Griffin’s training for eye drops was put into use last week when he had his annual CERF exam.
CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation ) exams are a great opportunity for an eye specialist to look at your dog. For dogs that have had exams and the paperwork submitted, you can view the results online at the CERF website (and it can also show up on the OFA , Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, website for dogs that have an OFA record). This information is used by breeders, breed historians, and enthusiasts to monitor, track, and work away from health problems that impact the health and quality life of dogs.
On arrival, the eyes (of most breeds) are dilated, which can be uncomfortable for the dog. 20+ minutes later the specialist looks at the dog in a few different ways. Sometimes Dr. Wendy Townsend, an eye specialist from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Purdue comes to do ultrasounds to look for pigmentary uveitis and other abnormalities.
Griffin doesn’t like vet exams. He’s had a few bad experiences and he dislikes restraint. He’s really wimpy about anything uncomfortable. But thanks to our training and some management (putting him on a table rather than having the vet lean over him on the floor), he sat very still and was wonderful for the whole process.