As the owner of a dog, you may want to become aware of some of the more common conditions that dogs may suffer from. As long as you are aware of the signs or symptoms of some of the most common disorders, you should be able to catch your dog’s condition before it becomes too serious.

One such condition that is fairly common in dogs is known as PRA Disease. PRA Disease, or Progressive Retinal Atrophy, is actually categorized as an inherited disease that affects the retina of the eyes. As the retina acts of the “film in the camera”, PRA Disease can cause dogs to experience serious difficulties in vision, which will ultimately lead to blindness. In fact, you can even think of dogs that suffer from Pra disease as being genetically programmed to experience blindness at some point in their lives. However, as a dog owner, you may be happy to know that, while PRA Disease may certainly cause your dog to go blind, it is known to be a non-painful disease.

You may be asking yourself, “How do I know if my dog is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of PRA Disease?” By becoming educated on the signs and symptoms of PRA Disease, you should be able to identify the need for your dog to immediately see a veterinary specialist in area. Whether you search the Internet for common signs and symptoms or whether you ask your dog’s veterinarian at his or her next appointment, the consensus should be the same: dilated pupils and a shininess or glow from the eyes are one of the first signs of PRA Disease. At this point, it is believed that dogs are at least night blind, with some dogs even believed to be completely blind. If you notice these signs and symptoms in your dog, you should immediately take your pet to a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist for a complete examination. Throughout this appointment, it will be able to be determined as to whether or not your dog is, in fact, suffering from PRA Disease.