Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd

PRCD Exon 1

Eyes

This eye condition causes gradual degeneration of the retina. Affected dogs typically lose night vision first, followed by progressive vision loss over time.

Signs and symptoms

PRA is a subtle disease and dogs adapt very well to the slow loss of vision. You may notice that your dog is reluctant to go down the stairs, bumps into door frames or corners, or takes a longer time to fetch a toy.

The age affected dogs will first show signs of visual impairment varies by breed. However, most begin showing clinical signs in early adulthood.

Diagnosis

Treatment

What to do if your dog is at risk

Talk to your vet about your dog’s PRA result so you can work together to plan their ongoing care and monitoring.

Schedule regular eye exams with your vet or a veterinary ophthalmologist to monitor for changes or complications such as cataracts.

If your dog’s vision changes, help them adjust by keeping furniture and routines consistent, using verbal cues, and keeping them on a leash in unfamiliar areas.

Products such as protective halos can also help dogs navigate safely if their vision declines.

Genetic information