If you see your pet exhibiting signs of distress, it could be brought on by pain or excessive discomfort. Typically, a change of behavior signals this. A cat or a dog may keep pawing its face or rubbing its head on furniture or carpet. When you see these odd activities, pay attention.
Be mindful, and see if your pet is squinting or blinking more than usual. If there is a soreness, swelling, or yellowish/bloody ocular discharge, this can suggest a corneal ulcer. It might be time to go to the veterinarian.
What is a corneal ulcer?
Before we can answer the question, we must first find out how the cornea is. The eye’s cornea is a thin transparent membrane on the front part of the eye. The cornea has three layers– the epithelium on the outside, the stroma in the middle, and the innermost layer called Descemet’s membrane.
The damaged epithelium is described as an abrasion or erosion. If the damage reaches the stroma, this is the condition that is called a corneal ulcer. This condition is excruciating, and prolonging it might cause more trauma to the eye.
If the ulcer reaches the next layer, this may cause a more severe condition called a descemetocele. Should Descemet’s membrane rupture, the liquid inside the eye leaks. This causes the eye to collapse and might cause permanent damage. Before the eye reaches this level of damage, treatment should be done.
What are the reasons for corneal ulcers?
Most of the time, trauma is the factor. Skidding on rough ground or getting scratched during a fight may damage the cornea. In some cases, chemicals, abnormal hair growth, or dry eyes may be the cause. Bacterial or viral infections and parasites may also cause the problem. To eliminate the probability of the latter, check out facilities like Harbor Animal Hospital for the services they offer.
However, for some breeds, epithelial dystrophy or weak corneas are hereditary. Brachycephalic breeds of dogs are prone to it due to the structure of their eyes. Animals with endocrine disorders may also be victims.
What kind of treatment is needed?
If you assume damage to the cornea, bring your pet to a facility with a veterinary ophthalmology service. To confirm if the case is a corneal ulcer, a fluorescein stain test is carried out. An orange-colored stain is placed on the cornea and turns green when it sticks to the ulcers.
Superficial abrasions can be treated with medication. Ophthalmic antibiotic eye drops and ointments can accelerate the recovery process however must be applied frequently.
Surgical treatment is needed for serious corneal ulcers that do not respond to medication or if a descemetocele has formed. Conjunctival tissue is transposed over the impacted ulcer. The vet surgeon might suture the third eyelid to protect the eye. After the advised healing time, the pet must be returned to the veterinarian to ensure the ulcer has healed.
Is surgical treatment always effective?
Normal healing is not always achieved after surgical treatment. Sometimes, dead or dying cells build up around the ulcer. This is described as indolent corneal ulcers and is more common in older pets. To solve this problem, surgical removal of these cells is required. To know more about this procedure, why not follow this link?
A surgery called keratectomy is performed by putting the animal under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes tiny grooves on the stroma using a tool called a diamond burr. This procedure encourages the abnormal cells to self-heal, and the perforation allows brand-new epithelial cells to attach.
The Final Note
If ever you notice your cat or dog exhibiting signs, do not think twice about getting it looked at by the veterinarian. Always follow the veterinarian’s advice in such scenarios because corneal ulcers are always progressive and aggressive. Quick action can save your pet’s eye.
