Clinical and diagnostic evaluation of intraocular expulsion of a corneal epithelial inclusion cyst in a dog.

CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog was presented for evaluation of an axial, raised, vascularized, lightly pigmented 3 mm diameter corneal lesion affecting the left eye (OS) that was present since adoption three years prior to presentation. The presumed cyst ruptured into the anterior chamber 5 months following initial presentation with progressive extrusion of intralesional contents into the anterior chamber. High-frequency ultrasound and in vivo confocal microscopy revealed minimal normal stroma posterior to the corneal lesion. Due to the lack of stroma, a deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) was attempted using the viscodissection technique. While separating the stroma from Descemet's membrane, a tear in the membrane was observed, and the procedure was converted to a penetrating keratoplasty (PK). The mass was excised en bloc, and a frozen corneal allograft and conjunctival pedicle graft were utilized to restore corneal thickness. The extruded material was irrigated out of the anterior chamber and submitted for culture and cytology. There was no growth on aerobic, anaerobic, or fungal cultures, and cytology revealed mixed neutrophilic and macrophagic inflammation with keratinizing squamous epithelium. Histopathology identified the mass to be a corneal epithelial inclusion cyst lined with well-differentiated stratified squamous epithelium. The dog is doing well 10 months post-operatively with no signs of recurrence along with good comfort and vision.

Ophthalmic examination findings and intraocular pressures in wild-caught African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys spp.).

PURPOSE: To report ophthalmic examination findings and intraocular pressures (IOPs) in wild-caught African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei and gambianus) from Tanzania and Ghana. PROCEDURES: After being placed under general anesthesia for examination, slit-lamp biomicroscopy before and after pharmacologic mydriasis and indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed. Eyes were fluorescein stained and IOPs measured by rebound tonometry using the TonoVet® . RESULTS: Thirty-two sexually mature pouched rats (64 eyes) were examined, including 16 males and 16 females. The mean IOP (± standard deviation) was 7.7 (±2.9) mmHg. Fluorescein staining was negative in all eyes. One or more ocular abnormalities were detected in 21 pouched rats (35 eyes). These ocular lesions included the following: lens opacities (n = 23 eyes), persistent pupillary membranes (n = 5), chorioretinal scarring (n = 3), corneal vascularization (n = 2), palpebral margin defect with focal trichiasis (n = 2), phthisis bulbi (n = 1), and posterior synechiae (n = 1). Lens opacities included incipient anterior cortical opacities (n = 7), immature cataract (n = 6), incipient nuclear opacities (n = 5), punctate pigment on anterior lens capsule (n = 2 eyes), incipient suture tip opacities (n = 2), and hypermature cataract (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular abnormalities were common in the evaluated population of giant pouched rats; however, most of the detected lesions were mild and believed to have minimal impact on vision. Rebound tonometry with the TonoVet® was a reliable and simple technique to measure IOPs in the anesthetized pouched rats.

Sudden acquired retinal degeneration in dogs: breed distribution of 495 canines.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe breed, age, gender, and weight distribution of dogs affected with sudden acquired retinal degeneration (SARD) and to investigate whether SARD is more common in small breed dogs. METHODS: Medical records of dogs diagnosed with SARD confirmed by an electroretinogram were reviewed. Breed, age, gender, and weight were recorded when available. The same data were obtained for dogs with SARD described in the veterinary literature. RESULTS: Three hundred and two dogs were included from the ophthalmology practices and 193 dogs from the veterinary literature. Sixty breeds were present in the study. Mixed-breed dogs were the most common at 108 dogs (21.8%), followed by the Dachshund (68, 13.7%), Chinese Pug (44, 8.9%), Miniature Schnauzer (39, 7.9%), Maltese (23, 4.6%), Cocker Spaniel (22, 4.4%), Bichon Frise (18, 3.6%), Beagle (16, 3.2%), Brittany (15, 3.0%), and Pomeranian (10, 2.0%). Fifty other breeds were represented by 1-9 dogs each. The median age was 9 years (range = 10 months-16 years). The weight was known for 197 dogs. About 60.9% of dogs were less than 25 pounds, 31.5% were between 25 and 50 pounds, and 7.6% were greater than 50 pounds. Gender was recorded in 393 dogs: 217 female dogs and 176 male dogs. CONCLUSIONS: As previously reported, SARD is most common in middle-aged to older dogs. Smaller dogs of less than 25 pounds appear overrepresented, while large/giant breed dogs of greater than 50 pounds are infrequently diagnosed. In this study, there was no statistical significance between female and male dogs.