Retrospective study on clinical management of indolent ulcers in Boxer dogs

Abstract

Indolent ulcers are superficial corneal ulcers secondary to several changes on the corneal surface. They are frequently observed in middle-aged Boxer dogs, cause pain of acute onset and requires appropriate treatment. Aiming to evaluate the efficacy of clinical managements on the rate of healing of indolent ulcers, a retrospective study was conducted (1997-2008). Results demonstrated that proteinase inhibitors were the most often prescribed medication, and its administration did not interfere on the healing rate, as well as observed in dogs that received 1% atropine, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Healing was delayed in dogs administered orally with vitamin C, but the healing process was faster on those dogs that went through corneal debridement/cauterization. In conclusion, to know the various types of treatments seems to be fundamental for the rapid resolution of the disease. It is suggested that debridement/cauterization, administration of proteinase inhibitor eye drops, prophylactic topical antibiotics and oral vitamin C, should be considered as an effective clinical management for indolent ulcers in Boxer dogs.

Tratamento de úlcera indolente em equino

“…Além destes, Ozi et al (2014) e Hill e Trbolová (2015) também ressaltam a ocorrência de quemose, edema ou vascularização da córnea, miose, hiperemia conjuntival e secreção ocular. Hvenegaard et al (2011) apontaram, também, a dor aguda como um dos sinais clínicos relevantes e indicativos da presença de úlcera indolente. O equino aqui estudado apresentava dois desses sinais: blefarospasmo grave e dor aguda.…”

“…Ozi et al (2014) indicam o debridamento como um importante procedimento no tratamento das úlceras de córnea e nos casos em que as úlceras não respondem aos tratamentos conservativos, além de poder ser um passo anterior à realização de enxertos. Hvenegaard et al (2011) avaliaram que o debridamento não só se mostrou efetivo na promoção da cicatrização corneana, como também se mostrou decisivo em acelerar essa cicatrização, e ressaltaram a eficácia de sua associação com medicamentos tais como inibidores de proteinases e antibióticos tópicos.…”

“…Chamam-se úlceras indolentes as descontinuidades do epitélio corneal superficiais e espontâneas que não chegam a perfurar o estroma, mas o expõem. Essas úlceras provocam dores agudas, possuem curso prolongado e tendem a recidivar (Hvenegaard et al, 2011). As úlceras indolentes acometem cães, gatos, equinos e também seres humanos.…”

Comparative study of healing time of canine non-infectious deep ulcerative keratitis between medical therapy alone and combined treatment with medical therapy and a nictitating membrane flap: A retrospective study

“…In comparing the group receiving medical treatment and that receiving combined treatment, we herein report a longer corneal healing time in the combined treatment group. In canine refractory superficial keratitis receiving topical medications only, healing times with antibiotics alone, anti-inflammatory drug alone, and proteinase inhibitor alone were 31.99 ± 21.96, 41.55 ± 35.17, and 30.95 ± 19.56 days, respectively ( Hvenegaard et al , 2011 ). Although we did not analyze healing time by type of medication, the range of healing time for medication alone in our study was from 10 to 30 days.…”