Has anyone had this happen to their lab? My 6 year female old yellow lab has gone 100% blind in the last 2 months. Vet can't figure it out, nothing from blood work etc and this seems to be what she has.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
PRA is the most common disorder affecting the retina of the dog and is a result of the reduction of retinal blood vessels and atrophy of the receptor cells of the retina. There are two types of PRA: generalized-PRA and centralized-PRA. In generalized-PRA, there is overall retinal function loss. Both eyes are affected, though one may be at a more advanced stage than the other. The condition is progressive, as indicated, though the rate of progression varies from breed to breed and individual to individual; however, the end result in all cases is blindness. Dogs afflicted with g-PRA often can only recognize objects immediately in front of them as there is early loss of peripheral vision. Centralized-PRA also affects both eyes and is progressive, however, dogs may retain peripheral vision for several years, but there is an early loss of central vision. This second form of PRA is the most common in the Labrador Retriever.
- Age of onset: g-PRA: 2-3 years; c-PRA: 4-10 years
- Symptoms:
g-PRA: night blindness, "tunnel vision".
c-PRA: gradually failing vision, tendency to collide with stationary objects in dog's path, poor distance vision, slow pupillary reflexes, dilation of pupils even under daylight conditions. - Treatment: Currently there is no successful treatment for slowing down or reversing the degeneration processes associated with either form of PRA. Treatment with vitamin A has been reported to improve vision in dogs in early stages of the disorder, but long-term prognosis remains doubtful.
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