Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Dominant PRA)

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a leading hereditary cause of blindness in pedigree dogs. PRA shows genetic heterogeneity with several distinct forms already recognized and several more remaining to be investigated. Pups show signs of night-blindness by 6 weeks of age. By the age of 1-2 years most affected dogs are completely blind.

Mastiffs and Bullmastiffs exhibit the first, and so far, only form of canine Progressive Retinal Atrophy - PRA - that is inherited as a dominant trait. Therefore only affected or unaffected dogs can be found. The Mastiffs are affected by the late onset form of the PRA. Since vision loss might be recognised first when the dog is several years old, it is important to determine the actual status of the dog before breeding it.

Possible Test Results :

• Clear
• Single Copy Affected
• Double Copy Affected
• Hereditary Clear
• Hereditary Single Copy Affected
• Hereditary Double Copy Affected