ophthalmology

Question 1

A 3-year-old spayed Siamese cat has diffuse tapetal hyperreflectivity, severe vascular attenuation noted by lack of visible vessels on the tapetum, and optic nerve pallor consistent with?

Answer 1

rod-cone degeneration
(This is Retinal degeneration; progressive retinal atrophy -
The condition was initially described in Abyssinian and Somali cats, but the gene mutation causing rod-cone degeneration has since been found in 14 of 41 breeds sampled, including the Siamese cat. Persian cats can be affected as early as 2 to 3 weeks of age; the condition is usually advanced by 16 weeks of age.2 Abyssinian cats are typically affected by 4 weeks of age and show advanced progression by 1 year of age. Patients typically have dilated pupils and rapidly become completely blind after initial onset.