Regarding the Eye Clinic to be held at the Finals on Sept. 10 & 11.

The ABCA sponsors an eye clinic at the National Sheepdog Finals and the National Cattledog Finals. Participating dogs are required to have an eye exam within two years of running in the Finals. Dogs who are 8 years old or over are exempt from this requirement. Participating dogs who are less than 8 years old can satisfy this requirement either at the Finals clinic, or at an ophthalmologist (a certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists) of their choice prior to the Finals. The results of the eye test in no way affect the dog's eligibility to participate in the Finals. The ophthalmologist at the Finals will also examine non-competing dogs as time permits. There is no fee for the exam for dogs registered with the ABCA. Clinic results are confidential -- the ABCA receives a summary of findings in a way that does not identify individual dogs.

These eye exams allow the ABCA to monitor the eye health of the working border collie gene pool for emerging health issues, including those rare enough not to be currently considered a problem in the breed. Finals participants are a readily available sample of dogs which are likely to be particularly influential contributors to the gene pool. Moreover, eye exams provide an opportunity for counseling about both genetic and acquired eye disorders by a veterinary ophthalmologist, which is beneficial to the dogs' owners, whether they breed or not. The examining ophthalmologist at the Finals is generally one of the foremost specialists on eye disorders of the border collie, who has examined many thousands of border collie eyes and is familiar with the latest research on canine eye disorders. We benefit from his extensive knowledge, and from his continuing interest in our breed's eye health.

For these reasons, an ophthalmological exam continues to be required for participants in the Finals, even for those dogs who have been DNA-tested for CEA. The DNA test is invaluable for its ability to identify CEA carriers, and we strongly recommend its use, but it should supplement rather than replace eye exams for our top trial dogs.