Fast facts on SARDS from Dr. Buzby
- Dogs with SARDS experience sudden and irreversible blindness because the photoreceptors (i.e. cells in the eye that help convert light into an image) stop working.
- In addition to rapidly becoming blind, dogs with SARDS may also drink more water, urinate more often, gain weight, or lose their sense of smell.
- Unfortunately, there is no treatment for SARDS.
- Most dogs with SARDS adjust well to being blind and have a good quality of life.
When Madeline, an 8-year-old overweight spayed female Dachshund, came in for an appointment, her mom was understandably distressed. Seemingly overnight, Madeline had started bumping into furniture and acting like she couldn’t see. Plus, she was drinking a ton of water, urinating frequently, and acting hungry all the time.
As I examined Madeline and listened to her mom talk, one condition was in the forefront of my mind—SARDS or sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome. All the exam findings plus her symptoms, breed, and age made her a textbook case.
What is SARDS in dogs?
Sudden acquire retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) is a condition that causes complete blindness over a matter of days to weeks. The exact cause is unknown, although researchers speculate it could be a neuroendocrine (hormone-related) or autoimmune disease. But what we do know is that it occurs when all the photoreceptors in the eye suddenly stop working.
Normally, the photoreceptors (e.g. rods and cones) in the retina have the very important job of taking the light that enters the eyes and turning it into nerve signals. Then the signals travel up the optic nerves to the brain, where the brain perceives the image the dog is seeing.
But when the photoreceptors malfunction in SARDS, they aren’t generating nerve signals. Therefore, the brain isn’t getting any information about the image. Practically speaking, this means the dog cannot see.
What are the symptoms of SARDS in dogs?
Unsurprisingly then, the most common clinical sign associated with SARDS is rapid loss of vision that is not painful. These pups are completely blind and will suddenly start bumping into objects. SARDS patients will avoid going down flights of stairs or may be reluctant to move. And some can appear disoriented or more anxious than usual.
However, up to 85% of dogs with SARDS can also have symptoms that resemble those of a different illness—Cushing’s disease in dogs (i.e. an excess of the steroid hormone cortisol). SARDS and Cushing’s disease can share these symptoms:
- Lethargy in dogs
- Weight gain
- Increased urination (i.e. polyuria)
- Increased thirst in dogs (i.e. polydipsia)
- Increased appetite (i.e. polyphagia)
- Enlarged liver (i.e. hepatomegaly)
Plus, a 2023 article in Veterinary Ophthalmology demonstrated that dogs with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome have a significantly decreased sense of smell compared to sighted dogs and dogs who were blind from causes other than SARDS.
How is SARDS diagnosed?
Whether you only notice acute blindness or your dog is showing some of the other symptoms too, a vet visit is in order. During the appointment, the vet will carefully examine your dog from nose to tail, paying special attention to your dog’s eyes.
Eye examination
Typically, dogs with SARDS have dilated pupils that constrict slowly or incompletely or do not constrict at all in response to light. Initially, the fundus (i.e. inside surface of the back of the eye) looks normal, but eventually the vet may see evidence of retinal degeneration.
Gathering a history
In addition to examining your dog, the vet will also ask questions about your dog’s history. For example, a toxic plant called the Arabian starflower (Ornithogalum arabicum) can cause irreversible blindness in dogs. So your vet may want to know if your dog could have come in contact with it recently.
Also, the vet may ask questions about the timeframe in which your dog became blind. This information can help distinguish conditions like SARDS that cause rapid-onset blindness from those like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), where the dog becomes blind more gradually and loses night vision first.
Considering the dog’s breed, age, and sex
Most likely, your vet will also take your dog’s breed, age, and sex into consideration when deciding how likely it is your dog has SARDS.
The majority of SARDS patients are middle-aged to older female dogs, particularly those who are spayed and/or moderately overweight. However, male dogs can also develop SARDS.
