Corneal ulcers in dogs can occur when there is trauma to the cornea, epithelial dystrophy (which can be breed specific), or endocrine diseases, such as Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism. Corneal abrasions can turn into corneal ulcers if they become infected or are not treated quickly enough. Corneal ulcers can be quite painful for dogs and they may try to itch or rub their ulcerated eye for relief. Eye ailments can go south quickly, so we recommend that you make an appointment with your veterinarian to take a look at your dog.
Typically, a veterinarian will use fluorescein, a special stain that is placed on the cornea which will turn the dye green and adhere to the ulcer. Large ulcers may be visible to the naked eye while smaller ulcers can be seen with ophthalmic lights and filters.
Treatment
Typical treatment of corneal ulcers can involve antibiotic drops or ointment. NSAIDs may also be utilized to help relieve pain. Sometimes for more severe corneal ulcers, debridement of the ulcer or surgery may be needed. Corneal ulcers that are not treated can lead to a permanent loss of vision in the eye so they should be taken seriously from the get go.
Traditionally, antibiotic drops or ointment requires administration every 4-6 hours. This makes it cumbersome for the pet owner to administer every few hours. Hilltop Bio’s PureOptic is administered just twice a day and helps support the healing of corneal ulcers.
PureOptic
PureOptic is a viscous ophthalmic liquid that may be administered as eye drops or via sub palpebral lavage (SPL). In other regenerative eye products, the active ingredient consists primarily of micronized membrane. While membrane alone can have positive effects, research has shown that it does not provide the same level of cell-signaling as our proprietary formulation of exosomes, growth factors, and other proteins to stimulate the healing process. PureOptic is optimized for viscosity to ensure the solution stays in place longer, is shelf stable and ready to use in under a minute, and adheres to strict cGMP/cGTP manufacturing standards. It can also be used in conjunction with an antifungal medication with no contraindications.
Additional Information
We hosted a webinar in October which featured Dr. Dennis Brooks and the use of biologic therapies for various ophthalmic conditions. The discussion included which conditions were best suited to treatment with biologics, how to select from among product and treatment modalities, expected outcomes, and adjunctive therapies. Veterinarians can register an account with us to view the webinar recording under Continuing Education. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with our monthly free webinars!
References:
- Costa, Daniel et al. “A multicenter retrospective study on cryopreserved amniotic membrane transplantation for the treatment of complicated corneal ulcers in the dog.” eVeterinary ophthalmology vol. 22,5 (2019): 695-702.
- Henriksen, M de Linde et al. “Visual outcome after corneal transplantation for corneal perforation and iris prolapse in 37 horses: 1998-2010.” Equine veterinary journal. Supplement ,43 (2012): 115-9.
- Kubo M, Sonoda Y, Muramatsu R, et al. Immunogenicity of human amniotic membrane in experimental xenotransplantation. Invest Ophthalmol Visual Sci 2001;42:1539-1546.
- Lassaline, Mary E et al. “Equine amniotic membrane transplantation for corneal ulceration and keratomalacia in three horses.” Veterinary ophthalmology vol. 8,5 (2005): 311-7.
- lummer, C. The use of amniotic membrane transplantation for ocular surface reconstruction: a review and series of 58 equine clinical cases (2002-2008). Vet Ophthal, 2009(12), Supplement, 17-24.
