Corneal ulcers can be painful and irritating for your dog or cat. They are one of the most common injuries seen to canine or feline eye.
What Is a Corneal Ulcer?
A corneal ulcer is essentially a wound, usually either an abrasion or a scratch, that occurs on the cornea of the eye. The cornea is the front part of the eyeball. It is transparent and when you look through it, you will see the pupil of the eye and the iris (the part of the eye that gives the eye its color.)
What Are the Symptoms of a Corneal Ulcer in a Dog or Cat?
Dogs and cats that have corneal ulcers will have a painful eye. They often hold the eye partially closed or squint frequently. There will likely be a discharge from the eye as well. The conjunctiva (the tissue that surrounds the eyeball) may be reddened or swollen.
How Will a Corneal Ulcer Affect My Dog or Cat?
Corneal ulcers can range from mild to severe. Mild ulcers typically heal without issue, assuming no complications occur. However, severe corneal ulcers can cause a variety of complications for your dog or cat.
If a corneal ulcer is deep enough, it can cause a rupture of the eye. It is possible for blindness to result from this type of injury.
Corneal ulcers can also cause scarring of the cornea as they heal, causing visual impairment or even blindness.
How Are Canine and Feline Corneal Ulcers Diagnosed?
Corneal ulcers are only one of many eye diseases seen in dogs and cats. Many of these conditions can produce symptoms that appear very similar. As a result, a corneal ulcer will need to be diagnosed by your veterinarian.
Your veterinarian will likely need to apply a special stain to the eye to determine whether an ulcer is present or not.
What Causes Corneal Ulcers in Dogs and Cats?
Corneal ulcers can be caused by several things. Some of the more common causes include:
- trauma to the eye
- inflammation in the eye
- foreign bodies
- deformities of the eyelids, such as entropion (rolling inward of the eyelids) and extra eyelashes
- lack of tear film covering the eye ("dry eye" or keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
- chemical injury, such as getting shampoos or dips containing chemicals in the eyes
- prominent eyes, which are common in short-nosed breeds
How Are Corneal Ulcers Treated?
Treatment depends on the severity of the ulcer. If the ulcer is not severe and not in danger of rupturing the eyeball, antibiotic ophthalmic ointments are often used to prevent infection and speed healing. Atropine ophthalmic ointment may be used as well to control pain and discourage adhesions between the iris and the cornea by dilating the pupil.
If the ulcer is serious, surgery may be required. There are several surgical techniques that may used in this situation. All are aimed at covering the eye to protect it while the injury to the cornea heals. The technique chosen will depend on the veterinarian's experience and preference. Usually the surgery pulls the third eyelid across the eye and fixes it in place for a prescribed period of time, closes the eyelids or pulls one of the eyelids over the injury and secures it in place.
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