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By Michelle Scott, Kate Murray and Sylvy Bouchard

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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).

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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