January 26, 2025, 9:47 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disease that affects dogs and cats and, in the worst case, can lead to blindness. Certain breeds are particularly susceptible to this disease. Veterinarian Dr. Vanesse Herder explains what these are and how the disease progresses.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an eye disease that can result in vision loss for dogs and cats. Affected animals often initially have difficulty seeing in the dark. This condition resembles night blindness in humans. Later on, the affected animals can also see less and less in daylight until they eventually go completely blind. “There are different forms of PRA, which occur at a young or adult age or in which different areas of the retina, the cones or the rods, are affected,” explains vet Dr. Vanessa Herder in an interview with PETBOOK.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy Is Hereditary in Many Cases
There are various reasons why animals develop PRA, the vet says. Genetics often play a role, explains Herder. “The hereditary variant has already been identified in over 100 dog breeds and more rarely in cats. However, the genetic cause is not uniform and varies from breed to breed.” Certain factors, such as diet, could play an important role. For instance, a deficiency in vitamins such as A, C, and E, or in taurine, could trigger Progressive Retinal Atrophy, the expert summarizes.
Exposure to light can also be a trigger. Specifically, too much UV radiation can play a role here. However, this severe disease also manifests without any apparent cause, Dr. Vanessa Herder explains. “There is also a spontaneous, acquired variant, the cause of which is still unknown.”
These Breeds Are Particularly Often Affected by Progressive Retinal Atrophy
What makes PRA particularly tricky is that it can occur at any age and is often difficult to detect. As a result, Dr. Herder reveals that only genetic testing and an ophthalmological examination can confirm the diagnosis. In Alaskan malamutes or Gordon setters, the disease appears as early as the second month of life. The animals see poorly in daylight, but the disease does not worsen. As a general rule, early diagnosis helps to make the animal’s life as comfortable as possible.
Breeds affected by this genetic predisposition include
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Australian Shepherd
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Jack Russell Terrier and
- Siberian Husky and
- Beagle.
According to the vet, cats can also be affected by this disease. “Two different forms of PRA have been described in Abyssinian cats: An early-onset form, in which the cat goes blind within a few months, and a late-onset form, in which the cat goes blind between five and ten years of age.”
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Cats Can Also Go Blind Due to PRA
However, the Abyssinian is not the sole cat breed susceptible to Progressive Retinal Atrophy. The Somali, closely related to the Abyssinian, along with the Siamese, Oriental Shorthair, and Bengal breeds, can also develop PRA. However, the disease is rather rare in the latter three breeds.
What all variants of PRA have in common is: “The disease cannot be treated,” explains Dr. Herder in an interview with PETBOOK. “Consequently, the primary focus for affected animals is on measures that assist them in daily life, such as ensuring adequate lighting in and around the home. If night blindness is the only symptom in the early stages, it’s important to keep dogs safe in unfamiliar environments by using a leash and keeping furniture in consistent locations within the home.” While PRA is a serious disease, the expert concludes that with appropriate support and adaptations, affected pets can still enjoy a good quality of life.