Congenital Stationary Night Blindness in Dogs

Category: Eye
Breeds documented: 2
Published sources: 4

Overview

Night vision can be severely reduced even when daytime sight remains normal. In congenital stationary night blindness, the retina, the light-sensitive lining of the eye, does not pass some light signals correctly. The form documented in Beagles is present from birth and does not steadily worsen. Routine eye examinations may look normal despite the dog's difficulty finding its way in dim light.

Signs to watch for

Colliding with objects in dim light
Walking slowly in dark surroundings
Lifting the front legs unusually high when moving in dim light
Moving much more easily in daylight

The stationary form is present from birth, with night vision difficulties continuing through life.

When to get help Book a vet visit if your dog struggles to move around in dim light.

Diagnosis and tests

A standard eye examination may look normal, so retinal function testing is important. Electroretinography measures the retina's electrical responses to light and can reveal the characteristic signaling problem. Comparing movement in bright and dim conditions also helps document the visual difficulty. Research has linked the Beagle form to an LRIT3 gene change.

Breeds with documented risk

2 breeds

By breed size

1 Small
1 Large

BeagleSmall · Hound Group
BriardLarge · Herding Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.