Free Eye Exams for Service Dogs at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Colorado State University veterinarians and veterinary students will provide free eye exams to service dogs on May 6 at the university’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, detection dogs and search-and-rescue dogs can participate in the eye exam event with an appointment. Registration for appointments begins April 1 and ends April 29. The hospital is at 300 W. Drake Road.

The day, sponsored by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, is a national event. To qualify, dogs must be active working dogs who are certified by a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a formal training program. The certifying organization must be national, regional or local.

For a free exam, service dog owners must complete two separate steps. Owners must first register their animal via an online registration form at www.acvoeyeexam.org after April 1 and by April 29. Once registered online, the owner should contact the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital at (970) 297-4136. Appointments are available from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Last year, CSU veterinarians gave exams to 50 service dogs as part of the special day. Nationally and in Canada, more than 3,200 service dogs had free eye exams in 2010. At Colorado State, canine eye exams normally cost $85.

Dogs will be examined by a board-certified ophthalmologist with the assistance of CSU veterinary students. The free exams will be provided by specialized veterinarians in the university’s ophthalmology section at the hospital. The complimentary eye exam will screen guide dogs for vision problems. Additional services are optional and regular fees will apply.

Qualifying service dog groups include guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, detection dogs, police dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and certified, trained therapy dogs from the Delta Society. Qualifying dogs also include, but are not limited to, those from local pet therapy groups including the Larimer Animal People Partnership and Human Animal Bond in Colorado. Dogs must be active working dogs certified by a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a formal training program to qualify.

As part of the day, the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists will use information derived from appointments to developing a database to study potential eye problems associated with jobs that certain service dogs perform.

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