PRA progressive retinal atrophy

[CormoranStrike]

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Our seven year old dog is showing signs of it - he has had various tests which have to be repeated in eight weeks, at which time the diagnosis will likely be confirmed.

What can we expect? If your dog has gone blind by this, how did they adjust?

No personal experience, but I'm on a gundog FB page where someone has a dog with PRA. She keeps him active, and he seems to have adjusted well and has a busy life.

Horrible news for you, though. The one comfort is that your dog won't worry about the future.

Thank you - my greatest consolation is it’s a pain free condition.

My working Labrador showed signs of declining vision, especially in low light, when he was 5. We saw a veterinary ophthalmologist when he was 6 and he had already lost 70% of his vision. He is now 15.5 so over half his life he has been blind.

As it is painless and gradual he adjusted as he went along. He has excellent mindmaps and remembers the layout of holiday cottages we've visited previously and houses we visit. We have moved house with him too. The worst indoor hazard is people sitting with their legs stretched out! There is nothing wrong with his sense of smell nor his hearing. He doesn't go off-lead these days; he feels more secure when he can feel I am at the end of his lead.

When we are out and about I warn him of kerbs - off and up. Careful slows him so he doesn't run into street furniture. The better the dog is trained before his sight loss becomes total the better the two of you will cope.

I grieved the loss of his sight (a weekend of tears) and the loss of the things we had done together, especially working each winter on a local shoot, but my brave darling dog just got on with it.

I am horrified to hear that dogs are still being diagnosed with PRA long after the DNA test for the parents has been made available. I won't be looking at any litters, when the time comes, where the Optigen test has not been done for both sire and dam. The mental agony for owners is horrible, having a dog going blind in the prime of life.

PRA is very far from being a death sentence and dogs don't seem to suffer the mental anguish of a human with a similar diagnosis. It is up to you to keep him secure, safe and with a rich life. He just won't be able to see.

Thank you.

Yes, he will have a lovely, rich life with us, but I could cry.

And it sounds daft, but he has beautiful eyes and already they are dulling.

I cried buckets. You mourn what your dog is losing and the loss of what you thought was his future. My dear dog had hazel eyes with darker speckles like a peaty mountain pool in sunshine. PRA turned them blue-grey so people thought he had cataracts and I had to tell them what it actually was. Another tip - leave doors either fully closed or fully open (as with blind people), not half way.

This shows his gorgeous eyes before - it’s hard to capture the change now, as it doesn’t always show in photos.

Thank you for showing me that. What a sweet dog. He will be more than just all right but it's owners that carry the burden for them. We do it willingly and with great love but it's not what we expected. The eye certificates breeders show prospective puppy buyers are valueless, as a dog bred at two or three will have clear eyes. The condition doesn't manifest itself until early middle-age or a little later. The DNA test is the real game-changer. If you want any further help please ask. My vet told me I should be an honorary vet after all we have been through.

Yes! We were told PRA clear, but it looks like that was wrong.

Thank you for sharing your encouragement