pra

Health topics and issues with Chow Chows.

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Liz

pra

Post by Liz »

Has anyone heard of it in chows and if so does anyone now of a test to check to see if the dogs are carriers, affected or clear I and a few others would be interested in finding out as there are rumours flying about that pra is in chows.
Cindy & Kodi

Post by Cindy & Kodi »

Hi Liz

I didn't know what PRA was until I googled it (pra in chows) and found this site. I can't offer advice or experience with it, but it appears there's info on the web.

from: http://www.geocities.com/sengechow/genetics.html

Progressive retinal atrophy: (PRA): a degenerative disease of the retinal visual cells which progresses to blindness. This abnormality may be detected by electroretinogram before it is apparent clinically. In all breeds studied to date, PRA is recessively inherited.
Breeding is inadvisable where there is bilaterally symmetric retinal degeneration (considered to be PRA unless proven otherwise).


Cindy & Kodi
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carolyn dewrance
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Retinal problems

Post by carolyn dewrance »

Retinal diseases

The retina is a thin delicate membrane which lines the back of the eye, and actually is an extension of the optic nerve. There are many diseases of the retina which lead to destruction of the light receptors, or which cause the retina to become detached from the back of the eye. In these situations the eye loses its ability to interpret the light which gets into it. The visual image may be blurred, or all of the visual field may be blacked out.
The majority of retinal diseases in the dog are inherited. Occasionally retinitis may be due to trauma, infection or a vitamin deficiency. Since it is not safe to breed dogs with an inherited defect, it is important to know whether the retinal problem was an inherited defect, it is important to know whether the retinal problem was inherited or acquired. This is best determined by referring the dog to a center in which a highly trained veterinary specialist is available.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) This condition was first discovered in the Irish Setter but now is recognized in a great many other breeds. It is characterized by degeneration of the cells of the retina, leading eventually to loss of sight.
It is a disease of late onset (5 to 7 years); it begins with loss of night vision. At this point the dog hesitates to go out at night. He won’t jump on or off furniture in a darkened room. Later he will go up, but not down stairs other behavioral changes occur. As the name implies, the degenerative changes are progressive, but often quite gradual.
Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy. (CPRA) This is a condition closely related to PRA. It affects the pigment cells at the center of the retina. Because it is the central part of the retina (where the dog sees best) that is destroyed initially, the dog with CPRA is unable to see stationary objects well, He is able to see moving objects because motion is seen at the periphery of the retina.

Do hope you find some answers for this problem
Carolyn Dewrance :twisted:
Carolyn Dewrance
4 Fernwood Close
Richwood
Cape Town 7441

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