Can a dog with SARDS have any vision if the ERG is flatline?
Yes. There have been several reports from veterinary ophthalmologists and general practice veterinarians. (See Case Report 2 or Daisy’s case.) Researchers at Iowa State University report similar findings. A flatline ERG indicates a lack of retinal activity. It does not always mean the retina is irreversibly “destroyed”. One explanation for a temporary lack of ERG response involves a condition called “hyperpolarization” — a big word that means the retinal cells are over-stimulated and can’t relax — rather like having a charley-horse in your calf muscle. In the retina, hyperpolarized cells are temporarily unable to send visual information to the brain. The retina becomes hyperpolarized when excessive calcium enters the cells—a process that occurs when estrogen levels are high. This is another reason it’s important to address underlying adrenal dysfunction in SARD-dogs. When the adrenal exhaustion is treated, it may be possible to spare some cells from destruction. Later on, if retinal ce
