PRA, in a young dog? - Page 1

So, I had been wandering about Auggie's eye sight since I first got him. Basically at around 12 and 1/2 weeks when I got him, we were downstairs, at night, dim light, but enough I could see, and the other dogs could see just fine as they should be able to.  Well, then, I tossed a ball, in Auggie's vision...basically where he should be able to see it, and it didn't go fast either.  Well, Auggie went in the complete opposite direction looking for it.  Well, I tried to give him the benefit of a doubt, he's a puppy so.....   But something I have also noticed that I do not see on any of my other dogs....  Let's say my dogs are outside and I'm inside.  They'll be playing in the yard, and then they come up to the door.  The other dog's eyes do not have a "glowy" effect, but Auggie's do.  They have been like that for some time now, months at least, but I never paid attention to that itself when I first got him so I don't know if they were like that then. He turns 1 in January.  I'm going to be making an appointment for him soon (after the holidays) to have his eyes checked out, but if he has PRA, and has had it from such a young age.....  How long will he even have vision?  There have been a number of times (in dim light) where he did not recognize me at first, and I've noticed some rather weird phobias as well that no dog with good vision should have.  We've socialized properly, and he does fine at places in the day time.  But night time the odd things start to show.  I've also read this is a genetic trait? I didn't think about something like PRA (didn't even know what it was) until yesterday when I was watching "Pit Bulls and Parolees" on tv, and they found out the Pit Bull had it when they did an exam on the dog.  Has anyone else had a dog with this before? 

PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) comes in both early onset and late onset.  My breed ACDs has the late onset variety that usually manifests itself when the dog is older (5 years give or take) although I do know of one dog that showed symptoms at 2.5 years of age.  The speed in which the dog becomes completely blind varies.  The dog that was diagnosed at 2.5 progressed very slowly and did not become completely blind till after 10.  I actually put a CD on the dog at the age of 9 so his sight was still pretty decent.

The mode of inheritance is simple and we luckily have a DNA test to identify whether a dog is clear, carrier, or affected.  A good website for info is Optigen:  http://www.optigen.com/.  Some dogs handle PRA easily, others struggle.  I have been lucky to only have clears and carriers so cannot speak directly with regards to affected dogs but can put you in touch with those that do have experience if you like.

Here is another site:  http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/Diseases/ocular%20disorders/Progressive%20Retinal%20Atrophy.htm

With all this said, there are many eye disorders out there that could be causing the signs you are seeing.  You are on the right path to get your dog CERF'd by an AVCO who can identify any eye disorders your dog might have.  Good luck and I hope it turns out to be something correctable.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is far more common in some other
breeds than GSDs (eg Collies) - but that isn't to say its impossible.

However, before you get too concerned,  I will say that most GSDs
i have known at close enough quarters to observe this sort of detail
DO seem to be a bit "short sighted"  (dogs of course do not rely on
vision in quite the same extent that humans do) and if things thrown
for them arc slowly, they don't pick up on the movement to get
the direction 'properly'.  It is possible your Huskies have better vision
(for snowy wastes ?) and therefore the difference is noticeable with
Auggie ?

Also the 'tapetum', the layer of the eye that gives the green reflection
after dark, sounds pretty normal for a GSD, from the description you
give.

Having said that, it is important not to hang about with anything to do
with eyes - your vet should be able to either diagnose PRA or refer
you to a specialist who can.  So long as there isn't irritation or discharge
the chances are he will be fine.

Hundmutter this isn't after (the eye glow thing on Auggie) dark. This is broad daylight, when he comes to the door and I see his...and their eyes.....He has it, they don't. It's this glowy effect.  I mentioned in my post about how I know it's normal at night, but I'm talking about day time as far as that part of it goes.  As for your question about the Sibes....I don't know.  PRA apparently is fairly common in the breeds like Sibes, but it should not be where he takes a couple of seconds to recognize me in dim light. They instantly know it's me, he takes a second.

You can't tell if a dog has PRA by looking in his eyes, Guy. It takes a special type of equipment and you will need to take him to an opthalmologist. What you are describing sounds to me more like juvenile cataracts that are easier to detect and can be seen with with the naked eye as the disease progresses.  Neither are common in the GS as fas ar I know. You might want to contact a local kennel club to see if they have any eye clinics coming up.They are often held in conjunction with AKC breed shows.

I only know of a friend's GSD who had PRA quite late in life and was blind for the last 5 years of her life. Yes it is genetic and there is a simple test for it as Psycht says.

It could be a number of different things. Good luck and I hope that it turns out OK, fingers crossed for you and Auggie. Please do let us know how you get on at the vets.

No experience with this but wanted to add that I'm interested to hear what your vet/specialist has to say. Hope it's nothing serious.

I'll let you guys know as soon as we have the appointment, but it won't be until after the holidays/New years.