Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Day blindness causing dogs to bump into things in daylight
By Hurn, Simon D et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2003·The University of Melbourne, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Day-blindness in three dogs: clinical and electroretinographic findings.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs, a 6-month-old Rhodesian ridgeback-cross, a 6-year-old Chihuahua, and a 12-month-old Australian cattle dog, were brought in because they were colliding with obstacles during the day. While their eyes appeared normal in exams and they could navigate well in dim light, they suddenly became blind in bright conditions. Tests showed that their retinas weren't responding to light, indicating a problem with their vision in daylight. This condition, known as day-blindness, can affect various dog breeds, not just those previously reported.
People also search for: dog day blindness symptoms · Rhodesian ridgeback vision problems · Chihuahua sudden blindness treatment
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 on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12753613/