For the past two years it has been known that we have Late onset Post Retinal Atrophy.
What this means to the pet owner: L.O.P.R.A means that if the dog is affected it may go blind anytime after the age of 7. I would stress May.
There are many dogs out there who are affected and are still alive at 12 with no signs of the condition.
If the dog is a carrier, it is just that. It carries the condition, but will not be affected by it, but that carrier must be bred to a Clear to prevent there being a possibility of puppies being affected. The puppies will then be tested and only Clear bred from.
A bitch that is Clear if put to a Clear dog will only produce Clear puppies.
If a dog or bitch is affected and is put to a clear dog, then there will be some puppies that are affected, some carriers.
Just to muddy the waters a little, we have also found that there is PRA also in our breed. To this end we have our dogs eye tested every three years or so. I must stress that the numbers affected in either condition is not great.
I had my dogs DNA tested and Glenarden Morning Star is Clear, G. Morning Oak is a Carrier and so is G. Queen of Oaks.
G. Majestic Oak for Oakenweald (brother to Megan and Tess) is Clear.
Firefrost Heart of Oak for Oakenweald is a Carrier.
I will say that I am happy with the results as none will be affected and to my knowledge none of the dogs I have bred have gone blind.
