PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) is an inherited eye disease found in many breeds of dogs with varying ages of onset. There are various types of PRA but the one most commonly seen in Cockers is GPRA (General Progressive Retinal Atrophy) also known as prcd-PRA. This results in night blindness gradually leading to total blindness. In Cockers, PRA has a variable age of onset, from as early as 18 months to as late as 7 years. It is inherited as a simple Autosomal Recessive gene, meaning that a copy of the PRA gene must be inherited from both parents for the disease to occur.

All Powerscourt cockers have been tested for GRPA, CPRA & Glaucoma.  Whilst we acknowledge the limitations of the scheme we are still of the opinion that testing Cocker's for hereditary eye disease is important.  As already stated the scheme can't detect carriers but statistics show that cases of eye disease have been reduced from 20% to 1% in dogs submitted for testing, this is proof enough if proof were needed that the scheme makes a valuable health contribution to the future wellbeing of dogs.

With glaucoma the pressure inside the eye is too high. The eye is full of fluid. The fluid is constantly produced and drained from the eye and supplies nutrition for all parts of the eye. Glaucoma is caused by a decrease in the amount of fluid that flows out of the eye. This is a serious disease and without proper treatment it can result in blindness. Glaucoma is one of the most frequent causes of blindness in adult dogs & is an incredibly painful condition.  The results of Glaucoma testing can be variable depending upon the Vet who examines the dog.  Certain dogs who have failed the Gonioscopy test are not actually affected with Glaucoma.  These are borderline cases,  there is clearly some narrowing to the drainage angle within the eye, however this is not sufficient for the individual dog to be classed as affected and yet the dog will still fail the test!

The mode of inheritance for Glaucoma is not fully understood, however current findings indicate that offspring born to an affected parent, are not necessarily going to develop the disease themselves, furthermore, according to the vets who undertake this test, an affected dog mated to a clear partner usually produces puppies that are unaffected by Glaucoma.  Given the lack of clear understanding about the mode of inheritance it would appear prudent to breed only unaffected to unaffected or possibly affected to unaffected.

For more information about Glaucoma please click here!  For more information about hereditary eye disease, please click here!