Persistent pupillary membranes (PPM)


  • @noodle:

    I have experience of the problem you have described. I had her eyes tested and yes it was PPM. It is not causing any problems and her vision is fine. There are varying degrees of PPM so I think the best thing to do is get a CERF exam.

    Did yours look like a spot?


  • @nobarkus:

    I was worried because I noticed a small opaque/white spot on Buddy's left iris. I had to look real close to notice it. I called the Basenji rescue and she said that it's a problem Basenjis have but is not anything to worry about. The info on the internet says it's strands but this looks like a spot. Does anybody's Basenji have this?

    http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/Diseases/ocular%20disorders/persistent%20pupillary%20membrane.htm

    And even excessive PPM rarely ever causes problems…. while certainly a big consideration when breeding, as far as pets, not a worry... PPM gets smaller from birth to reaching adult age. Excessive PPM can look like a spot as when they are born and open their eyes, sometime the eye is totally covered with a blue film... this get smaller as the pup grows..


  • @Patty:

    I've heard of something similar which turned out to be a calcium deposit. Is this possible Ivoss? Also could you tell me what are endothelial opacities? Are the particular to Basenjis?

    I don't know if it is particular to basenjis. I have met one basenji who has been diagnosed with this during a CERF exam. He looks like he has small spots that are opaque. You wouldn't notice it at a distance only if you got a good look at his eyes.

    I have heard similar opacities can be cholesterol and they can be caused by hypothyroidism.


  • @tanza:

    And even excessive PPM rarely ever causes problems…. while certainly a big consideration when breeding, as far as pets, not a worry... PPM gets smaller from birth to reaching adult age. Excessive PPM can look like a spot as when they are born and open their eyes, sometime the eye is totally covered with a blue film... this get smaller as the pup grows..

    That's what Karen said from the rescue. She saw 1 that was really bad. I'll take a magnifying glass I have and take a closer look. It's actually a kind of hazy spot.


  • @nobarkus:

    Did yours look like a spot?

    Yes, an opaque spot.


  • @noodle:

    Yes, an opaque spot.

    Yes, that's it.



  • Yes, many basenjis have small opacities from remnants of PPM strands that once attached to the cornea. It won't effect the dog at all.


  • Is it on the iris or the cornea? Nemo has hazy semi-opaque spots on both of his corneas. It's corneal dystrophy and the harmless form. He had PPM as a puppy too but it isn't the visible kind. There are some other threads on the forum about it.

  • Houston

    I noticed to that Otis has a slight film/spot but only in certain lights, and this morning when I took him to the vet he looked t his eyes and said they looked OK, letting me know that he isn't CERF or anything like that, but as far as he sees Otis eyes are OK. I hoep Buddy;s eyesight isn't in danger, and that he will grow out of it..


  • Thats how I first noticed the PPM - only in certain lights. Best to get these things checked by a specialist.


  • Thanks All!


  • Yup, always good to have a base line eye exam by a specialist. And again, very, very rarely does PPM cause long term problems… just needs to be certainly looked at very carefully when Breeding. My OJ had PPM that even as an adult you could see with the naked eye... one of the reasons that I never bred him... it does run in his pedigree

  • Houston

    I made an appointment for Otis to get his CERF done next thursday..it turned out being very affordable, only $35. Now when I look at his eyes I see nothing, and I have looked him up and down..typical. That doesn't mean anything I know, but I am hopeful


  • @Basenjimamma:

    I made an appointment for Otis to get his CERF done next thursday..it turned out being very affordable, only $35. Now when I look at his eyes I see nothing, and I have looked him up and down..typical. That doesn't mean anything I know, but I am hopeful

    Did you ask if the Ophthalmologist has basenji experience. There is a specific way that the eye exam needs to happen with basenjis. I'm pretty sure that the doctor needs to check the eyes first, then do the drops (wait the specified time) and then re-check the eyes.


  • @renaultf1:

    Did you ask if the Ophthalmologist has basenji experience. There is a specific way that the eye exam needs to happen with basenjis. I'm pretty sure that the doctor needs to check the eyes first, then do the drops (wait the specified time) and then re-check the eyes.

    Yes that's right the eyes are looked at first then drops are put in then they are re-checked again after about 15 mins or so.

  • Houston

    I did tell them that he was a Basenji and they were very aware ofB's so of course Itook that as them knowing, but I will call them back this am and ask more specifically. So they should look at eyes before drops, put drops in wait alotted time and then recheck?


  • @Basenjimamma:

    I did tell them that he was a Basenji and they were very aware ofB's so of course Itook that as them knowing, but I will call them back this am and ask more specifically. So they should look at eyes before drops, put drops in wait alotted time and then recheck?

    yes that's correct:D

  • Houston

    Thanks for the quick response, I will call them as soon as they open this morning. I will let y'all know.

  • Houston

    I just spoke to the eyeclinic and they do what needs to be done as far as B's CERF. Check eyes, drops in , recheck eyes. So now we have to wait until june 25th for Otis' appt. Will keep y'all updated as to how it turns out.

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    My OJ had excessive PPM to the point you could see with the naked eye, in his litter, he had two that had total sheeting over one eye and the other had excessive PPM as he did. So he would have never CERF'ed. And PPM runs in his pedigree. This was one of the reasons he was never bred. However, all that said if this was the only reason that I decided not to use him, things might have been different. As breeders not everything is going to be perfect. In the end we all need to decide what we can and can not live with in doing a breeding. And I also agree, the more information you have to begin with, the better informed decision you can make for breeding. Not everyone is going to think the same on what is or is not important…
  • Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM)

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    The basenji health page on the BCOA site give a very nice general description. http://www.basenji.org/PUBLIC/HealthInfo.htm Since PPM never gets worse and can get better with age, if after the puppy has been examined by a vet opthamologist there is no vision impairment then you won't have to worry about it getting worse.