Prcd-PRA - Progressive Rod Cone Degeneration - Progressive Retinal Atrophy
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This is a genetic disorder which causes the cells in the retina to degenerate and then die. Dogs with this condition will suffer issues with night vision at first and then will eventually become completely blind. The disease tends to manifest itself in adolescence and can be difficult to diagnose. There is no treatment available for this condition
Prcd-PRA is inherited as a recessive trait which means that the gene must be inherited from both parents in order for the disease to manifest itself. A carrier as opposed to a sufferer will have one diseased gene and one normal gene. The disease could be avoided in the future if all dogs were tested before breeding
PLA (Gonioscopy) Eye Testing - Glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by pressure in the eye resulting from a build-up of fluid which is unable to drain away. The condition destroys the eye’s structures and can lead to the eye enlarging. Primary glaucoma is an inherited condition which affects several breeds of dog and often leads to complete blindness. Secondary glaucoma is brought on by other diseases of the eye. Treatment and prognosis varies between the two types of glaucoma and so it is important to ascertain which of the two a dog is suffering from
This is a common and inherited orthopaedic condition. It basically amounts to abnormal development of the hip joint and leads to deformity and excessive wear. One or both hips may be affected and the condition is painful. The symptoms of HD are changes in gait, obvious lameness, stiffness after rest and exercise intolerance. HD occurs due to both hereditary and environmental factors including the over exercising of puppies. Breeding dogs should be radiographed to assess the condition of their hips and a database is being assembled which records the hip conditions of breeding dogs’ offsprin
Familial Nephropathy (FN) is a recessively inherited renal disease suffered by the English Cocker. The onset of renal failure due to FN typically occurs between six and 24 months of age in dogs. Symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea. FN is suffered by dogs with a genetic defect that affects the collagen which holds the renal structure together. The condition causes a gradual and progressive degeneration of the renal function and so an affected dog may not appear ill until the latter stages of the disease
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AON is an inherited neurological disorder characterised by a weakness in the hind limbs, eventually leading to weakness in the front limbs. Neurological signs of this condition seem to progress gradually over three to four years.
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AMS - Acral Mutilation Syndrome
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AMS is the self-mutilation of limb extremities linked with located insensitivity to pain
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