Nichole Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 This is new to me. Anyone have experience or suggestions on helping a dog that only has 30% of his eye sight. I know there is no cure and he will be completely blind in a few years. Thanks in advance! Quote Flying Racine 7/25/08 and Twelve Pack 12/1/2004At the Bridge- Abenacki Icebox (Kiaba) 4/21/2002-4/1/10 and Wumps Niece (Tehya) 4/21/2002-11/26/2010www.greyhoundwelfare.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindles Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Progressive Retinal Atrophy? It pops up in greyhounds from time to time but it is uncommon. I had a Duck Toller with PRA and he managed just fine. It is a gradual change and they adapt to it extremely well. Dogs don't depend on their eyesight like humans do. And, the opthalmologist told me that dogs with PRA don't go completely blind, which I found to be true with my Toller. Often they will retain a 2-3 degree field of vision, which is very small, but better than nothing at all. The best thing you can do for your dog is to keep treating him like a normal dog. Start teaching verbal commands if you haven't already. He'll be fine. Quote | Rachel | Dewty, Trigger, and Charlotte | Missing Dazzle, Echo, and Julio | Learn what your greyhound's life was like before becoming part of yours!"The only thing better than the cutest kitty in the world is any dog." -Daniel Tosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nichole Posted July 17, 2012 Author Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thank you! He responds very well to voice commands. He is a foster (a return) and the first adopter didn't even know he couldn't see. I noticed within a day. He's the sweetest boy and is enjoying life! Quote Flying Racine 7/25/08 and Twelve Pack 12/1/2004At the Bridge- Abenacki Icebox (Kiaba) 4/21/2002-4/1/10 and Wumps Niece (Tehya) 4/21/2002-11/26/2010www.greyhoundwelfare.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindles Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 You're welcome! Great to hear he's doing well. Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm happy to share what I learned about blind dogs. Quote | Rachel | Dewty, Trigger, and Charlotte | Missing Dazzle, Echo, and Julio | Learn what your greyhound's life was like before becoming part of yours!"The only thing better than the cutest kitty in the world is any dog." -Daniel Tosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysandmollie Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Nichole... I have a really good friend that has a collie with it. She does amazingly well. She knows her environment and navigates it well. When they travel they leave her at home but that is really the only thing they have worried about. She still can find a tiny piece of food in the house with her nose!! She does seem to still see shadows but the vet believes she is close to completely blind. Quote Donna and...Lucy and Chubb Rascal H 10/1/91-5/22/04 My best friend and Bounty Boon 1/23/99-6/25/07 My boy with the biggest heart Cody 7/28/99-8/1/13 My boy that always made me laugh and Dylan 5/12/04-12/29/2017 The sweetest boy ever Miss Mollie 1/1/99-1/30/15 and Pixie -10/10/2017 Lincoln -2/14/2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inugrey Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Is this the dog with DI? Just making sure the vet said it was PRA and not something that is a result of the diabetes. Either way if he can't see just don't move furniture he'll figure it out quickly. Quote Colleen with Covey (Admirals Cove) and Rally (greyhound puppy)Missing my beloved boy INU (CJ Whistlindixie) my sweetest princess SALEM (CJ Little Dixie) and my baby girl ZOE (LR's Tara) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Mork was diagnosed with PRA about 5 years ago... We were told then that he would be blind within a year, and wouldn't you know, that boy can still see a bit in bright light. We don't know when he started to go blind, but we think it was so gradual, that he has been adapting fabulously. I wish I could give you advice, but we honestly haven't done anything special for Morky. They're amazingly resilient. One thing Mork also has is dry eye, which we treat do treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nichole Posted July 18, 2012 Author Share Posted July 18, 2012 Thanks to everyone! Yes this is the dog with DI, but DI will not affect his sight. It's completely different than the blood related diabetes. He was born with it, so he has been losing his sight little by little all of his life, which makes it easier for him. He really gets around well. I don't treat him any different than the others. He does get stuck in small spaces and sometimes corners. He is the best dog! Quote Flying Racine 7/25/08 and Twelve Pack 12/1/2004At the Bridge- Abenacki Icebox (Kiaba) 4/21/2002-4/1/10 and Wumps Niece (Tehya) 4/21/2002-11/26/2010www.greyhoundwelfare.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 I have a greyhound that's totally blind from PRA...she'll be 11 soon and has been sightless for several years. In fact, she'd already lost most (or all) of her sight before we ever knew there was a problem. That's how well she adapted. She does really great...we even moved last year and she learned the new yard pretty much after being walked around the perimeter once. We don't really do anything different for her...she sniffs beds to see if there's a dog on them before laying down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nichole Posted July 18, 2012 Author Share Posted July 18, 2012 This is all good to know. The dog I'm talking about is a foster, so I want to get as much info as possible. Quote Flying Racine 7/25/08 and Twelve Pack 12/1/2004At the Bridge- Abenacki Icebox (Kiaba) 4/21/2002-4/1/10 and Wumps Niece (Tehya) 4/21/2002-11/26/2010www.greyhoundwelfare.