Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-rcd3) in Chinese Crested Dogs
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a group of inherited eye diseases that cause the light-sensing cells of the retina (photoreceptors) to gradually degenerate, leading to progressive, irreversible blindness. The Chinese Crested is affected by a specific form known as rcd3 (rod-cone dysplasia type 3).
What causes PRA-rcd3?
PRA-rcd3 is caused by a mutation in the PDE6B gene and follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern: a dog must inherit one copy of the mutation from each parent to be affected. Carriers, with only one copy, show no symptoms but can pass the mutation to their offspring.
Important health information
Early signs of PRA typically include reduced night vision (nyctalopia), which owners often first notice as reluctance to move around in dim light. There is currently no cure — management focuses on adapting the home environment as vision declines.
How is it diagnosed?
Because symptoms progress gradually over months to years, PRA-rcd3 is best identified before symptoms appear via a genetic DNA test, rather than waiting for a clinical diagnosis. Annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are also recommended for breeding dogs.
What does this mean for breeding?
Because rcd3 is recessive, two clear-tested parents can never produce an affected puppy, regardless of what their own ancestry contains. This makes DNA testing — not pedigree research alone — the reliable way to prevent the disease in future litters.
Read more
See also primary lens luxation (PLL), another inherited eye condition in the breed, and the full health overview.