Eye Conditions

Eye Conditions

Eye health is essential for your dog’s quality of life. Learn about inherited eye diseases, their symptoms, and the affected breeds*.

*Not all breeds have specific research or data available. Always consult your breed club health representative for up-to-date recommendations on DNA testing and breed-specific health concerns.

PRA

PRA occurs when retinal cells that receive light and translate it into vision degenerate and die. This condition affects both rods and cones, leading to night blindness and eventually complete blindness. The onset varies by breed, typically becoming noticeable from around 3 years of age. PRA results from various genetic mutations found in different breeds.

There are three main forms of PRA:

  • Generalised PRA affects the entire retina.
  • Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy affects the outer retina layer.
  • Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) causes sudden, irreversible blindness

Types of PRA and the breeds they affect:

  • PRA1 – Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle
  • PRA2 – Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle
  • PRA3 – Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier
  • PRA4 – Lhasa Apso
  • PRA5 – Daschunds, German Spitz, Giant Schnauzer, Keeshond, Pomeranian
  • PRA-MERTK – Swedish Vallhund
  • CRD-PRA – Miniature Dachshunds, Standard Dachshunds
  • BBS2-PRA and CNGA1-PRA – Shetland Sheepdog
  • Pap-PRA 1 – Papillion
  • PRA-crd3 – Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier
  • PRA-rcd1 – Irish Red Setter, Irish Red and White Setter
  • PRA-rcd2 – Rough Collie, Smooth Collie, Sloughi.
  • PRA-rcd3 – Chinese Crested, German Spitz, Pomeranian, Welsh Corgi Cardigan.
  • PRA-rcd4 – Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Labradoodle, Berndoodle, Cockapoo, English Setter, Goldendoodle, Gordon Setter, Irish Red and White Setter, Irish Setter, Japanese Spitz, Labradoodle, Llewellyn Setter, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Miniature Poodle, Old Danish Pointing Dog, Sloughi, Small Munsterlander, Standard Poodle, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Poodle
  • PRA cord1 – American Bully, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Cobberdog, Australian Labradoodle, Beagle, Boykin Spaniel, Chihuahuas, Curly Coated Retriever, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, French Bulldog, Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Miniature Dachshund, M Papillion, Pitbull, Portuguese Podengo, Pug, Standard Dachshund, Standard Poodle
  • prcd-PRA – American Cocker Spaniel, American Eskimo Dog, American Hairless Terrier, American Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Cobberdog, Australian Koolie, Australian Labradoodle, Australian Shepherd, Australian Silky Terrier, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Barbet, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Biewer Terrier, Bolognese, Boykin Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahuas, Chinese Crested Dog, Cockapoo, Coton de Tulear, Curly Coated Retriever, Dachshund, Dutch Tulip Hound, English Cocker Spaniel, English Shepherd, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Field Spaniel, Finnish Hound,  Finnish Lapphund, German Spitz, Giant Schnauzer,  Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Great Pyrenees, Hungarian  Puli, Hungarian Shorthaired Pointer, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Chin, Karelian Bear Dog, Keeshond, Kuvasz, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Lagotto Romagnolo, Lancashire Heeler, Lapponian Herder, Maltipoo, Manchester Terrier, Mastiff, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Norwegian Elkhound, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Papillion, Parson Russell Terrier, Plott Hound, Pomeranian, Portuguese Podengo, Portuguese Water Dog, Rat Terrier, Russell Terrier, Russian Black Terrier, Russian Toy, Schipperke, Serbian Hound,  Spanish Water Dog, Standard Poodle, Swedish Elkhound, Swedish Lapphund, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Australian Shepherd, Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Xoloitzcuintle
Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure in the eyeball increases due to a lack of proper drainage within the eyeball. This then affects the optic nerve, and eye tissues and results in vision loss and or blindness.

There are different classifications of Glaucoma:

  • Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)
  • Primary closed-angle glaucoma (PCAG)
  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Secondary glaucoma

Primary glaucoma is the most common in affected dogs and is broken down into open-angle or closed-angle, POAG or PCAG. The angle refers to the structure in the eye, the iridocorneal angle, which allows fluid to drain from the eye. In PCAG, the angle is closed, affecting the amount of fluid that can drain away from the eye. With POAG the angle is open, but other factors can affect the eye drainage.  PCAG is the more common of the two, but both conditions have hereditary components, meaning testing is important for prevention through pre-breeding screening.

Other types of glaucoma that affect dogs are Congenital glaucoma (present from birth)and Secondary glaucoma (develops due to other eye diseases, such as cataracts or cancer), but these conditions are less common.

Dogs affected by Glaucoma tend to become actively affected mid to later life, but can be affected earlier. How quickly the condition progresses depends on the type of glaucoma and can progress over years or months.

Types of Glaucoma and the breeds they affect:

  • POAG/PLL – Shar Pei
  • POAG – American Mini-Pei, Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Basset Hound, Beagle, Basenji, Brittany Griffon, Norwegian Elkhound, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Shar Pei
  • POAG-2 – Norwegian Elkhound
  • POAG-3 – Basset Hound
  • POAG-5 – Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Basset Fauve de Bretagne
  • PCAG – Italian Greyhound
Other Eye Diseases

Stargardt disease (STGD)

  • STGD is a retinal degenerative disease which leads to visual impairment and blindness. Its classified by the degeneration of both the rod and cone light receptors in the retina. These cells are vital for vision in bright and dim light. Affected dogs will present with the condition by 10 years old. Dilated pupils and decrease light response are visual symptoms.
  • Affected Breeds: Affenpinscher, Cavador, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever.