While any breed or mixed breed can be affected, SARDS occurs more commonly in the following dog breeds:
- Beagle
- Bichon Frise
- Brittany Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel
- Dachshund
- Maltese
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Pomeranian
- Pug
- Shih Tzu
ERG testing
If the vet suspects SARDS based on your dog’s history, exam findings, symptoms, breed, and age, the next step will be to send your dog to a veterinary specialist near you, namely a veterinary ophthalmologist, for confirmatory testing. These eye specialists can perform a test called an electroretinogram (ERG).
ERG testing uses small probes on the skin to measure electrical signals from the retina. To perform the test, the dog sits in a dark room for a period of time. Then the vet shines a bright light into the eyes and looks at the electrical activity of the retina.
If it is a flat line (i.e. no activity), the diagnosis is SARDS. But if the ERG is normal, the dog may have optic neuritis, another condition that can cause sudden blindness.
Testing for Cushing’s disease
Most dogs with SARDS don’t actually have Cushing’s disease, just symptoms that look like Cushing’s. But sometimes the vet will still suggest testing the dog for Cushing’s disease. This usually involves either a low-dose dexamethasone test or an ACTH stimulation test.
What is the treatment for SARDS in dogs?
If your dog does get diagnosed with SARDS, treatment is primarily focused on helping your dog adjust to being blind. Unfortunately, as of now there is no way to reverse the effects of SARDS or even slow down its progression. Some veterinarians have tried using immunosuppressants like mycophenolate or prednisone for dogs. But these treatments didn’t prove to be effective in clinical trials.
Despite the lack of a treatment, the good news for these pups is that other clinical signs associated with SARDS tend to resolve spontaneously after several months. So, the main thing you need to do is help your newly blind dog adapt.
The following tips for living with a blind dog can be helpful:
- Avoid rearranging furniture. Dogs have a “map” of their home layout in their minds, so moving the furniture may cause your dog to bump into more things.
- Stick to your dog’s daily routine as much as possible so he or she knows what to expect.
- Use baby gates to block off access to dangerous areas (e.g. flights of stairs).
- Keep your dog in a fenced-in yard or on a leash so he or she can’t wander into danger.
- Fill in holes or pick up sharp sticks (or other dangerous things) in the yard.
- Keep dogs away from bodies of water (e.g. swimming pools, ponds, and streams).
- Use a harness with a “halo” in front to help prevent your dog from running into objects.
- Apply Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips® dog nail grips to give your dog better traction and tactile sensation, which can increase his or her confidence when walking.
Are there natural treatments for SARDS?
Even though there are online sources claiming that specific foods and supplements will prevent or treat SARDS, there are no proven natural treatments.
Since dogs with SARDS tend to be overweight, it can be a good idea to help your dog lose weight for his or her overall health. However, putting your dog on a diet isn’t going to specifically treat his or her SARDS.
What is the prognosis for dogs with SARDS?
The good news is that despite sudden and irreversible vision loss, dogs with SARDS tend to have a good prognosis and an excellent quality of life. Barring any other illnesses, dogs with SARDS are likely to have a normal life expectancy.
You don’t have to take my word for it, though. A 2013 study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association looked at the outcomes for 100 dogs with SARDS. The survey that was part of the study indicated that 37% of dog parents felt they had an improved relationship with their dog after the SARDS diagnosis. And 95% of dog parents said they would discourage euthanasia after a SARDS diagnosis.
Thankfully, compared to more common eye issues like nuclear sclerosis in dogs or cataracts in dogs, SARDS in dogs is somewhat rare. In one study of all dog patients seen by the veterinary ophthalmology department at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from 1991 to 2014, only 1.3% of them (151 dogs) presented with SARDS.
Don’t lose hope
I know that having your beloved dog suddenly become blind can be quite distressing for you and your dog. But I want to reiterate again that blind dogs can still have a wonderful quality of life long-term. It may take some time and effort from both of you, but your dog can learn to confidently navigate his or her world again.
So if your dog is diagnosed with SARDS, don’t lose hope! Work with your veterinarian and read books and blogs about living with a blind dog. And pay close attention to your dog’s behavior and reactions as you figure out how best to help him or her. It may take weeks or months. But in many cases, your dog can adjust well to being blind and continue to have a wonderful life.
