Robin Au-Yeung

Royal Veterinary College, Potters Bar, United Kingdom

Objectives

To investigate factors associated with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) in dogs presented to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (QMHA).

Methods

Medical records from QMHA Ophthalmology Services (QMHA-OS) from November 2002 to May 2024 recorded 128 diagnosed cases, representing 1.4% of cases at the QMHA-OS.

Results

Mean age of SARDS-affected dogs was 8.17 years (range: 4-13 years), with dogs aged 5-10 significantly overrepresented and dogs aged <1 and 1-5 significantly underrepresented. Cross-breeds, Dachshunds, Schnauzers, and Pugs were most commonly affected breeds. Spayed bitches were most frequent but were not statistically significant. The most frequent body weight groups were 10-20 kg and <10 kg. The median body weight was 11.13 kg (range: 4-53.8 kg). The most frequent BCS recorded was 6/9 and 7/9, with the least frequent being 4/9. Clinical signs of HAC developing within a year of SARDS diagnosis were observed in 20/128 dogs (15.6%). The most frequent clinical signs of HAC were polyphagia and PU/PD, followed by lethargy and weight gain. The overall seasonal distribution was not insignificant.

Statement: Impact/ Clinical Significance

As most studies on SARDS have been conducted in North America, this study provides insight into associations between certain factors and SARDS in a European population. As there are some factors with varied results from previous studies, such as sex and clinical signs of HAC, future studies will help ascertain the relevance of certain factors and their relation as a predisposition to SARDS. Previous studies have not analysed the BCS of dogs which may be an improved measure for identifying obesity as a predisposition for SARDS, as weight groups would potentially identify obese dogs and larger breeds in the same group.