Complete cataracts result in blindness that can only be corrected by cataract surgery. Yearly CERF examinations are an important tool in diagnosing this condition. Proper treatment can be hastened by early diagnosis. Also known as lion jaw, it is a non-cancerous bone proliferation occurring mainly on the lower jaw, maxilla and, on occasion, the long bones of the legs. It is generally a self-resolving problem that corrects as the bone remodels during the growth stage.
Diagnosis is by X-ray.
Onset of symptoms generally occurs at about 4 months and resolves at about 1 year of age. Treatment to reduce these symptoms include the use of aspirin or steroids. This disease is inherited by a single autosomal recessively passed gene. Research to develop a DNA marker test to identify carrier, clear and affected CMO animals has been funded cooperatively by the Cairn, Scottish and West Highland White Terrier Clubs in conjunction with the American Kennel Club Health Foundation. The research work will begin in 1998.