What is progressive retinal atrophy?
The retina is located at the back of the eye and one of the structures of the eye responsible for collection and transmission of information from our surroundings to our brain to generate images.
The term progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is used to describe a variety of diseases that affect the retina and lead to its gradual degeneration. As a consequence, once the retinal becomes atrophied, dogs and cats start to lose their sight.
Certain breeds of dogs such as Poodles, Labradors, Schnauzers and Cocker Spaniels can be predisposed to the condition due to genetic mutations that lead to the problem.
Signs of progressive retinal atrophy
The condition is progressive and, initially, your pet will become hesitant to navigate in low light conditions or at night, especially in an unfamiliar environment or if furniture or objects around the house are suddenly re-organised. This is because the cells of the retina called
rods (which are responsible for vision in darkness and dim light) start to degenerate first and soon after, the cones (responsible for daylight vision) will follow.
Diagnosis of progressive retinal atrophy
If your pet is becoming progressively more hesitant to go out for walks at night, easily confused when changes are made in the household, having difficulty to identify steps and objects you should speak to your vets about your concerns who can subsequently refer you to an ophthalmologist for an assessment.
Definitive diagnosis can be reached via examination of the eyes and retina when the disease has reached an advanced stage. When cases are presented at the very early stages of the disease and obvious ophthalmic signs are not present, an electroretinogram (a test which assesses the electrical activity of the retina) can be used as a diagnostic tool.
Because the condition is hereditary and usually both the sire and the dam will pass a gene to the dog who will then develop PRA, genetic test screening is available for some mutations of the genes.
Treatment of progressive retinal atrophy
Unfortunately, there is no known treatment for PRA and all dogs suffering from this condition will become blind. However, the progression differs from case to case and the timeframe that each pet will become blind varies.
Our mission at Vet Eye Care is providing the best care for your pets. Our ophthalmologists are able to diagnose and treat all ophthalmic conditions promptly, following a referral request from your vets. If you feel your pet will benefit from a consultation with one of our specialists, ask your general vet for a referral. Contact us today and benefit from our competitive prices.