Eyes

Talia was diagnosed by a certified canine ophthalmologist with Juvenile Cataracts at 13 months of age, during her OFA CAER eye exam in 2015. Since then, her cataracts have not developed, and her eyesight remains largely uninhibited. Her quality of life and wellbeing has remained entirely unaffected by this condition. Over the course of 3 years, I spoke with 3 different canine ophthalmologists, as well as consulted with geneticists from the Embark Vet team, to learn more about this condition. Although it is a hereditary genetic condition, it is polygenic recessive. This means that a dog must inherit two copies of a very specific combination of several different genes in order to be affected by this disorder. Due to the fact that Talia came from an underrepresented female line in the Tamaskan Dog breed, and due to the fact that Talia was an outstanding example of her breed in temperament, conformation, and was otherwise healthy, we made the informed decision to breed her at the age of 5 years old in 2018. Talia’s two litters, born in 2018 and 2019, have shown no signs of hereditary eye disorders during their annual eye exams. In 2021, one of Talia’s sons, Teddy, has been pre-approved as a Foundation Dog for both the International Tamaskan Register and the Tamaskan Dog Register, to continue to contribute to the Tamaskan Dog breed. Talia is the only Tamaskan Dog in the entire breed worldwide who has been diagnosed with bilateral Juvenile Cataracts.

Update 2022:

All ten of Talia’s puppies have now had their eyes officially examined in OFA CAER exams. None of Talia’s puppies have any hereditary eye disorders. Only one of them, Prickly Pear of the Ebon Blade (“Dorian”), tested as abnormal, because he has geographic retinal dysplasia in his right eye (his left eye is normal). The ophthalmologist said they believe this is not hereditary, because it’s only in one eye, and that it was most likely due to a spontaneous failure to form correctly in the womb.

Talia’s ophthalmologist compared the photographs of her cataracts from her 2015 diagnosis, to how they look now in 2022, and said there has been no changes to them at all. She also tested negative for any risk of all secondary complications that cataracts can sometimes cause. Aside from the cataracts, the ophthalmologist said Talia’s eyes are normal and in good condition for her age at 8.5 years old.