Such was the case with Madeline, the Dachshund you met in the introduction. A visit to the veterinary ophthalmologist confirmed my suspicions that Madeline had SARDS, but it didn’t slow her down for long. Within a few weeks, she was navigating her house like a pro and confidently heading out for walks with her mom. And her other symptoms went away fairly quickly too.
Has your dog been diagnosed with SARDS?
Please share his or her story or any words of encouragement for other dog parents in a similar situation.
Our nearly 11 year old Morkie (Yorki/Maltese cross) was diagnosed with SARDS on 9/24/24. She was diagnosed at the Veterinary Medical Center at the University of Minnesota by our primary there. Our local veterinarian, in the small town in which we live, gave her a clean bill of health on her annual wellness exam about five days prior. Stella had started to walk into furniture. She was drinking a lot of water. Her appetite was huge. She also had a very fretful look. We knew something was wrong. The local vet did a number of tests, i.e., a test for tick disease, as well as a set of complete radiographs. I should mention also that Stella has a leaking mitral valve. We also take her to the UMN to see Cardiology for her heart. Even though it hasn’t been very long (weeks), she seems to be adjusting already. We are very sad. We don’t know how her lifespan will go as she has her heart disease. We are going to make the best of every day and put her “first” as much as is possible, on a daily basis. We are sad. She did not have that last definitive test for SARDS but were told with 100% certainty that she had it. She did have some tests done in the University’s Opthamollogy Department when we were there. They advised no treatment — just learn how to take care of her.
Dear Kelli,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with your senior girl. I understand your sadness and grief at the loss of her sight but what a blessing you still have her by your side. Blind dogs can adjust and go on to live full and happy lives. Here is a link to another article with more information: 7 Tips For Living With A Blind Dog
I know you are worried about a shortened life span due to her heart disease. I agree…. make the most of the time you are gifted and find joy in each day. Wishing you all the best and praying for many happy days ahead.
Hola a todos, en casa me acompaña un perrito que está a punto de cumplir 18 años él se llama Sunny, la raza es yorkie Pooh, le llevé a las vacunas y El doctor dijo que él tenía ceguera por cuestión de edad. esta es la esta es la primera vez que tengo conocimiento de esta enfermedad llamada SRAS. no estoy seguro si él pudiera padecer esta situación porque los síntomas que mencionan en el artículo él tiene absolutamente todos. desafortunadamente acabo de perder mi empleo y no puedo pagar un veterinario que lo pueda revisar para saber si me padece esta enfermedad. Sunny es un perrito que rescatamos mi ex pareja y yo. cuando llegó a la casa con nosotros el tenía 8 años , era muy introvertido le daba miedo todo, lo entiendo porque él había sido maltratado desde cachorro por eso es que lo rescatamos de esa familia. afortunadamente con con el tiempo nos fuimos ganando su confianza dándole cariño caricias y buenos tratos. hace aproximadamente un año ó año y medio noté que él estaba triste y al caminar chocaba con los muebles con las paredes eso llamó mi atención y lo llevé al doctor para que lo revisara. El doctor dijo q Sunny comenzaba con una ceguera pero que era normal en esa raza de perros sobre todo por la edad, El caso es que yo noté que después de comenzar con los problemas de la ceguera el tomaba demasiada agua, más de la habitual, orinaba demasiado , más de lo habitual, comía demasiado pero a pesar de la ceguera él desesperadamente buscaba el área donde él acostumbra a hacer sus necesidades. busqué información sobre Cómo cuidar un perro ciego y es la manera en que he podido ayudarle. Ahora que conozco esta situación del SRAS tengo otra perspectiva de las cosas y espero poder encontrar un trabajo rápido para poder llevarlo un veterinario y poder pagar así en las consultas de lo que él requiere. Sunny es un gran compañero , me pone algo triste ver que el ahora ha perdido el interés por jugar , por correr, duerme demasiado pero cuando está activo le gusta mucho estar a mi lado le gusta caminar. una cosa que he notado es que cuando salimos a la playa a caminar y el día está soleado, si él recibe la luz natural directamente de frente su cuerpo se contrae como si percibiera choques eléctricos o una convulsión , no sé cómo explicarlo pero es como si su cuerpo temblara de repente por algunos segundos, es por ello que adquirí unas gafas oscuras para él y así cuando salimos la luz natural no lo impacta de la misma manera. también le compré un jalo para ponerlo en su cabeza pero a pesar de que compré la talla más pequeña le queda muy grande sunny apenas pesa 5 libras. le gusta mucho ir al parque para perros no se porque camina en Círculo solo círculo círculo círculos a veces por hora y hora y media. en fin yo espero poder llevar pronto a Sunny a realizar este estudio médico para saber si tiene esta situación. Él es mi compañero de aventuras por llamarlo de alguna manera vivimos solos en un apartamento y me acompaña y yo lo acompaño, estoy consciente de que es un perrito de 18 años casi pero trato de disfrutar todos los días su compañía y abrazarlo de sentirlo y agradecer el haber podido ser parte de su vida por los últimos 13 años. gracias a toda la comunidad de este web y por compartir sus experiencias.
