Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Day-blindness in three dogs: clinical and electroretinographic findings.
- Journal:
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Year:
- 2003
- Authors:
- Hurn, Simon D et al.
- Affiliation:
- The University of Melbourne · Australia
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs—a 6-month-old Rhodesian ridgeback mix, a 6-year-old Chihuahua, and a 12-month-old Australian cattle dog—were brought in because they kept bumping into things when outside in the daytime. Their eye exams looked normal, and they could navigate obstacle courses well in low light. However, in bright light, they suddenly lost their vision and crashed into obstacles. Tests showed that their retinas weren't responding to bright blue light, indicating a problem with how they see colors and bright light. This case shows that severe day-blindness can occur in different dog breeds, not just those previously reported.
Abstract
A 6-month-old Rhodesian ridgeback-cross, a 6-year-old Chihuahua and a 12-month-old Australian cattle dog were presented to the authors with a history of colliding with obstacles in daylight. Ophthalmic examination was normal and all three dogs successfully negotiated obstacle courses in dim light. In daylight the dogs became suddenly blind and repeatedly collided with obstacles. Elecroretinography (ERG) revealed no retinal activity to high frequency (30 Hz), bright intensity blue light retinal stimulation by any dog, confirming cone dysfunction. Achromatopsia has previously been recorded in Alaskan malamutes and miniature poodles. This clinical case series illustrates the characteristic behavioral presentation and the electroretinographic findings of severe day-blindness and demonstrates that this condition may exist in other breeds of dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12753613/