corneal accumulation of complex carbohydrates called glycosaminoglycans. The cornea is the surface of the eye.
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Signs and symptoms
You will notice the surface of your dog's eyes becoming cloudy. They may or may not have trouble with vision: bumping into walls, hesitant on steps, and cautious in unfamiliar locations.
This is a disease of middle aged dogs. -
Diagnosis
Veterinarians perform a complete ocular exam and also genetic testing to diagnose this condition.
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Treatment
Currently there is no cure for canine MCD, though in humans, a corneal transplant is the gold standard of treatment.
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What to do if your dog is at risk
Actions
- Carefully monitor your dog's vision.
- With blind dogs, keeping furniture in the same location, making sure they are on a leash in unfamiliar territory, and training them to understand verbal commands are some of the ways to help them at home.
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Genetic Information
This mutation was first described in the Labrador Retriever.
This mutation is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner; that is, a dog requires two copies of the mutation to show signs of the disease.
Gene names:
CHST6 ‐ chr
Inheritance type:
recessive
Citations:
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Breeds affected
This health condition affects the following breeds
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