Information PRA
During the spring, summer and autumn a number of dogs have been examined by Swedish Eye Specialists regarding the eye disease PRA.
The back ground of this is that these dogs have been diagnosed with PRA or symptoms similar to PRA/Retinopathy. Not only diagnosed dogs have been examined, but also many litter mates. We thought that it was utmost important to get a “second opinion” on these diagnoses as there have been circumstances in some cases pointing out that this was not about a “traditional” PRA,
Dogs of Swedish/Scandinavian origin exported to the
The second session with examinations took part in June in Skellefteå with Swedish dogs diagnosed with Retinopathy. Professor Kristina Narfström was responsible for these examinations and Eye Specialist Gertrud Burman was present too. There were no symptoms of PRA in these dogs. Common eye examination and bilateral ERG (ElectroRetinoGraphy) was accomplished. One could see inflammatory changes and one case of pigment layers between inflammatory areas. They all got the diagnose Retinopathy and one case of Chorioretinitis. Due to a relative summary perspicuous diagnose system when publishing in the data base of the Swedish Kennel Club they all will have the diagnose Retinopathy also for dogs diagnosed with Chorioretinitis. In Skellefteå another three dogs in different category of age were examined, they all had previous to this, eyes with no remarks. Bilateral ERG was made on one of these. These dogs were used as a control group.
Third session of examination took part in Gothenburg in October. Professor Kristina Narfström was responsible for this examination day too. 7 flatcoats were examined, 2 with a previous PRA diagnose, the others Retinopathy similar to PRA and Retinopathy. According to Professor Narfström, none of these cases are considered to be a “traditional” PRA! New diagnoses are Retinopathy, probably non inherited, and also a case of incomplete, partial cataract)
Breeding recommendations
- Parents may have Anterior suture line cataract, but no other types of cataract (i e incomplete, partial cataract)
- Individuals and offspring shall have a follow up
- For the present avoid breeding from dogs diagnosed with Retinopathy. On the contrary parents of offspring diagnosed with Retinopathy and their offspring can be used, if it is not obvious from the Eye Certificate that the diagnosed Retinopathy is inherited. The reason of this recommendation is that many dogs with a Retinopathy diagnose are still under investigation.
- As before – breeding from dogs is OK when the Eye Specialist has stated “probably NON inherited” in the Eye Certificate.
- Result from eye examination must not be older than 1 year at time for mating.
- Dogs diagnosed Retinopathy similar to PRA or Retinopathy ought to have a follow up according to recommendations from Eye Specialist.
Further recommendations
If agreed by owners of dogs with a previous PRA diagnose, Retinopathy diagnose and also chorioretinitis diagnose, it will be most important and valuable for our breed that when these dogs, in due time, have to be put to sleep, this can be planned so that their eyes can be preserved for at histopathological examination. They eyes will then be prepared in different liquids to enable a closer examination and that will hopefully explain why this reaction is shown in certain dog’s eyes. We hope that all of us owner’s of these dogs can manage to accept this.
We would like to express our profound gratefulness to our fantastic and cooperative Swedish experts who have given their time and effort to help us in this important matter during the past months!
De FRC wacht op de uitslag van het overleg van het oogpanel dat binnenkort plaats vindt.