Microphthalmia (RBP4)

  • This disease affects the soft-coated wheaten terrier, where affected puppies are born with particularly small eyes and bodily defects. The result is that the dogs have incurable blindness. The affected gene is the RBP4 gene, which causes a vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy, meaning the mother’s vitamin A did not reach the puppies. Puppies with two copies of the gene will only be affected if the mother has two copies of the RBP4 gene. If the mother only has one copy (a carrier), puppies that end up with two copies of the gene are unlikely to develop the gene.
  • Affected Breeds: Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier.

Canine Multi-Focal Retinopathy

  • CMR is a condition that affects the retina, and changes can be noticed around 4 months of age. Small light-coloured lesions appear on the retina where it is detaching. The changes in the eye are slow and often stop by one year old. The condition doesn’t lead to blindness. In some cases, the lesions appear to heal as the dog ages, but vision loss is often reported. It is diagnosed through an eye examination. There are three types, CMR1, CMR2 and CMR3.
  • CMR1 Affected Breeds: American Bulldog, American Bully, , American Shepherd, Australian Bulldog, Australian Koolie, Australian Shepherd, Brazilian Terrier,  Boerboel, Bulldog, Bull Arab, Bullmastiffs, Dogo Canario, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Mastiffs, French Bulldog, German Pinscher, Great Pyrenees, Havanese, Cane Corso, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd
  • CMR2 Affected Breeds: Coton De Tulear, Kerry Blue Terrier
  • CMR3 Affected Breeds: Australian Shepherd, Dogue de Bordeaux, Finnish Lapphund, Cane Corso, Lapponian Herder, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Swedish Lapphund

Collie eye anomaly/Choroidal hypoplasia (CEA/CH)

  • CEA/CH is the abnormal development of the choroid (a layer of tissue under the retina). This can be diagnosed early as it doesn’t develop properly at the start of the dog’s life. The presentation of the condition varies greatly between dog breeds. Most affected dogs only suffer a mild form of the condition; however, the disease can only be diagnosed through an eye examination. In mild cases, the dog’s vision is normal throughout its life; unfortunately, any offspring from a mildly affected dog can be seriously affected by this condition, which can result in vision loss.
  • Affected breeds: Australian shepherd, Australian Kelpie, Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Boykin Spaniel, Chinook, English Shepherd, Hellenic Hound, Hokkaido, Jack Russell Terrier, Lancashire Heeler, Lapponian Herder, Miniature American shepherd, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Parson Russell Terrier, Rough Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Silken Windhound, Smooth collie, Toy Australian Shepherd, Whippet

Cone degeneration (CD)

  • Cone degeneration impacts retinal cones, leading to day blindness as these cells respond to bright light. Unlike PRA, night vision remains unaffected. Symptoms appear between 8 and 12 weeks; bright light may cause irritation or pain, but dim light vision stays normal.
  • Affected breeds: Alaskan Malamute, Alaskan Sled Dog, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, German Shorthaired Pointer, Giant Schauzer, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Toy Australian Shepherd

Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD)

  • MCD causes cloudy eyes from an accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (carbohydrates) in the corneas. This disease is progressive but not painful; affected dogs will suffer from vision loss. It primarily affects middle-aged dogs.
  • Affected Breeds: Australian Labrador, Cavador, Labrador Retriever, Labradoodle

Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)

  • PLL affects the zonular fibres, which support the lens in the eye; when these break down or disintegrate, the lens moves into the wrong position within the eye. If the lens goes into the anterior chamber of the eye, it will quickly result in glaucoma and loss of vision. This condition is well-known in various breeds and is painful and blinding. Signs of PLL include reddening of the eye, glaucoma and loss of vision. It can be detectable at 20 months of age, but complete lens luxation usually occurs at 3-8 years old.
  • Affected Breeds: American Eskimo Dog, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Kelpie, Australian Koolie, Australian Silky Terrier, Australian Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Biewer Terrier,  Border Collie, Border Terrier, Cesky Terrier, Chinese Crested Dog, Chinese Foo Dog, Dachshund, Danish-Swedish Farmdog, German Hunting Terrier, German Shepherd, Hungarian Puli, Hungarian Pumi, Italian Greyhound, Italian Volpino, Jack Russell Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Lancashire Heeler, Lucas Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier,  Parson Russell Terrier, Patterdale Terrier, Portuguese Podengo, Pug, Rat Terrier, Russian Black Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Shar Pei, Smooth Fox Terrier, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, Tenterfield Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, Welsh Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier

Hereditary cataract (HC-HSF4-2)

  • Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens becomes less clear. It can just affect a small part of the entire lens. Large cataracts in both eyes can lead to blindness, while smaller ones that don’t grow won’t impact a dog’s vision. Some breeds are more prone to primary cataracts, but cataracts can also occur due to other inherited conditions like progressive retinal atrophy or glaucoma. Dogs can develop cataracts from around 9 to 15 months, with further changes between 2-4 years. If not treated, this can lead to blindness.
  • Mutations in the HSF4 gene causing hereditary cataracts are found in many breeds, such as Australian Shepherds, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. One of the HSF4 mutations causes cataracts in both eyes of Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Boston Terriers, and French Bulldogs; it can be identified as early as 8-12 weeks old, but does not appear right at birth. In these breeds, the mutation in HSF4 is autosomal recessive, meaning the dog needs two copies of the gene to be affected. A dog with one gene will not have cataracts, but can pass the gene on to its puppies.
  • In Australian Shepherds, a different mutation is linked to bilateral posterior polar subcapsular cataracts, which can appear at various ages and is autosomal-dominant, meaning only one copy of the gene is necessary for the dog to be affected.
  • Affected Breeds: American Bully, Australian Labradoodle, Australian Shepherd, Boston Terrier, Cockapoo, French Bulldog, Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Miniature American shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Staffordshire Bull terrier, Toy Australian Shepherd, Toy Poodle
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