Hola Eric,
Permítanme comenzar diciendo que tuve que usar Google Translate para leer su mensaje y luego responder con el mío. Así que, si hay alguna parte de esta respuesta que no tiene sentido, ¡pido disculpas! Lamento mucho que Sunny se enfrente a esta difícil enfermedad y entiendo por qué estás preocupado. Si bien el SARDS es definitivamente una posibilidad, también sería una buena idea descartar otros problemas más comunes. ¿Tu veterinario ha hecho algún análisis de laboratorio para detectar la enfermedad de Cushing o la diabetes? La buena noticia es que la mayoría de los perros viven vidas felices, incluso si son ciegos. Esto no debería impedir que Sunny encuentre alegría en sus actividades diarias o que continúe creando recuerdos maravillosos contigo durante muchos días. Gracias por compartir tu experiencia y pedirte consejos. Les deseo todo lo mejor mientras navegan por este camino desconocido que tienen por delante. Bendito seas tú y tu cachorrito. ♥
Although I suspected SARDS, I was required to produce an ERG confirmation before Dr. Grozdanic (Iowa) would see us. During covid (10/2020) this was impossible near D.C., so drove to Columbus, OH where the ACVO vet saw us as soon as we arrived. Confirmed SARDS, and started prednisone at dose to suppress immune system. A week later in Iowa, Dr. G. said that vision was already starting to return. Please note his 2018 paper giving evidence that SARDS is auto-immune, and also his presentations at the 2016 & 2022 Annual ACVO Conferences in which he gave a 65.7% success rate based on longitudinal study of 39 dogs. And last but not least, a year after regaining vision, SARDS symptoms, including blindness, returned due to giving oral Simparica. Ten days on Apoquel restored vision, and giving TOPICAL flea/tick meds has been no problem – as predicted by Dr. G.
Hi Robert,
This is such great information. Thank you for sharing your experience and offering these references to other readers. Hoping for continued success for your pup and wishing you all the best!
So is your dog no longer blind? If so, which medication reversed his SARDS???
Hi I’m just wondering why my previous post has not been published please?
Hi Claire,
I just replied to your previous comment. I hope you will see it too. I am sorry for the delay. We receive hundreds of comments each month and sometimes it can take some time to respond to each one with the personal attention it deserves. Best wishes to you and sweet Bella. ♥
Our beautiful 9 year old family Cockapoo, Bella, seemingly went blind overnight. We took her for a forest walk on the Saturday, where she ran around negotiating trees, dips, rocks etc, then on Sunday morning when we took her for a walk she walked/ ran into a fence, trees, our legs etc. It was really traumatic for us and Bella. I took her to the vets on Monday and she was referred to an animal eye hospital and went to an appointment the following Monday where, following an ERG, they confirmed SARDS. Although in the first Month we felt that Bella still had a tiny bit of sight, over the last week the lights have definitely gone out for her. She has been remarkable through the whole process, but she’s much more bumpy and confused recently and forgets which way she should be going and can get ‘stuck’ in spaces/ corners and can’t work out how to get out of them. It feels like her world has shrunk overnight, which breaks our hearts. I’ve tried to put different essential oil smells at the top and bottom of our stairs to help her negotiate them. Plus, I’ve bought a neon jacket and lead sleeve to warn other dog owners to give her space and consideration. These are two strategies that I’d recommend to anyone else going through the same experience. We’ve been incredibly emotional and worried about what we can do to improve Bellas quality of life, but we keep the vets words in our head which is ‘as long as she is still loved, fed, watered and part of a pack (our family) then she’ll be just fine’. Incidently, Bella did have (and continues to have) all the classic signs leading to this diagnosis-drinking/ urinating more, eating with an insatiable appetite! Good luck to all you other SARDS dog owners.
