Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome in Dogs

Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) occurs in dogs, with Dachshunds, Miniature Schnauzers, Pugs, and Brittany Spaniels reported to be more commonly affected.

Dogs affected most often are middle-aged to older, with spayed females overrepresented, often with clinical signs that include weight gain, lethargy, polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia.

Clinical findings include acute loss of vision (often occurring throughout several days), widely dilated and poorly responsive to nonresponsive pupils, and a relatively normal-appearing fundus. Within a few months, clinical signs of retinal degeneration can be observed on fundic examination, including tapetal hyperreflectivity and retinal vascular attenuation.

Color pupillometry can help with the diagnosis, because the red pupillary light reflex is absent whereas a blue pupillary light reflex remains. Electroretinography by an ophthalmologist is required for a definitive diagnosis; a flat-line electroretinogram is observed with SARDS. By contrast, a normal electroretinogram is indicative of optic pathway disease, and further testing with a neurologist is warranted.

To date, no effective treatment has been reported.