SARD occurs in dogs. Clinical findings include acute loss of vision (often occurring over several days), widely dilated and poorly responsive to nonresponsive pupils, and a normal-appearing ocular fundus. Dogs affected most often are middle-aged and sometimes have liver disease and hyperadrenocorticism with clinical signs of weight gain, polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Electroretinography indicates loss of outer retinal function; complete retinal and optic nerve degeneration becomes apparent ophthalmoscopically over several weeks. There is no effective treatment.

Last full review/revision March 2012 by Kirk N. Gelatt, VMD