PRA Disease in Dogs
Pets are experiencing degenerative related diseases at an ever alarming rate. Pet owners face big challenges when it comes to ensuring their pets are kept happy and healthy. PRA disease in dogs is a type of illness that affects the retina in the eye. There is absolutely no pain associated with PRA disease, but in order for dogs to experience a healthy standard of living it’s important to seek out any and all available solutions for prevention and treatment. Both of the eyes in a dog that has PRA disease will slowly go blind over time.
One of the first signs of PRA disease in dogs is dilated pupils. Moreover, dog owners will notice a slight glow or eye shine within the eyes of their canine friends that was not there before. Recent studies have shown that once dogs experience a slight glow or shine in their eyes they are already experiencing a mild form of night blindness. The final stages of PRA disease in dogs render dogs completely blind. In order to determine whether or not a dog is experiencing PRA disease, the owner should have their dog examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Veterinary ophthalmologists recommend that when you own a dog with PRA disease that it should not be bred to avoid future PRA disease in offspring. Furthermore, top breeders learn to keep their eyes on this type of disease in order to breed healthier dogs. In fact, professional animal breeders make sure that animals with certain types of degenerative disease are not bred to ensure healthier breeds for animals in the future. Pra disease in dogs is a genetic defect, which shouldn’t be passed down to other dogs.
Unfortunately, there are no cures for PRA disease in dogs. Blindness is permanent, but researchers are constantly looking for cures and treatments to the best of their abilities. It’s important to have dogs checked periodically to avoid breeding PRA disease down to offspring. Dog owners are encouraged to check out the different types of services that are available for dogs suffering total blindness. Unlike cataract diseases, PRA disease is only seen in certain breeds of dogs. Rarer forms of this disease can be found in cats as well. Furthermore, there are also different types of progressive retinal atrophy diseases as well.