Is PRA a genetic disorder

[dkirkuk]

Can anyone tell me if PRA is a genetic disorder in cockers? I'm certain that I read that FN is genetic, but I'm not so sure about retinal atrophy.

Reason for asking is that I was contemplating whether or not to get Daisy tested soon. She is just 8 months. It is my intention to breed a litter or two in a few years, but I wondered if I should get her tested now. If it turned out that she was a carrier then I would obviously change my plans and would just get her spayed.
I know that both her mum and dad are tested clear. So if it is genetic then Daisy should be fine and I would just wait and get her tested when she is older.

However I think her breeders were telling me that the dogs get their eyes tested annually and they describe a physiological test rather than a genetic one. And I also think I remember reading somewhere that PRA can develop when a dog is a bit older and that testing at a young age is no guarantee. Which all makes me think that it is a physiological disorder and not a genetic one.
Does anyone know?
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[ladylola]

I think pra is a genetic disorder. Some one who knows for certain and about the tests carried out will be along soon.

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

there is a genetic test by a company called optigen that tests for PRA.
If your dogs sire and dam had the genetic optigen test and both tested clear than your dog will be clear.
If they have had the kc bva eye tests (which is a physical test by a experienced vet) that only means they were clear the day they were tested, it cant tell if their going to develope eye problems or if they are carriers.
For a dog to develope PRA both parents need to be carriers/ affected
If one parent is clear and the other a carrier the pups will never be affected by PRA but would be carriers or clear.
A dog thats a carrier can still be bred from but the other parent will need to be tested clear and the pups endorsed until they are tested for their status by their new owners if they wish to bred.
hope that helps 

[Jane S]

Yes GPRA (or prcd_PRA) is a genetic condition in Cockers, inherited by a simple recessive gene carried by both parents. The Optigen DNA test identifies whether a dog is clear, carrier or affected but for this particular condition only. Clinical eye tests are still needed annually for other eye conditions that might crop up.

If both your Cocker's parents are Optigen tested clear for prcd_PRA, then your bitch is genetically clear and this will be recorded on her KC registration certificate (as long as breeders of sire and dam have sent their results to the KC). However she should still be clinically eye tested when appropriate (to include the gonioscopy test for pre-disposition to Glaucoma). If her parents have only been clinically eye tested, that just means they were clinically clear at the time they were tested only - they could still be carriers or even affected so you should DNA test your bitch if you intend breeding (this can be done at any age)

[dkirkuk]

Thanks for the clearing this up. I'll need to check if mum and dad have the optigen OK or clinical test. Sounds like it would do no harm to get the Optigen test done sooner rather than later anyway is it's a DNA test.

[Tasha]

I'd certainly still get it done its still a relatively new test so having progeny tested is a good way to test the theory.  Other eye conditions can also rule out breeding.