shop


The Furry Critter Network

PPM - Issue Description

Back to Canine Health Issues Menu


thm-img


Issue Name

PPM

Other Names
Persistent Pupillary Membrane

Issue Description

PPMs are strands of tissue in the eye. They are remnants of blood vessels which supplied nutrients to the developing lens of the eye before birth. Normally these strands are gone by 4 or 5 weeks of age.

Symptoms

Generally PPMs cause no problems. However if attached to the cornea or lens, the strands can cause opacities which may interfere with vision. The cataracts that can occur with PPM usually don't worsen.


Diagnosis

PPM is seen in young dogs. You or your veterinarian may notice small white spots in your dog's eyes, or you may suspect that your dog's vision is impaired if the condition is severe. With an ophthalmoscope, your veterinarian will be able to see the membranous strands, and whether they adhere to the lens or cornea.

Causes

Inheritance is not defined. For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed.

Treatment

There is generally no treatment for PPM, but in most cases, there is no real problem either. Only in the most problematic of cases will vision be significantly impaired, and if cataracts develop, they are treated with surgery, the same as they would be in any other animal, usually to great success.

Breeds Affected

PPM is known or strongly suspected to be inherited in:

  • Akita
  • Alaskan Malamute
  • American and English Cocker Spaniel
  • Australian Shepherd
  • Basset Griffin Vendeen (petite)
  • Basenji - This problem is particularly significant in the Basenji where the strands often bridge to the cornea, causing opacities which may impair sight. In the Basenji the condition has been seen with optic nerve coloboma - a cavity in the optic nerve which, if large, causes blindness.
  • Bearde
  • Belgian Sheepd
  • Belgian Tervuren
  • Bichon Frise
  • Bouviers des Flandres
  • Chesapeake Bay Retriever
  • Chow Chow
  • Collie (rough and smooth)
  • Doberman Pinscher
  • English Springer Spaniel
  • Golden Retriever
  • Gordon Setter
  • Havenese
  • Irish Setter
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Lakeland Terrier
  • Lowchen
  • Mastiff
  • Miniature Bull Terrier
  • Norwegian Elkhound
  • Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  • Old English Sheepdog
  • Papillon, Poodle (all sizes)
  • Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgi
  • Portuguese Water Dog
  • Samoyed
  • Scottish Terrier
  • Shetland Sheepdog
  • Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
  • Tibetan Terrier
  • Welsh Springer Spaniel
  • West Highland White Terrier
  • Yorkshire Terrier.

  • Back to Canine Health Issues Menu

    Featured Rescues

    "Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

    laptop pro

    ASPCA

    The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

    Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

    The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


    laptop pro

    Petfinder

    If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


    laptop pro

    Rescue Me

    Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

    Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.



    Top