Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) in dogs is an acute disorder of unknown cause, characterized by sudden vision loss in ophthalmoscopically normal eyes. Blindness is usually permanent. Persistence of simultaneous clinical signs (eg, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight gain) may represent more difficult management issues than blindness. This survey study evaluated long-term outcomes in dogs (n = 100) with SARDS using data from owner questionnaires.
Mean age at diagnosis was 8.2 ± 2.2 years (range, 4–16 years). Younger age at diagnosis was significantly associated with higher owner-perceived partial vision and quality of life (QOL). Most dogs had one or more concurrent systemic signs, and while most persisted, only polyphagia increased in severity over time. Visual improvement was not detected in any of the 22 dogs in which medical treatment was attempted.
Owners reported that dogs were more cautious, played less, slept more, and had more signs of depression following SARDS diagnosis. However, 37% of owners felt their relationship with their dog improved after diagnosis, and 76% ranked QOL as moderate to excellent. Only about half of owners made special provisions for their dogs (eg, baby gates, kennels, ramps, carpeted pathways, auditory and verbal cues).
Only 10 dogs were euthanized because of SARDS. Most owners (95%) said they would discourage euthanasia, and because euthanasia may be an indirect assessment of QOL, this suggests that dogs with SARDS likely maintain good QOL.