Hi Claire,
I am sorry Bella has lost her sight, but what a blessing she is still able to enjoy time with her family. The jacket and lead sleeve are great ideas. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers! Hoping with more time Bella will find her confidence. Wishing you all the best and keep up the good work!
Thank you for sharing these ideas & your story…very helpful as we navigate the grief process of sudden blindness with our recently-diagnosed dog….
Dear B,
Praying for comfort for you and your pup. Bless you all. ♥
I have a 12 year old rough collie, champ in Dog Obedience. Well trained and very sweet. Adopted him 6 years ago.
I do not know if my older rough collie”s change in behaviour is due to, blindness, arthiritus, dementia or any other physical problem.
Walking at night has become a slow journey as he will stand literally 4 minutes at a bush. When pulled on the leash he wil pull out of the leash. When picked up he will bite. in other words complete differant behaviour. i now stroke him gently untill i can get his attention.
He sometimes forgets which direction he must walk and will get lost.
He tends to return to the behaviours he expresessed when we adopted him from the shelter. Fear of sound , noise and light.
so this morning i noticed a complete strange behaviour.
We played ball in a training way, with commands and food as rewards.
I am normally I a loud person and clap hands to tell my dogs that i am happy when they do the correct thing.
I clapped and he crouched, ran away obviously frightened. I fetched him and could see the lights were not on. Hugged him, he pulled away. Threw one of his favourite toys, and he did not go to fetch. I used then puppy training to remind him of fetch. He did it reluctantly.
I threw his next toy and he went out to fetch the toy, but after picking it up , he just stood there. i lured him into me with food.
I repeated and all of a suden he was back. His old playfull self.
I know he has problems to see at night time. But he can still see fine about 7 m away in day time..
Is it a combination of blindness, arthiritus, dementia or any other physical problems, or completely something else.
Hi Helen,
I understand your concern for your Collie and agree these symptoms are a bit worrisome. Without examining your boy myself, I can’t make specific conclusions. I think it would be best to schedule an appointment with your vet and have him evaluated. They can examine his eyes and rule out blindness as a possibility, do an orthopedic exam to check for arthritis, and then run some lab work to make sure there are no underlying issues with any of his internal organs. If all of these tests have normal results, then you may end up with a diagnosis of dementia. There is also the possibility of a brain tumor but to get a definitive diagnosis it would probably require a referral to a specialist. Try to take things one step at a time and just know that palliative care is always a great option. I often lean toward keeping senior dogs comfortable and emphasizing quality of life over quantity. Hoping you can find the answers you need to make the best choices for you and your sweet boy. Wishing you both many happy days ahead.
In 2008, my 8 YO male Ridgeback went blind overnight. I did some research online and booked an appointment for ERG testing in about 3 weeks. They sedated him for his appointment, ran the test, determined SARDs . The clinic was 3 hours away from my house, and he took the anesthetic really hard. The next day, he was still groggy and I took him outside on leash to go to the bathroom. He suddenly veered sideways and slammed his face into our retaining wall. Over the next month, he developed a hard sore in his mouth on the side he hit the day after diagnosis. I took him back to Dallas about a month after diagnosis to get the growth removed. It was squamous cell cancer. They removed 3 teeth and part of his jaw to get clean margins on the tumor. He lived another 3 years.
Dear Rita,
I am sorry your senior guy had to endure all these issues in such a short period of time. What a blessing the veterinary team was able to offer treatment and you gained 3 extra years together. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Wishing you all the best. Take care!
Oh- one other thing. My dog had transitory vision for a month or two after going blind.. There are times I know he could see. But as time went on, those blessings grew fewer.