Pet Forum

Dear Readers,

Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDs) and Immune Mediated Retinitis (IMR) are two conditions that can cause the onset of sudden blindness in dogs. However, particularly with IMR, the health concerns are more reaching than blindness.

If your dog exhibits any of these behavioral or clinical symptoms, please visit http://www.SARDSAwareness.org and read up on SARDs/IMR so that you can catch this condition before vision is lost.

• Reluctance to jump on/off platforms, such as beds and sofas, in dim light conditions.
• Reluctance to walk down the stairs in dim light conditions.
• Reluctance to chase a ball if it is closer than 10 feet, but will chase it if thrown further away.
• Abnormally dilated pupils for months, or years, before the “sudden” onset of blindness.
• Polyphagia (”excessive” eating), often causing weight gain.
• Polydypsia (”excessive” drinking)
• Polyuria (”excessive” urinating)
• Hypersalivation
• Tearing eyes
• Seasonal skin allergies
• Food allergies
• Vaccination allergies
• History of previous, or current, tumors (neoplasia), which is applicable to IMR, not SARDs.

Thank you for your time.

Jay
jay@sardsawareness.org