The differential diagnosis of retinal degeneration in the dog and cat

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe theme of this paper is the differential diagnosis between the hereditary and progressive retinal atrophies and the non‐hereditary, postinflammatory retinal degenerations. Descriptions include the ophthalmoscopic features of bilateral symmetry1 and progression in both generalized and central forms of progressive retinal atrophy and the asymmetrical, sometimes non‐progressive, rocal or widespread nature of the other lesions. Brief mention is also made of the hereditary and congenital non‐progressive retinopathies. The breed and age incidence are other contributory factors in differential diagnosis, together with the behavioural signs of the type of defective vision. Other more recent and sophisticated methods of investigation of cases of retinal degeneration by electroretinography, fluorescein angiography and retinal biopsy are briefly described. In the cat, generalized progressive retinopathy, focal and stationary retinal degeneration, taurine deficiency and hereditary progressive retinal atrophy in the Abyssinian breed are discussed.