Inherited disease that causes degeneration of light sensitive cells
PRA was not what l expected to hear when l took my Shar Pei into the eye doctor. Maybe some eye lash rubbing or bad allergies. When he says your dog will go blind and there is nothing we can do. Its like a kick in the gut. I just wanted to leave and cry for him . They gave him a year . Slowly it worsen to about a year. At least in that time l could teach him basic help . Like up when stepping up and down , down/up hill, left, right, backwards, straight, over a brigde, over, he even learn the bubbly pavement and crossing bleep for sitting and crossing the road. It helped me and him. I read, they are a dog first and blind second, so l tried to keep his life the same, I eventually couldnt let him off lead because he would panic and get confused. Now if its safe i let him off ask him to sit and walk away and call his name. He likes that alot.Soon l hire a field for him to run in . l took him all the places l use to. It was worse at night to start just like people, you get night blindness first. I brought night lights indoors you plug in. They were a big help and a runners light for his harness at night that also so a huge help. They say they adapt use their smell and other senses which he did, but for a while he was so sad depressed. I mean wouldnt you be. Very brave though still is. It was a slow progess. One day he would wake up and run around blind and scared running into things and then his eye sight would come back, of course eventually it didnt. Now l have noticed strong smells or ear infections to throw him off. He starts bumping in to things he doesnt normally and then there are times even l forget he is acctualy blind. He still looks at me with very much expression even looks me in the eyes to tell me something.I dont know how he does that. I take him new places and wish he could see it, but he knows. People, horses, other dogs even cats he is great with so chilled, but some noises scare him now. The wind in the trees and the rain, he hates water and the noise of it scares him.
Anyway that's abit about having a dog with PRA and all dogs are different. Just give them time, love and talk to them more. Mine also like some independence, so helping down the stairs or over a bridge or find his way when he is confused dosent help he needs to do it himself and he does.
PRA is an inherited disease they are born with. People assume l have a Shar Pei and it's a breed thing for him it isnt, for many dogs it isnt. The English Shepherd dogs it is. The team led by the University of Cambridge identifed it as a genetic mutation. They have developed a DNA test to see if dogs carry the disease. The disease needs 2 carriers both parents to have it. Some dogs can carry it and not go blind or they are breed before they go blind making it hard to stop by breeding. Now the test can tell and the breeder can take that dog out of the breeding group. No English Shepherd ever has to have this disease again. Lets hope one day all dogs are tested. PRA . Dogs are born with it but show no signs till the age 4 or 5.
There is a human disease called retinitis pigmentosa which causes blindness. Research says the work with dogs could shed light on the human version and potentially identify targets for gene therapy in the future.
reseach and story from sciencedaily.com
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