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbullwinkel Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 My Ig has PRA. He has adjusted to his disability quite well. he is now totally blind at night and has limited daylight vision. Since he can see in some light, I have timers on lights and night lights to help him at night. He also is deaf...also new.. that presents an additional issue. when he can't see or hear us..we use his other senses to alert him to our presence...tapping the floor so he feels it, having him smell his food. New environments are stressful for him. He navigates my home well..we do not move furniture, etc. My specialist did recommend a good book that I have gotten some good ideas from: "Living with blind dogs" by Carolyn Levin RN. Dogs are amazingly adaptable ...and once I got over my sadness for him, I realized he still has a great life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgomum Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 My first galgo Isa turned out being almost totally blind, we didn't notice until she developed a tumor on the nerve to her brain that pushed her eye out. Until than the only thing that should have give us a clue was that she was scared of bridges, stairs and would trip over the edge of the sidewalks, when everything was white because of snow. At that point she already had lost sight in one eye. Still managed to catch some birds with her greyhound sister though. Quote ~SAGE~ Save A Galgo EspañolPetra Postma Photography Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nichole Posted September 21, 2012 Author Share Posted September 21, 2012 Good news! He was adopted and is now living on the beach in NC! Quote Flying Racine 7/25/08 and Twelve Pack 12/1/2004At the Bridge- Abenacki Icebox (Kiaba) 4/21/2002-4/1/10 and Wumps Niece (Tehya) 4/21/2002-11/26/2010www.greyhoundwelfare.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Momlinda Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I know this is an old topic, but what were the first things you noticed in your dogs with PRA. We just moved to Japan and are living on an Army Base. I had lots of things to do to get our greyt and cat ready to travel to Japan, mostly to do with rabies vaccinations. The vet on base noticed that our greyt's eyes were dilated and did not change even in low light. He did not know what was wrong. He did the test with cotton balls and she tracked them and flinched when he tossed one right at her face so he said she still sees. Her eyes are glassy all the time and I really don't recall when that started but I guess it has been for maybe a year. I don't know if her eyes have been dilated that long, but I do recall someone commenting on how dark her eyes were in the last year. And they were a pretty amber color before this. She does have some dark discolorations in the inner corner of her eyes, but that has been there all along. I know about a disease called Pannus and have looked at pictures in early and late stages and I don't think her eyes look like that. Being in Japan makes it hard especially when the base vet obviously doesn't know about PRA or Pannus. There is a veterinary college somewhere close by but I don't know if the language barrier will make it even more difficult to figure out what is wrong here. Is it worth going there and getting a definitive diagnosis? She does seem to be more cautious in low light which has just started in the last few months if that is telling. Thanks for any advice anyone might be able to give. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Morks eyes were and are similar to how you describe. In addition, they seem to cast a green reflection to light. I think your vet would need to dilate her eyes to look at the back of them for a definitive dx. Did he test for eye dryness as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 (edited) Bridge Angel's Phoenix's eyes were as you described. He was seen by a canine ophthalmologist for the diagnosis. I never got to track it as he developed osteosarcoma shortly afterwards and was sent to the bridge. His eyes were also light amber. Edited August 17, 2013 by robinw Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissy Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Summit has pannus. He also has iris atrophy so his eyes do not constrict well in response to light. With the pannus his corneas always looked a little cloudy. Should be able to distinguish pannus from PRA, though ophthalmology is a bit daunting and I myself am not super comfortable with it yet either. Pannus is corneal... lots of little blood vessels growing out across the surface of the eye. PRA the surface of the eye is totally clear but when you look at the retina things aren't quite right. The colour won't be normal due to hypo reflectivity and the optic nerve doesn't look right either. First sign the owner usually notices with PRA is vision trouble in low light (so called "night blindness"). Quote Kristie and the Apex Agility Greyhounds: Kili (ATChC AgMCh Lakilanni Where Eagles Fly RN IP MSCDC MTRDC ExS Bronze ExJ Bronze ) and Kenna (Lakilanni Kiss The Sky RN MADC MJDC AGDC AGEx AGExJ). Waiting at the Bridge: Retired racer Summit (Bbf Dropout) May 5, 2005-Jan 30, 2019 Like us on Facebook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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