title: Epidemiology and clinical presentation of canine cataracts in France: a retrospective study of 404 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the epidemiology and the clinical presentation of cataracts in a population of dogs in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of dogs affected by a cataract presented at the Ophthalmology Unit of Alfort Veterinary School during 2009-2012 were reviewed. The etiology was determined for each dog. The signalment of affected dogs, their medical history, age of onset, stage of progression, location of opacities, and ocular lesions associated were evaluated for each etiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2739 dogs were presented at the Ophthalmology Unit from 2009 to 2012. Four hundred and four dogs (14.7%) (716 eyes) were diagnosed with a cataract. The population included 218 males (54%) and 185 females (46%). The gender was not recorded for one dog. The mean age (±SD) of all dogs affected by a cataract was 9 years (±3.9 years). Fifty-four breeds were represented. The Yorkshire Terrier was the only breed significantly overrepresented. The causes of cataracts observed were breed predisposition (28%), aging (22.8%), progressive retinal atrophy (12.4%), congenital cataract (5%), diabetes mellitus (4.7%), trauma (3.7%), uveitis (3%), and hypocalcemia (0.2%). In 20.3% of the cases, the etiology could not be determined. Ocular lesions associated with cataracts reported were lens luxation or subluxation (11.1%), glaucoma (3.7%), and retinal detachment (4.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a French population of referred dogs, 14.7% were affected by a cataract. The main causes identified were breed predisposition, aging, and progressive retinal atrophy. A breed predisposition for the Yorkshire Terrier was recorded.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche en Ophtalmologie Vétérinaire, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donzel
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche en Ophtalmologie Vétérinaire, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Léa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arti
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche en Ophtalmologie Vétérinaire, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chahory
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013045:Species Specificity; D014605:Uveitis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: France; breed; cataract; dog; epidemiology; etiology