Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Basenji)

Body function:

Eyes

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Progressive retinal atrophy in the Basenji dog is an eye disease caused by a mutation in the SAG gene. The condition leads to the degeneration of rods and cones in a dog’s retina, ultimately resulting in total blindness. This condition is inherited in the autosomal recessive fashion, so both parents must be carriers of the mutation for a litter to be affected.

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List of affected breeds:

Genetic research has linked this gene and condition in the following breeds:

Basenji

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What does this mean for a dog with this trait?

There is no known cure for progressive retinal atrophy. Dogs with the condition may be assisted by adding light in low-light conditions and leashing in unfamiliar situations.

Symptoms

Symptoms of progressive retinal atrophy in the Basenji breed are typically present in adulthood, around approximately 6 years of age. Dogs begin to show signs of night blindness, like increased clumsiness in low-light situations. Over time, these symptoms will present in the daytime, too, until dogs lose all eyesight.

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