Retinal degeneration associated with vitamin E deficiency in hunting dogs.
Abstract: A group of Walker Hounds and Beagles that were fed a diet of table scraps were examined because of slow, progressive loss of vision. Clinical and microscopic features of the disease were correlated to the dogs' micronutrient status. Sensory retinal degeneration, predominantly in the central tapetal fundus, was found in all dogs, and severity of changes varied with age of the dog. Plasma, serum, and tissue concentrations of vitamin E were low in affected dogs (10 to 40% of control values). Lipofuscin accumulation was found on microscopic examination in retinal pigment epithelium, smooth muscle cells of the intestinal tract, and neurons of the CNS. Findings were consistent with nutritional vitamin E deficiency and oxidative injury to photoreceptors of the retina. Changes in these dogs were similar to those described for central progressive retinal atrophy and equine lower motor neuron disease, suggesting these diseases may share a common pathogenesis to vitamin E deficiency.
Publication Date: 1998-09-10 PubMed ID: 9731258
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research paper discusses the correlation between vitamin E deficiency and retinal degeneration in hunting dogs, notably Walker Hounds and Beagles that had predominantly been fed table scraps. The investigation reveals that a lack of vitamin E in the dogs’ diets could lead to vision loss.
Study and Methodology
- The study primarily focused on Walker Hounds and Beagles which exhibited a slow, progressive loss of vision. These dogs were predominantly fed on table scraps.
- Clinical and microscopic examinations of these dogs were conducted to understand the features of this disease and how it relates to the dogs’ micronutrient intake, focusing specifically on vitamin E.
- The researchers examined the effects of vitamin E deficiency in the dogs by comparing plasma, serum, and tissue concentrations of vitamin E with that of normal (control) subjects.
Findings
- The research found sensory retinal degeneration, particularly in the central tapetal fundus, in all the dogs that were part of the study. The severity of these changes varied with the age of the dog.
- The levels of vitamin E in the affected dogs’ plasma, serum, and tissue were low, ranging between 10 to 40% of the control values.
- Lipofuscin, a type of waste product, was found to have accumulated in the retinal pigment epithelium, smooth muscle cells of the intestinal tract, and neurons of the CNS on microscopic examination.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that their findings were consistent with nutritional vitamin E deficiency and oxidative damage to the photoreceptors of the retina.
- It also drew comparisons between the damage seen in these dogs and that of other diseases like central progressive retinal atrophy and equine lower motor neuron disease. This suggests that these diseases may share a common pathogenesis associated with vitamin E deficiency.
Cite This Article
APA
Davidson MG, Geoly FJ, Gilger BC, McLellan GJ, Whitley W.
(1998).
Retinal degeneration associated with vitamin E deficiency in hunting dogs.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 213(5), 645-651.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Companion Animals and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Diet / adverse effects
- Diet / veterinary
- Dog Diseases / etiology
- Dog Diseases / pathology
- Dogs
- Fluorescein Angiography / veterinary
- Fundus Oculi
- Lipofuscin / analysis
- Retina / chemistry
- Retina / pathology
- Retina / ultrastructure
- Retinal Degeneration / etiology
- Retinal Degeneration / pathology
- Retinal Degeneration / veterinary
- Vitamin E / blood
- Vitamin E Deficiency / complications
- Vitamin E Deficiency / pathology
- Vitamin E Deficiency / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Park SA, Sledge D, Monahan CF, Teixeira L, Boyd R, Freeman K, Koehl K, Harman C, Munoz K, Occelli LM, Pirie CG, Davidson H, Petersen-Jones S, Komáromy AM. Atypical chorioretinal lesions in Siberian Husky dogs with primary angle-closure glaucoma: a case series.. BMC Vet Res 2022 May 16;18(1):182.
- Palanova A. The genetics of inherited retinal disorders in dogs: implications for diagnosis and management.. Vet Med (Auckl) 2016;7:41-51.
- Katz ML, Rustad E, Robinson GO, Whiting REH, Student JT, Coates JR, Narfstrom K. Canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses: Promising models for preclinical testing of therapeutic interventions.. Neurobiol Dis 2017 Dec;108:277-287.
- Finno CJ, Kaese HJ, Miller AD, Gianino G, Divers T, Valberg SJ. Pigment retinopathy in warmblood horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy and equine motor neuron disease.. Vet Ophthalmol 2017 Jul;20(4):304-309.
- Cooper AE, Ahonen S, Rowlan JS, Duncan A, Seppälä EH, Vanhapelto P, Lohi H, Komáromy AM. A novel form of progressive retinal atrophy in Swedish vallhund dogs.. PLoS One 2014;9(9):e106610.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
