Labrador Retriever Health Problems – Eyes

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, cataracts and retinal dysplasia are the main Labrador Retriever health problems in regard to the dogs eyes.

Any Lab, but especially those to be used for breeding purposes, should have its eyes checked regularly by a vet.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

PRA is, as its full title suggests, a progressive disease which will eventually leave the Labrador blind.

The disease is a generically inherited one and poses a big problem because it will not become apparent in a Lab until the dog is 6 – 8 years old.

This means of course that the dog may have already been bred and will have already passed the disease down to its offspring.

Labradors can also suffer from another kind of PRA known as Central progressive retinal atrophy.

This condition is again inherited but the generic make up of Labradors means that the condition will not affect all those dogs that carry it.

Those Labs affected by the disease won’t show any symptoms until they are at least six years old but not all affected dogs will go blind.

Some peripheral vision will be retained for a long time and the dog’s vision will improve in low light. Although the Lab suffering from Central progressive retinal atrophy may not go totally blind it is very common for the dog to develop secondary cataracts.

Cataracts

Common Labrador Retriever health problems include cataracts. A cataract is a clouding that develops in the lens of the eye or in its envelop obstructing the passage of light.

Inherited cataracts are a big problem in Labradors but they can also be caused by injury or simply as a consequence of old age.


Retinal Dysplasia

Unlike PRA Retinal Dysplasia is a non-progressive eye disease that can be caused by viral infections, vitamin A deficiency, or genetic defects in the dog.

Retinal dysplasia can manifest itself in several different forms in a Labrador: It can be focal, multifocal or geographic. The Retinal dysplasia may also cause retinal detachment.

The focal and multifocal form of the disease appear as dots in the central retina. Geographic retinal dysplasia appears as a mixed area hyper or hyporeflectivity in the central retina.

Unfortunately retinal detachment can result from retinal dysplasia which will leave the dog blind in the affect eye. Cataracts or glaucoma can also happen at the same time as retinal dysplasia.

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