PRA
Progressive Retinal Atrophy

PRA is a genetic disease that causes blindness and can be screened for by a simple DNA analysis.  The disease can present itself in different ways (retinal dysplasia or retinal degeneration) and is inherited differently in different breeds.  

There is no treatment for PRA and the result is blindness.  This disease usually shows up in older dogs 7+ years of age.  It should be tested for in all breeding dogs in order to determine whether or not a dog is affected (carries 2 copies of the gene) or carriers (carries 1 copy of the gene) or are not affected (carries no copy of the gene).  For the health of the next generation it is important that a breeder fully understand how to avoid breeding dogs that will result in puppies that are affected by PRA that will eventually result in the dog's reduced quality of life in it's later years.

To learn more about PRA visit this link.


It is important never to breed two carriers of PRA together because there is a percentage of the puppies that will be affected by the disease.  A dog who is simply a carrier is not at risk for developing the disease.