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Progressive Retinal Atrophy
(Miniature / Toy)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited form of blindness characterized
by the degeneration of the rods, cones and outer nuclear layer of the retina. The
rod and cone cells of the retina, so named because of the shape of their outer
segments, act as light receptors. Rods are extremely sensitive to light, therefore
they provide night vision. Cones are less sensitive to light, and thus provide vision
during the day (Ganong 1983). As the name Progressive Retinal Atrophy implies, the
degenerative changes that occur in the retina with this disease are progressive, but
often quite gradual. At first a dog's night vision is lost and then gradually day
vision as well.
Since PRA is a progressive disease which occurs over months and even perhaps years,
the appropriate time to detect the disease is not until 3 to 4 years of age in the
Miniature Poodle (Aguirre, 1976).
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The
Canine Eye Registry Foundation Inc.
(CERF) issues certificates to eligible clear dogs and collects statistical data on the incidence of various inherited
canine eye diseases.
There is a DNA test for PRA-prcd, one of the most common types of PRA in Poodles.
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