Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Rod-Cone Dysplasia 3 is an inherited eye disease affecting dogs. PRA-rcd3 is an early onset disease that affects cells that transmit visual information in the retina. This disease progressively results in loss of vision.
Starting around 4 weeks of age affected dogs have abnormal thinning and degeneration of the retina. Signs of progressive retinal atrophy including changes in reflectivity and appearance of a structure behind the retina called Tapetum.
Early signs will be a loss of peripheral vision and night vision. As the disease progresses additional cells degenerate resulting in complete blindness. Most affected dogs are blind by 1 year of age. Others may retain limited sight until around 3 or 4 years of age.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis along with other dog breeds are susceptible to this disease. PRA-RCD3 is an inherited disease resulting from 2 mutated PDE6A genes, 1 from each parent. If the corgi's parents both passed on a mutated PDE6A gene then the corgi will be at risk for the disease.
Two inherited mutations of the PRA-RCD3 gene associated with Progressive Retinal Atrophy Rod-cone Dysplasia 3 from the corgi's parents will put your dog At Risk for PRA-RCD3.
There are 3 test results for PRA-RCD3:
Clear - A (Normal)
Carrier - B (Carrier)
At Risk - C (At Risk)
If your corgi is Normal or a Carrier then your dog should not be at risk to suffer from this specific genetic disease as both genetic mutations must be passed on for your dog to have PRA-RCD3.
There may be other causes of this condition in corgis. A normal result does not exclude a similar genetic disease.
Genetic testing of the corgi for a pair of mutated PDE6A genes and or an eye exam from a veterinarian. The eye exam should be done around 6 to 16 weeks of age for observable irregularities to appear.
As breeders and corgi owners it's our responsibility to genetically test for diseases that affect Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Not only to loosen the grip that Progressive Retinal Atrophy Rod-cone Dysplasia 3 has on the breed, but to improve genetic diversity.
There are multiple genetic factors to consider when breeding. We cannot simply test and breed solely on PRA-RCD3 status. We must not pigeon-hole the genetic makeup of the breed. In doing so we will do more harm than good.
Getting a corgi from a responsible breeder will improve you and your corgi's chances of never experiencing a preventable disease.
Find a breeder who tests their corgis for diseases like Progressive Retinal Atrophy Rod-cone Dysplasia 3 (PRA-RCD3), ask what other testing is being done, ask them to see the test results. You must advocate for your future puppy.
For more information on Progressive Retinal Atrophy Rod-cone Dysplasia 3 you can visit Animal Labs