Comments on: PRA In Dogs – What Does Progressive Retinal Atrophy Mean For Your Puppy?

By: KrystalUK

KrystalUK — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 18:13:47 +0000

I have a five year old cockapoo and noticed about a month before Christmas that she seemed to be bumping into things at night.
I took her to the vets and luckily the eye specialist saw her and diagnosed her with PRA. I was told that she was totally blind in her left eye and only had around 5% vision in her right eye. I asked the eye specialist how long she thought it would be before Pepsi was completely blind and was told that it would be around three months.
I am absolutely devastated and have moped around feeling sorry for myself and Pepsi ever since.
I just do not want to see her suffer and am close to tears every time I talk or even think about what is happening to her.
We are now on month two of three and I have noticed that at dusk, around 5-6pm, she seems to go really quiet which I have interpreted as the time that she can no longer see.
My heart breaks for her every time she bumps into something or has a hard time finding me.
I have found very recently that she doesn’t leave my side as soon as I get home from work until it is time for bed (I work in the early mornings and get home at 9am).

She is adjusting already. Like in the night she will wake me up if she needs a toilet and will literally walk with the side of her head on my calf, using me to guide her outside.

I hate leaving her on her own so have set up my ring doorbell inside so that I can keep an eye on her.
How is everyone coping and more importantly, how is your dog coping. At the moment, I think Pepsi is coping better than I am.

By: Spring Grosenbacher

Spring Grosenbacher — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 16:33:35 +0000

In reply to Mrs Jaques. Going forward, if the parents have not had thorough genetic testing, I will not even consider buying. You can always pay for and send the testing to the breeder for them to test but you're looking at around $150 each for mother and father.

By: Spring Grosenbacher

Spring Grosenbacher — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 16:24:01 +0000

*New diagnosis*

F1b Goldendoodle puppy positive for PRA. I literally just got back from the dog ophthalmologist and my 5 month old was diagnosed with PRA.

She had symptoms when we brought her home at 8 weeks, such as, occasionally bumping into objects, having a hard time navigating in the sunlight (originally tested for day blindness but was negative)(also usually dogs with PRA have issues w nighttime vision but so far she prefers early mornings and evenings outdoors when she runs around like a soccer champ).

Wrote it off to puppy clumsiness until about 12 weeks old when I had her vision tested by normal vet. They couldn’t find anything and referred me to ophthalmologist. I sent in for a day blindness genetic test first as I knew ophthalmologist would be a bit of money. Once that was ruled out I scheduled appt.

Right now, she is 5 months old and “mostly” okay. Runs, plays, jumps onto beds, limbs stairs etc… fairly normally with occasional bumping into things or hesitancy.

We have a pool (she has fallen into a few times already so she can’t go out back unsupervised) and will be moving to our farm in about 2 years.

We will have to build a new home and we stay in our Travel Trailer (with stairs) when we work on the property. I am praying that her vision stays with her long enough to learn the layout of our future home. This is where we’ll live the rest of our lives after my husband retires in two years.

The news today brakes my heart but God put her in our life for a reason and we will make sure she is happy and healthy no matter what.

We can’t breed her now so I’ve let the breeder that we got her from know and we will get her fixed in a few weeks.

We have another 9 yo goldendoodle that will hopefully serve as a good companion for her until he gets old and passes away. Though he absolutely hates her right now for shredding his ears w her puppy teeth and energeticly harassing him. Lol

Doing thorough research now on how to handle blind dogs.

Prayers for a couple more years appreciated.

By: Joann

Joann — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 03:14:14 +0000

In reply to Joanne. I took my little dog to a dog Opthomologist in Ft Worth. Cost of $155.00. TXVO was the name of vet organization

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 23:31:11 +0000

Hello my lovely Fox Red Labrador was bumping into things in the night so I took her the vets who referred her to an eye dog specialist who examined her, I thought she had cataract and it could be operated on but PRA was diagnosed and she has now, 2 years later, gone totally blind but is happy and I am devoted to looking after her and she is still a therapy dog blessing others.
I notice her grandfather was a carrier but it looked like her parents were unaffected so how can did this pass to her, can it pass from the grandfather and not the parents..out of interest

By: Lucy

Lucy — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:59:10 +0000

In reply to Brenda. If the father is PRA clear then the puppies might still be carriers, but shouldn't express the gene. If the father is PRA carrier, then it's possible the mother is also and the puppies could therefore have PRA.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 16:39:52 +0000

I’m thinking of buying a cocker spaniel puppy . Do both parents have to be tested for PRA or is it OK for just the father

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 21:56:00 +0000

Hi I had my dog health tested and she came back PRA clear. But the stud I want too Breed her too has PRCD Carrier. Do I have too get a second test for PRCD specifically or if she is PRA clear Will she be clear for PRCD also? Thanks

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:42:16 +0000

How much does it cost to have a PRA test done

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 09:06:54 +0000

In reply to Margaret. I’ve bought a female and same situation. The seller knew the mother was going blind 12 months before they sold me the puppy. Really devastating ?