Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (Italian Greyhound Type)

General Information: Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (Italian Greyhound Type) is an inherited disorder in dogs that leads to the degeneration of the retina, resulting in progressive vision loss and eventual blindness. Dogs with this condition have a mutation in the gene responsible for normal retinal function. The disease typically begins with night blindness, as the rod cells of the retina are affected first, followed by a gradual loss of daytime vision as the cone cells deteriorate. Symptoms can start to appear in young dogs and progressively worsen over time. There is currently no cure for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), but early diagnosis and management, including providing a safe environment and regular veterinary check-ups, can help improve the quality of life for affected dogs.

How to Read Your Dog's Test Results for this Genetic Variant:

Two Variants Detected: Dog Likely Affected

One Variant Detected: Dog Likely Carrier

No Variants Detected: No Effect

Gene / Testing Information: Genetic testing for Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (Italian Greyhound Type) can identify carriers of the gene mutation responsible for this condition. This disorder is inherited in an Autosomal Recessive manner, meaning that a dog must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, to be affected. Dogs with only one copy of the mutation (carriers) typically do not show symptoms but can pass the mutated gene to their offspring. When two carrier dogs are bred, each puppy has a 25% chance of being affected by the disease, a 50% chance of being a carrier, and a 25% chance of being completely clear of the mutation. Reliable genetic testing is essential for responsible breeding practices to prevent the spread of this condition, and breeding two carriers together is not recommended to avoid producing affected puppies. Dogs that test negative for the mutation do not carry the gene and have no increased risk of producing affected offspring.