Objective To evaluate the efficacy and complication rate of partial lamellar resection followed by cryotherapy for the management of canine limbal melanoma. Animals studied Fourteen dogs with unilateral canine limbal melanoma which were managed surgically by partial lamellar resection, cryotherapy (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) and an adjunctive graft procedure. Methods The clinical records of dogs treated between June 1998 and June 2008 were reviewed. The signalment, approximate size and location of the melanoma, variation in surgical technique, recurrence rate, short-term (< three months) and long-term (> three months) complications were assessed. Follow-up information was collected by patient re-examination or telephone interview. Results The mean age at diagnosis was 6.3 years, with a range from 3.2 to 12 years. Seven breeds were affected, including five cross-breed dogs and four Golden Retrievers. The tumour involved the dorsal arc (from the dorsomedial to the ventrolateral quadrant) in 12 eyes and the ventral arc in two eyes.

A seven‐month‐old West Highland white terrier was presented with hindlimb ataxia and paraparesis. Radiographic studies revealed an arachnoid cyst at thoracic vertebrae 12 and 13. A dorsal laminectomy and durotomy were performed to decompress the spinal cord. The cyst was marsupialised by suturing the dura mater to the edge of the laminectomy defect. There were no postoperative complications and the dog improved to normality.

This study shows that PDT is a successful procedure based on clinical findings and in terms of owner perception. It has also demonstrated that PDT improves ocular comfort and vision in medically refractive cases of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and that a low level of on-going management is required in 33% of cases.

Cats have an excellent outcome and dogs a very good outcome following surgery for corneal and lens laceration. The cause of the trauma, the size of the lesion, the time interval between the ocular trauma and surgery, and the type of surgery were not found to have an influence on the outcome of patients in this study. We postulate that vision loss might develop more often in cases with complications associated with the initial corneal laceration wound.

This study suggests that the Bichon Frise population in the UK does not appear to have a predisposition for retinal detachment in association with cataract formation or following cataract surgery. Prophylactic random transscleral laser retinopexy or transscleral cryopexy cannot therefore be routinely recommended for Bichon Frises with cataracts in the UK.

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CORNEAL disease in dogs is commonly encountered in companion animal practice. Careful case assessment is required, using a number of basic diagnostic tools, in order to reach a diagnosis and institute appropriate treatment.

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