The Joint Miniature Schnauzer Eye Fund

The Joint Miniature Schnauzer Eye Fund.

Those of us who show our schnauzers or are a member of one of the breed clubs will already know about this fund. It was started in 2002 to raise funds to find a genetic 'DNA' test for the eye conditions that can occur in the Miniature Schnauzer. The fund now stands at over £42,500

We need at least 12 samples from affected dogs of DNA via a cheek swab (so very easy to collect by the owner) for each condition.

The good news is that we now have 11 samples from adults affected with hereditary cataract (HC) and 8 samples from puppies affected with the congenital (born with) form of cataracts (CHC) along with other samples from relatives.

There is a total of 104 samples from all over the world, including 4 from Czech Republic, 8 from Sweden, 9 from Finland, 7 from USA, 8 Denmark, 8 Norway, 2 Germany and 1 from Spain


If you have an affected dog or one who is a very close relative - parent, sibling etc then it is very easy to send in a sample which will be kept confidential. The sample kit contains 2 brushes (they look like something you'd put your mascara on with) which are rubbed against the dogs cheek, this doesn't hurt them. These are then placed in an envelop and sent back to the AHT along with a copy of the dogs eye test and pedigree - this is needed so the AHT can work out family relations in affected dogs.


While it is very sad to have a dog affected by one of these eye problems, your dog can help the breed world wide by contributing to the formation of a DNA test which will enable breeders in the future to eradicate these problems from the breed.


Those who participate in the research will recieve their dogs results free of charge.


For more information, you can contact Catherine Mellersh at the Animal Health Trust cathryn.mellersh@aht.org.uk

or via the Miniature Schnauzer Club


We have the money to begin testing, just need more samples from affected dogs. The only people who will know who sent the samples in are the people working on the DNA, no-one in the breed will know.

This is a great thing, just a few more samples and then the work can start on a test, and then one day we can test our dogs before we use them for breeding

Yes, and then we can all breed out any hereditary eye problems. It's all thanks to the brave few who have been unfortunate enough to breed a litter with a problem and to get the DNA samples sent in to the AHT. These people should be for being brave enough to do something that will benefit the breed world wide.

The good news is that we now have 11 samples from adults affected with hereditary cataract (HC) and 8 samples from puppies affected with the congenital (born with) form of cataracts (CHC) along with other samples from relatives.

What about PRA samples, is there any? Or only HC?

I don't have the notes to hand, but believe there is one or two sample for PRA.

11 samples = adult onset cataract

8 samples for cataract that the puppy was born with.

I am browsing and came across your post. I am a new schnauzer owner and was not aware of this problem.

oh wow..I was unaware of this problem as well. Good information to know. Great idea for setting up this fund!

I'm surprised people are not aware of the problem in the breed, do you not look at the breed club websites before buying a puppy to know more about the breed?

its always encouraging to hear of the progress of JMSEF!

Jo wrote:I'm surprised people are not aware of the problem in the breed, do you not look at the breed club websites before buying a puppy to know more about the breed?

Hhmm here in the netherlands...you see noting on the website,from the NSC....
And we are still fighting for the eyetest
There are now new people in the organisation,and they want to test every year.
But on saterdag will be new vote for an new organisation.
And there are people that don't want to test

Don't want to test? Why? Are they scared they might have a problem but just want to continue breeding anyway?

I know it is very very stupid...
I had a very big discusion with a breeder,and he don't want do test.
But than there was something...ppff we must tested one time in a life ....
So that breeder ask the president of the club,if he msut tested his old dog(8 years).
Because he had already ofspring and it was his last mating.
I say ofcourse...the breeder was very angry,and so the president of the club was agree that he also must test the dog,becourse the rule is(was) now one in a life time.....
So the breeder was very very angry,and i ask him if he was scared..no he wasn't,so I aks is it the 30 euro's?????( that cost the test here)
No that wasn't... So I angry what is your problem,but he shut me up that I was a young breeder and i don't understand it, but i breed only 12 years

Out of interest, how many countries eye test litters before they go to new homes?

Hhhmm I have never tested all the puppy's from a litter.
I tested my dogs from my frirst litter,and that is now almost 12 years ago.
Every year I tested my dogs.

Do you test al your puppy's???

I have heart the not in all country's tested all eye diseases(15)...
We have 15 diseases on the rapport.
I have heart that some mini's has distichiasis,and on some breed you can breed with them.
And you can distichiasis X distichiasis.....
Is there somebody known with Distichiasis????
The shetland scheepdog has problems with disitichisis,and the Toller not....

In Scandinavia I know that on the Toller they don't look at distichiasis....

Yes, in the UK we take the whole litter to be eye tested at about 6 or 7 weeks old. Each year seems to bring a litter or 2 with congenital hereditary cataracts. After that it is recommended to eye test yearly until the dog is at least 8 years old.

We even take the whole litter of Giant puppies at 6 weeks for eye testing ...... that's hard work!!

Yesterday,we had a meeting from the NSC(dutch schnauzerklub)
And we must vote for the eye test......
And we can't win this ting!!!!!!
So now we must have only one test in a life time....
When you want te breed with your dog and she is 2 years,you must test this dog,and then no more for the rest of her,or his life!!!!

So it makes no sense
PRA come normaly out on a age off 4-7 years...

The breeders here in the netherlands(not all of them,but the most) don't want to test there dog every year.
They think it is not helping,to test the dog every year.
And the president,how was that for a several years,don't want it also,she say it is a thing of a breeder,and the club is not a police-station.......

Now we have new management in our club and the most of them don't want to test also

Ow... and the president who was this for a long time say also that the club many breeders lose if they will test every year.....
Because they don't want it so they get out of the club....

But if you don't test every year the dogs that you breed from and test the 6 week old puppies too, you never know what is happening in your breed as far as the eyes are concerned

Surely for the health of your breed the club should re-think this decision

You would think the club could make it a recommendation, then they don't have to 'police' the eye testing.

OH this is bad news:( sorry to hear.
Lets just hope that most of the breeders in your contry are responseble, and do the test more often just for theyr own sake as a breeder, and out of the humanity of letting theyr future litters live a healthy life affcourse.
One would think that the club is to protect the breed and follow up with things that are going around in the world, and inform breeders.Why have a club, if nothing is done?
Lets hope that breeders will take care of theyr breeding:)

it seems a sad situation that a club would rather not encourage annual eye testing for fear of losing members!

Ofcourse are there breeders that would like to test every year.
But the breeders that has the biggest words on the meeting.....would not test every year!!!
I don't understand them...and I can't bring it their minds that it is very importent to test the dogs....
They wouldn't listen

can't those who want to test each year do so and maybe lead by example. hopefully the more people who do it off their own back might encourage those who were opposed to doing it to see their isn't anything to be afraid of and hopefully follow suit?