Retinal Dysplasia in Dogs

Retinal dysplasia or RD is a congenital condition that may cause visual impairment in dogs. Some dogs with this condition will have no outward symptoms, while severe cases of retinal dysplasia can cause visual impairment and eventually, blindness. Owners should not breed dogs that carry the gene for retinal dysplasia, to avoid passing the condition to its offspring.

  1. Identification

    • The retina is the layer of tissue that covers the back of the dog's eyeball. Abnormal development of the retina causes retinal dysplasia. Dogs that have retinal dysplasia will have folds within the outside area of the retina when examined by a veterinarian. Retinal dysplasia is usually noticeable in puppies at about 6 weeks of age.

    Symptoms

    • Dogs that have a mild form of retinal dysplasia may show no symptoms of the disease. In dogs with more severe cases of RD, the symptoms may include not wanting to walk into dark areas (such as hallways), bumping into things and obvious visual impairment.

    Causes

    • In some dogs, retinal dysplasia may be an inherited condition. Other causes of RD in dogs may include prenatal infections such as the herpesvirus. The herpesvirus can cause severe inflammation in the eye and retinal dysplasia may develop later in life. Parvovirus, trauma, exposure to toxins and exposure to radiation can all cause retinal dysplasia in dogs.

    Risk Factors

    • Certain breeds of dogs may be at an increased risk of developing retinal dysplasia. These breeds include the Beagle, Bedlington terrier, Sealyham terrier, Labrador retriever, English cocker spaniel, American cocker spaniel, Yorkshire terrier, English springer spaniel, Akita, Afghan hound, Australian shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Old English sheepdog and Rottweiler. These breeds of dogs have shown increased incidence of retinal dysplasia. However, retinal dysplasia can affect any breed of dog.

    Diagnosis And Treatment

    • A veterinarian may make the diagnosis of retinal dysplasia upon examination of the dog's eyes with an ophthalmoscope. The Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) employs certified ophthalmologists that have training to recognize the symptoms of retinal dysplasia. Owners should register all breeding dogs with CERF and have them evaluated yearly for the condition. According to Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education.com, no treatment exists for retinal dysplasia in dogs. The condition causes visual impairment that may lead to blindness.