Retrospective evaluation of canine palpebral masses treated with debulking and cryotherapy: 46 cases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the recurrence frequency and the time to recurrence of canine palpebral masses treated with debulking and cryotherapy. METHODS: Medical records of dogs that underwent debulking and cryotherapy for palpebral masses from December 2010 to November 2015 at the University of Minnesota's Veterinary Medical Center were reviewed. A telephone survey with owners was used to determine recurrence and time to recurrence. RESULTS: Forty-six masses (31 dogs) were included in this retrospective study. Included palpebral masses were as follows: adenomas 17/46 (37%), epitheliomas 8/46 (17.4%), papillomas 6/46 (13%), inflammatory masses 6/46 (13%), mixed adenoma-papillomas 6/46 (13%), mixed epithelioma-papillomas 2/46 (4.4%), and a melanocytoma 1/46 (2.2%). Of the seven masses that were noted to recur (7/46, 15.2%), three were mixed adenoma-papillomas (three of six adenoma-papillomas, 50%), two were epitheliomas (two of eight epitheliomas, 25%), one was a papilloma (one of six papillomas, 16.7%), and one was a melanocytoma (one of one melanocytoma, 100%). Average recurrence time was 367.9 days [range: 30-904 days]. A significant association between tumor type and tumor recurrence was found (P = .009). Adenomas were significantly less likely to recur (P = .017), and mixed adenoma-papillomas were significantly more likely to recur (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Debulking and cryotherapy is an effective method of treatment for eyelid masses in dogs with a low study recurrence rate of 15.2% and average recurrence time of 367.9 days. Results also suggest that mixed adenoma-papilloma masses have a significantly higher recurrence rate than other eyelid masses, whereas adenomas had no recurrence in our study population.

Clinical findings and outcomes for dogs with uveodermatologic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate signalment, clinical signs, treatment, and factors affecting visual prognosis in dogs with uveodermatologic syndrome (UDS). DESIGN Retrospective case series and nested cohort study. ANIMALS 50 dogs (37 Akitas and 13 non-Akitas) with UDS evaluated at 4 ophthalmology practices. PROCEDURES Data were collected from the medical records regarding signalment, clinical signs, biopsy results, medications, adverse effects, vision and glaucoma status at initial and subsequent examinations, and duration of follow-up. Various factors were examined for associations with development of blindness or glaucoma following initial examination. RESULTS The most common ophthalmic signs included aqueous flare (n = 35 [70%]), iris abnormalities (29 [58%]), retinal detachment (23 [46%]), and choroidal depigmentation or chorioretinal infiltrates (10 [20%]). At initial examination, 36% (18/50) of dogs had glaucoma and 57% (26/46) were blind in both eyes. Twenty-five (50%) dogs had vision at their final visit, representing 78% of the 32 dogs that had vision at initial examination or regained vision during the follow-up period. In dogs that lost vision, median time to permanent blindness in both eyes was 13.5 months (range, 0.4 to 59 months) after initial examination. No significant associations with time to glaucoma or vision loss were identified for signalment variables, specific medications, or duration of clinical signs prior to initial examination. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE UDS commonly resulted in glaucoma, vision loss, or both in affected dogs. No evaluated factor was associated with visual prognosis; however, a subset of patients maintained vision through to the final recheck examination.

Long-term outcome of sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term outcomes and owner-perceived quality of life associated with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) in dogs. DESIGN: Survey study. ANIMALS: 100 dogs with SARDS examined at 5 academic veterinary institutions from 2005 to 2010. PROCEDURES: The diagnosis was based on documented acute vision loss, normal results of ophthalmic examinations, and evaluation of extinguished bright-flash electroretinograms. Primary owners of affected dogs completed a questionnaire addressing outcome measures including vision, systemic signs, and perceived quality of life for their dogs. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis was significantly correlated with positive outcome measures; dogs in which SARDS was diagnosed at a younger age were more likely to have alleged partial vision and higher owner-perceived quality of life. Polyphagia was the only associated systemic sign found to increase in severity over time. Medical treatment was attempted in 22% of dogs; visual improvement was not detected in any. Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported an improved relationship with their dog after diagnosis, and 95% indicated they would discourage euthanasia of dogs with SARDS. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Blindness and concurrent systemic signs associated with SARDS appeared to persist indefinitely, but only polyphagia increased in severity over time. Most owners believed their pets had good quality of life and would discourage euthanasia of dogs with SARDS.

A retrospective study of the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical manifestations of 5 dogs originally diagnosed histologically as necrotizing scleritis.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical manifestations of canine necrotizing scleritis. METHODS: A retrospective examination of the clinical records and samples of ocular tissues from five dogs with a histological diagnosis 'necrotizing scleritis' was completed. Archived, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples and two control globes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Gram, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Masson trichrome stains, and they were immunohistochemically labeled for CD3, CD18, and CD20. RESULTS: Of the five cases reviewed, only two could be confirmed as idiopathic necrotizing scleritis. The other three cases were retrospectively diagnosed as unilateral focal, non-necrotizing scleritis, one as episcleritis and the third was scleritis secondary to a proptosed globe based on our retrospective clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical evaluations. In these two cases, idiopathic necrotizing scleritis manifested as a bilateral, progressive, inflammatory disease of the sclera and cornea that induces significant uveitis. Light microscopic examination confirmed collagen degeneration and granulomatous inflammation. There was no evidence for an infectious etiology based on Gram's and PAS stainings. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed a predominance of B cells in idiopathic, bilateral necrotizing scleritis. Tinctorial staining abnormalities with Masson's trichrome stain were present in scleral collagen of the two cases with idiopathic necrotizing scleritis as well as a case of secondary traumatic scleritis. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a limited number of cases, idiopathic canine necrotizing scleritis shares similar histopathological features with non-necrotizing scleritis and episcleritis; however, necrotizing scleritis is B-cell-dominated and bilateral, and significant collagen alterations manifest with Masson's trichrome stain.

Cataracts in 44 dogs (77 eyes): A comparison of outcomes for no treatment, topical medical management, or phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation.

Outcomes for 77 cataractous eyes were compared after each eye underwent no treatment, topical medical treatment only, or phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Median follow-up time for all dogs was 2.3 y. Failure occurred in all untreated eyes and the rate of failure was 65 and 255 times higher than in medically and surgically treated eyes, respectively. The failure rate was 4 times higher in dogs receiving only medical treatment compared with dogs that received surgery. Across all groups, the success rate for mature and hypermature cataracts was lower than for immature cataracts. Regardless of cataract stage, the chance of success was higher for eyes undergoing phacoemulsification than for eyes that received medical management only. Results of this study support prompt referral for phacoemulsification when cataracts are diagnosed in dogs or, if referral is not possible, topical anti-inflammatory therapy.