Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB)

Congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is a retinal disorder characterized by total vision loss under dark conditions. An affected dog may bump into objects, and be reluctant to move into areas with dim lighting. The vision impairment in daylight varies highly between different individuals. First signs of visual impairment are observable at 5-6 weeks of age. Also the pupils of affected dogs can be larger than normal. 

Although this condition results in gradual vision loss, and eventual night blindness, many dogs adapt remarkably well to vision loss. Although there is no treatment, owners should be advised that the disease development is gradual and their dog may need assistance in unfamiliar surroundings as clinical signs progress.

There are many responsibilities to consider when breeding dogs. Regardless of test results it is important that your dog is in good general health and that you are in a position to care for the puppies if new responsible owners are not found. For first time or novice breeders, advice can be found at most kennel club websites.

This disease is autosomal recessive meaning that two copies of the mutation are needed for disease signs to develop. A carrier dog with one copy of the CSNB mutation can be safely bred with a clear dog with no copies of the CSNB mutation. About half of the puppies will have one copy (carriers) and half will have no copies of the CSNB mutation. Puppies in a litter which is expected to contain carriers should be tested prior to breeding. Carrier to carrier matings are not advised as the resulting litter may contain affected puppies. Please note: It is possible that disease signs similar to the ones caused by the CSNB mutation could develop due to a different genetic or clinical cause.