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Degeneration of the Image Forming Part of the Eye in Dogs

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Treatment

There is no effective cure for retinal degeneration. Since diet can cause retinal degeneration, providing your dog with a balanced (omnivorous), low-fat diet may improve or mitigate the degeneration which has already occurred. Surgery is not indicated if your dog's eyes are blind and non-painful. There are currently no medications available that can reverse retinal degeneration.

Living and Management

Dogs that have become blind as a result of suffering from retinal degeneration are generally not in pain, so they can continue to lead healthy, full lives once they have learned to compensate for the loss by sharpening their other senses.

Be sure to keep your dog under a watchful eye at all times so that it is not at risk of being injured or attacked. Your veterinarian will exam your dog's eyes for further retinal degeneration and for possible developing cataracts, glaucoma or uveitis at follow-up appointments.

Do not breed your dog if it has been diagnosed with retinal degeneration, as the disease is usually genetically transmitted. To prevent retinal degeneration caused by diet inadequacies be sure to feed your dog a balanced (omnivorous), low-fat diet.