A dear friend of mine, who I will call “Uggo”  because that is what I have always called her, and her husband Bill (I don’t have a nickname for him) own 2 beautiful English Springer Spaniels named Barnum and Bailey. (Uggo and Bill aren’t too original with dog names.) Recently, Barnum was diagnosed with progressive retinal degeneration, a disease that will eventually lead to blindness.  My friends are heartbroken over this, they love these dogs like children and are devastated that Barnum will have to endure blindness.

I don’t know much about the disease so I decided to find out.

What is Progressive Retinal Degeneration?

First diagnosed in the early 20th century, progressive retinal degeneration is a inherited condition that affects the the retina of the eye. The retina lines the inside of the eye and converts light into electrical nerve signals which travel to the brain via the optic nerve and are interpreted as vision. The retina contains rods and cones (photoreceptors) which help the animal see in darkness (rods) and some colors (cones).  Normally photoreceptors develop early, from birth to eight weeks. Dogs with retinal degeneration have early degeneration of the photoreceptors and are affected anywhere from one to eight years old. The symptoms progress slowly and worsen over time. . The dog will experience night blindness first because the rods are affected first, then the condition progresses to daytime vision.

What are the symptoms of progressive retinal degeneration?

Signs may vary depending on the rate of progression. Progressive retinal degeneration causes no pain and the eye can often appear normal. You may notice a change in the dog’s personality (afraid of dark hallways, reluctant to go down a flight of stairs, etc.) This is the night blindness which happens first. If the progression is slow, you may not notice any signs until the dog is in an unfamiliar place and his lack of vision will be more apparent. In my friend’s case they noticed that Barnum was reluctant to jump into the swimming pool – and this was his favorite activity. His daytime vision was failing and compromised by the reflection of the sun on the water. In some cases, the owner may notice the lens of the eye becoming cloudy.

How is progressive retinal degeneration diagnosed?

A veterinary opthamologist can determine the diagnosis with a series of painless tests and there is no anesthetizing. If no abnormalities are found the dog can be certified free of heritable eye disease through CERF. (Canine Eye Registration Foundation.)

There is no treatment and no way to slow the progression of the disease. However, our little friends adapt remarkably to blindness and can live normal, happy lives with a little care…don’t move the furniture, don’t sneak up on your dog – let him hear you coming and don’t make him wear sunglasses. (Uggo was going to do this.)

Can progressive retinal degeneration be prevented?

Progressive retinal degeneration is a genetic, inherited disease and affects many breeds including Miniature Poodles, Labrador Retrievers and English Cocker spaniels. The only prevention is making sure the affected animals are not bred (nor should their siblings or parents) and that they be spayed or neutered. The breeder should also be notified.

My heart goes out to Uggo and Bill, I know how they feel (my dog gets rushed to the vet if he looks at me funny) and I sincerely hope that they learn to cope with Barnum’s blindness as well as he will.

Always remember to take care of your dog’s eyes, no matter what age or breed.