Retinal Dysplasia in Dogs

Category: Eye
Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Breeds documented: 8
Published sources: 10

Overview

The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and retinal dysplasia means it has developed abnormally. Mild changes may involve small folds without obvious effects on sight. More severe forms can leave the retina detached and cause blindness. Most forms are inherited, although damage during development can also cause the problem.

Signs to watch for

Bumping into objects
Being less active than other puppies
Difficulty seeing, sometimes severe
No noticeable changes with mild retinal folds

Severe vision problems may be noticed in the first few weeks; mild changes may go unnoticed.

When to get help Arrange a vet visit if you notice your dog having difficulty seeing.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet uses an ophthalmoscope to look at the retina, the light-sensitive layer lining the back of the eye. The examination can reveal abnormal folds or a detached retina. Mild cases may be found during an eye examination before an owner notices a vision problem.

Breeds with documented risk

8 breeds

By breed size

1 Small
5 Medium
2 Large

Golden RetrieverLarge · Sporting Group
Standard SchnauzerMedium · Working Group
Icelandic SheepdogMedium · Herding Group
NorrbottenspetsSmall · Miscellaneous Class
Grand Basset Griffon VendéenMedium · Hound Group
Akita InuMedium · Miscellaneous Class
Lapponian HerderMedium · Foundation Stock Service
Maremma SheepdogLarge · FCI Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs)

Inheritance

This condition has more than one known form, and different breeds inherit it in different ways. The sources list the form found in each breed.

Autosomal recessive
Labrador Retriever, Northern Inuit Dog
A dog is affected only if it inherits two copies of the gene variant, one from each parent. A dog with one copy is a carrier: usually healthy, but able to pass the variant on. When two carriers are bred, on average one puppy in four is affected. A DNA test can tell clear, carrier and at-risk dogs apart.
As stated by OMIA
X-linked recessive
English Cocker Spaniel
The variant sits on the X chromosome. Males have one X, so one copy is enough to affect them. Females have two, so they are usually healthy carriers. Most affected dogs are male, and a carrier mother passes the variant to about half of her sons.
As stated by OMIA
Autosomal dominant, incomplete penetrance
Australian-Labradoodle (Cobberdog), Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever
One copy can be enough, but not every dog with the variant develops the condition, and severity can vary. A DNA result shows risk, not certainty.
As stated by Laboklin
Semi-dominant
Labrador Retriever
One copy of the variant has an effect, and two copies have a stronger one.
As stated by Jubb, Kennedy & Palmer's Pathology of Domestic Animals: Special Senses (Wilcock and Njaa 2016)

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.