My older boy will be 8 soon. He had a CERF exam within the last 18 months.
Lately, he's been experiencing some behavior at night. He doesn't normally come on our bed at night to sleep, but in the last few months, he has come up maybe 4 times. Each of those times, he's woken me up with some huffing and a short whimper. My husband tried to push him off the bed but he resisted and put all his weight into us. When we get up to turn the light on, he jumps down.
I'm wondering if he's experiencing vision loss at night now. He for 8 years, comes in our room and just lays on his bed on the floor. (Unless my husband isn't in bed, he doesn't jump up) Previous years, he's jumped off in those cases. But in the night, he's very quiet and stays put with us, never wandering around the house, so I don't know if he would be bumping into anything like that.
He was CERF'd clear last time, and every year since he was 1. He's also Optigen A (Normal) from when he was 2 years old. But everything is leading to PRA from what I'm reading.
Any thoughts? His last eye exam was Normal and his last vet visit was normal with routine blood work done.
there are many possibilities for night blindness. Even a concision could detach the retinas. I would take him back to a specialist and have his eyes rechecked.
Having had a PRA dog, I would say it is not that. The eyes would not have passed that long and he would be totally blind now. Night blindness by 6 yrs. Maybe a cataract ?
Thank you for those that replied. All my google searches were leading to PRA, but I couldn't believe it to be. Having a hard time knowing he's passed all his previous CERF exams... and then this occurs if they are cataracts. I'm not too familiar with them, for sudden onset, or fast developing ones...what will life be like for him with cataracts. He's still young in my books! He seems to be fine other than the odd time when he jumps up on my bed and can't get off unless the light is on , thankfully they are few and far between times.
Think there are surgerys just like for us. If not could be totally blind gradually. That is very young. And know there are different type cataracts. My older girl was blind.
It was mentioned to me earlier today...that just maybe..perhaps this is an late onset of PRA. His Optigen status was "A" at a time before they had found the gene. While that was not 100% at that time....never know. I think i'll start with a new eye exam, and go from there. He's young yes...
I believe the Optigen test was finalized more than 6 yrs ago-- I'm thinking more like 8. There are 2 forms of PRA though, so maybe it's the one we can't test for??? Also, your ACVO should take a look anyhow as it could be SARDs or something like that. If so, that is almost always linked to some other underlying issue like thyroid or such. Good luck!
I have a PRA who is 7 years old. She has a CERF annually and always passes. What I have read is, they begin with peripheral problems, then night blindness, they get funny about going out at night, a little spooky. It's a slow progression, you might not even notice, they don't even know it, that's why, supposedly they adjust so well. Don't ya just love a lab? They survive with all this crap that was placed on their plate.
And, they may live a life time without going blind.
