Ensuring optimal health for service dogs through free sight-saving exams
Article by: Allison Burk
Originally Published
The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) participated in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO)/ Epicur National Service Animal Eye Exam Event in May 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. This is the ninth year Ohio State has participated.
Eligible service and working animals were invited to make an appointment to receive a free screening eye exam from participating board-certified ophthalmologists, like those at Ohio State. Over 200 veterinary ophthalmologists across the U.S. also offer ocular health assessments to thousands of service animals during this annual event.
Anne Gemensky Metzler, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO, Georgina Newbold, DVM, Diplomate ACVO, and Eric Miller, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO, all board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists at Ohio State’s Veterinary Medical Center, along with registered veterinary technicians, provided free ocular screening eye exams to 25 qualified service and working animals over three days.
“I love this program so much! It’s so rewarding to be able to make sure these dogs' eyes are healthy for the important work they do,” said Miller. “The clients are always so grateful and genuinely make the experience fantastic. I truly look forward to seeing the clients and their dogs and hearing their stories each year.”
Waldo, a nine-year-old standard poodle, was one of Dr. Miller’s patients. Rebecca Russell, Waldo’s owner, is legally blind. Waldo is much more than a beloved pet; he gives her independence. Rebecca has had Waldo for eight years and brings him into the VMC for his annual veterinary visits. At this visit, she said, “Waldo keeps me safe. He sees for me, so I want to keep him healthy.”
Rebecca has been handling service dogs for almost 46 years. With all the expenses that stack up, she stated that an ocular screening is something that would be hard for her to afford.
“The staff here have been absolutely wonderful to us over the years with each of our service dogs,” Rebecca said.
Paul Walker and his wife, Christine Osterman, also took advantage of the free service dog eye exam and brought their Labradors Avanti (now retired) and Cashew in to be evaluated. Paul has been visually impaired his whole life, but it’s gotten worse over the years. He worked for the State of Ohio and recalls that when he first started working with a service dog, he was amazed at the ease that it provided him in traveling to and from work on the bus and getting
around in downtown Columbus and the state building. Paul retired in 2011, but Cashew gives Paul the freedom to do things for himself daily.
“The way I was treated by the public with a service dog compared to just trying to find my way around with a cane was night and day. It made people stop and talk to me, be more conscious that I was visually impaired and treat me like a human being,” Paul said. “Not only have my service dogs given me more freedom to do the things I want and need to do, but they protect me.”
Paul and Christine both expressed gratitude for the peace of mind the free ocular screening provides them. They emphasized the importance of service dogs being healthy and a critical part of that is their sight. They need to see well to guide those who can’t.
“Sight is essential for these important Service Animals,” said, ACVO’s Executive Director, Stacee Daniel. “It is a fantastic experience to assist our boarded ophthalmologists in providing these services to this valuable community. Our doctors affirm that early diagnosis is key to treating ocular disease.”
Providing this service in partnership with the ACVO is advancing the care we can provide to serve our community better, further advancing our goal to Be The Model® referral veterinary medical center of choice.
For more information about the ACVO National Service Animal Eye Exam Event, visit acvoeyeexam.org/#about