What are Corneal Ulcers in dogs? The Corneal is “the clear outer capsule of the dog’s eyes” and ulcers are “slower healing erosions of the cornea”. So, corneal ulcers are healing erosions on the “clear outer capsule” in the dog’s eyes.
This condition is caused by the dog not having enough protective tears. Corneal ulcers are also caused by fungal and bacterial infections, dystrichiasis, which is misplaced eyelashes, entropion, which is eyelids that curl inward and ectropion, which is eyelids that curl outward. If this condition is not treated the dog can loose it’s vision.
Symptoms of corneal ulcers in dogs includes tearing of the eye, squinting, excessive rubbing of the eye or the dog may have a discharge present in the corner of the affected eye beside the dog’s nose. The white of the affected eye may have enlarged blood vessels as well.
There are two types of corneal ulcers. these are superficial and deep. Superficial corneal ulcers are one where the outer layer of the cornea is lost. This type of corneal ulcer in dogs will generally heal in a healthy eye within a few days. The other type of corneal ulcer in dogs, deep corneal ulcer, is the one that occurs when half of the thickness of the affected eye’s cornea is lost. This type of corneal ulcer in dogs will heal also, but generally take longer than a superficial corneal ulcer, this type may take several weeks to heal. Both of these types of corneal ulcers may return if the cause of the ulcer is not treated.
Diagnosing corneal ulcers involves the use of Fluorescein Dye. This diagnoses technique involves anesthetizing the affected eye using a topical anesthetic, afterward, the veterinarian will move the moistened fluorescein dye strips over the cornea. The affected eye will then be gently cleaned with saline and any excess dye will be removed. If there is no corneal ulcer in the eye, all the dye will be removed with the washing of the eye, but if there is a corneal ulcer the dye will attach itself to the ulcer and can be seen using an ultraviolet light attached to an ophthalmoscope. Another diagnosing technique is the use of the Shimer Tear Test which checks the amount of protective tears the dog’s eye makes. Glaucoma is also checked for by checking the intra-occular pressure present in the eye by using a Schiotz tonometer.
Treatment of corneal ulcers depends on the type of ulcer is present, either deep or superficial, how severe the ulcer is, the age of the ulcer and the underlying cause of the ulcer. To treat a deep corneal ulcer, the dog will be hospitalized and the veterinarian will anesthetize it so they can work on the ulcer, which entails replacing tissue and reinforcing the area of the ulcer by attaching a piece of the third eyelid over the ulcer then suturing the lower eyelid over the eye in question. This treatment takes about three week to heal, at which time the eye patch will be removed. Eye ointment and eye drops will be applied to the eye every two to four hours and the dog will have to be restrained so that it can not rub the eye.
Other treatments of corneal ulcers include the use of cyclophosphomide eye drops, artificial tears or “surgical transplant of the duct of the salivary gland.” These treatments should heal the eye in about two weeks. The prevention and treatment of secondary infections is also important and usually involves the application of an antibiotic ointment or salve to the eye. Some veterinarians will also dilate the affected eye using Atropine. Dilating the eye will help relieve some of the pain.
