Breeding requirements – Eye Examinations and Gonioscopy
Breeding animals must be examined for hereditary eye diseases and must have a valid eye examination certificate (not older than 12 months) at the time of mating. The general and breed-specific recommendations from the examining ophthalmologist must be followed.
Gonioscopy
All breeding animals must have undergone gonioscopy before mating. The certificate must not be older than three years. Gonioscopy is recommended every three years, or at 1, 4, and 7 years of age, according to veterinary ophthalmologists.
We recommend that breeders follow the ophthalmologist’s guidelines, which are as follows:
- Mild / Moderate grade: May be used for breeding, but it is recommended to mate the dog with a partner that is free of the condition.
- Severe grade: Should not be used for breeding. There is a correlation between gonioscopy findings and the risk of developing glaucoma. This means that abnormal drainage structures may be inherited by the offspring. Breeding between two lines where primary glaucoma occurs should be avoided.
- Dogs diagnosed with primary glaucoma must not be used for breeding.
However, litters may be approved for the puppy list when the gonioscopy results of the parent animals are as follows:
- Mild may be bred with Mild or Free.
- Moderate may be bred with Free, and up to a maximum of two times per dog with a Mild partner.
- Severe without remark at ICA may be used a maximum of two times per dog when bred with a dog tested within the last 12 months with a free result. Offspring must be examined at 12–18 months of age. This requirement must be specified in the purchase contract.
Note: Not all ophthalmologists perform gonioscopy. It is therefore important that you specifically request this when contacting an eye examiner.
Cases that are unusual or do not fall within the rules above may be submitted to the Breeding Council. Please notify us before mating to avoid misunderstandings or incorrect interpretation of the rules or the number of allowed matings. Please remember that all breeding decisions remain the responsibility of the breeder.
You can take a look at the gonioscopy results for Samoyeds registrered in Norway 2019-2025 here.
About Gonioscopy
Gonioscopy evaluates the pectinate ligaments and the iridocorneal angle (ICA). The examination is recommended every three years, or at 1, 4, and 7 years of age.
Explanation of terms
- Fibrae latae: Abnormally wide pectinate ligaments.
- Laminae: Larger areas of abnormal pectinate ligaments.
- Iridocorneal angle: Classified as normal, narrow, or closed.
Assessment of results
- Free: Less than 50% fibrae latae, no laminae, and a normal iridocorneal angle.
- Mild: More than 50% fibrae latae and/or less than 25% laminae, with a normal iridocorneal angle.
- Moderate: 25–50% laminae and/or a narrow iridocorneal angle.
- Severe (Pronounced): More than 50% laminae or a closed iridocorneal angle.
There is a known link between gonioscopy findings and the risk of developing glaucoma. Abnormal drainage structures may be inherited by offspring. Breeding between two lines where primary glaucoma occurs should therefore be avoided, and dogs diagnosed with primary glaucoma must not be used for breeding.