How frequent is PRA in American Eskimo Dogs?
There is no definitive estimate of the frequency of PRA in American Eskimo Dogs, although CERF data give some indication of the frequency relative to other breeds. CERF data from 1991-1999 were compiled by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) Genetics Committee to give frequencies of reported eye disease diagnoses for each breed. Among American Eskimo Dogs with CERF exams, almost 9% have retinal atrophy – either generalized or suspicious. For comparison, the Portuguese Water Dog is listed at 2.3 % with retinal atrophy and OptiGen finds 3.8% of tested dogs are genetically affected and 35% are genetically carrier. At the higher end, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is listed at 6.9% with retinal atrophy and OptiGen finds 7.0% of tested dogs are genetically affected and 45% are genetically carrier. There is certainly bias in both the CERF and OptiGen estimates due to voluntary testing, non-random sampling, and extent to which the breed is CERF examined. All the
