Statistical agreement of gonioscopy performed as a puppy and as an adult in the Samoyed dog.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether gonioscopy performed on Samoyed puppies (6-14 weeks of age) is a reliable predictor of their gonioscopy results as adults (>11 months of age). PROCEDURE: A retrospective medical record search was performed to identify Samoyed dogs that had undergone gonioscopy as a puppy (6-14 weeks of age). A second prospective gonioscopy examination was performed as an adult (>11 months of age) and the results were compared. Gonioscopy was assessed on two characteristics: percent of iridocorneal angle (ICA) unaffected by pectinate ligament abnormalities (PLA) and ICA width, with PLA results categorized into unaffected ( ≥ $$ \ge $$ 75% open), moderately affected (50%-74% open), and severely affected (<50% open) and the width categorized into wide, moderate, narrow, and closed groups. A multivariate model was created that considered factors such as PLA, angle width, sex, puppy age, neuter status, and time between examinations. RESULTS: The eyes of 77 Samoyed dogs (154 eyes) met inclusion criteria. When assessing PLA, 90% of dogs had the same categorization as a puppy and as an adult. When assessing ICA width, 53.2% of dogs had the same width classification as a puppy and as an adult. There is strong evidence that variation between puppy and adult results increases with time between examination (p = .03). CONCLUSION: Puppies unaffected by PLA and with a wide ICA angle, are likely to retain these features as adults. Selection of puppies with desirable gonioscopic traits may help breeders to choose dogs likely to retain these traits as adults for breeding. This may reduce the incidence of glaucoma in the breed. Puppy examinations should be performed in both eyes. Examination of adults prior to breeding remains prudent.

Clinical outcome of intravitreal gentamicin injection for the treatment of end-stage glaucoma in five rabbits (eight eyes).

Background: Glaucoma is a painful and blinding condition that occurs in many species, including rabbits. When medication is no longer effective in maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP), enucleation is the recognized treatment for rabbits with end-stage glaucoma. However, this procedure carries risks relating to the procedure and the anesthesia. Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to report the efficacy of intravitreal gentamicin injection in controlling IOP in blind eyes of rabbits with end-stage glaucoma. Ocular and non-ocular complications were retrospectively assessed. Methods: Medical record review was performed to identify five client-owned rabbits (eight eyes) that were treated by intravitreal injection of 6-20 mg of gentamicin per eye (median 7.18 mg/kg) for chronic, end-stage glaucoma. Treatment was unilateral in two and bilateral in three rabbits. IOP control was assessed via rebound tonometry readings performed approximately 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after injection. Total follow-up was between 313 and 1,111 days. Ocular complications were recorded and systemic health was estimated by the owner-answered questionnaire and changes in body weight. Results: IOP was <25 mmHg in 87.5% of eyes 3 months post-injection. The most common ocular complications were cataracts (62.5%), anterior uveitis (25%), retinal detachment (12.5%), and corneal erosion (12.5%). There were no behavioral or body weight changes suggestive of systemic complications. Conclusion: 87.5% of rabbit eyes treated with intravitreal gentamicin had controlled IOP 3 months after injection. All eyes were blind at the time of injection. Ocular side effects were common. Investigation of the safety and systemic effects of intravitreal gentamicin injection is required; however, no overt complications were identified in treated rabbits in this study.

Keratomycosis in captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens): 2 cases.

Two cases of keratomycosis in captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) were diagnosed and treated at a zoo in Melbourne, Australia across a 9-year period. Both cases presented with severe unilateral ocular pain and stromal abscessation of the cornea. A superficial keratectomy was performed in both cases and the diagnosis was confirmed with either cytology or histopathology. Following surgery, a combination of oral, topical and subconjunctival medical therapy contributed to a successful outcome.

Conjunctival lymphoma: immunophenotype and outcome in five dogs and three cats.

Conjunctival lymphoma is well documented in the medical literature, but veterinary reports are few. We report five cases of canine lymphoma, and three of feline in which the presenting sign was conjunctival involvement. All animals were in apparently good health at the time of presentation, and attended the referring clinic because of conjunctival disease. One dog showed generalized lymphadenopathy at presentation, although the ocular lesion was the reason for consultation, but all other patients were well with no detectable disease beyond the eye. All cats were presented for their ocular disease. All dogs were confirmed to have T-cell tumors, although the histological appearance of these was variable. In contrast, all cats had B-cell tumors. Referring clinicians and owners were contacted for follow-up information. Three dogs had been euthanased within 6 months of diagnosis for deterioration of general health. The remaining two were alive and showed no signs of systemic disease. Two cats had good survival following diagnosis, the other died of lesions that may not be related.

Surgical management and outcome of lower eyelid entropion in 124 cats.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the success rate of various surgical techniques for the management of lower eyelid entropion in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. Animals studied One hundred and twenty-four cats with surgical correction of lower eyelid entropion of 200 eyes over a 13 year period. METHODS: Records of 124 cats were reviewed for signalment, type of entropion, surgical procedure performed and post-operative result. RESULTS: Combinations of the Hotz-Celsus (HC), lateral canthal closure and full thickness wedge resection techniques were used to treat 64 bilateral and 60 unilateral cases of lower lid entropion. Twenty-three cats were under a year of age, 52 cats were aged between 2 and 8 years and 49 were over 8 years old. The overall success rate for a single surgical procedure (which may consist of multiple techniques) to correct lower eyelid entropion was 96.0% per eye. The remaining 4.0% had the entropion resolved with a second surgery. A combined HC and lateral canthal closure had a 99.21% success rate of resolving lower lid entropion. Geriatric cats were the most likely age group to develop corneal sequestra; 37% of cats in this group presented with entropion and corneal sequestra concurrently. Seventeen percent of cats that presented with unilateral entropion and did not have prophylactic surgery on the fellow eye went on to develop entropion in the fellow eye. CONCLUSIONS: A combined HC and lateral canthal closure was the most effective surgical technique in managing lower eyelid entropion of cats in our study. Prophylactic lateral canthal closure in the unaffected eye is recommended.

Schirmer tear tests and intraocular pressures in conscious and anesthetized koalas (Phascolarctus cinereus).

OBJECTIVE: To estimate mean Schirmer tear test (STT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) values in healthy koalas both conscious and anesthetized. METHODS: Data were gathered from koalas in Victoria, Australia. Conscious examinations were performed on captive koalas. Free-ranging (wild) koalas were examined under anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced using alfaxalone, and animals were maintained on oxygen and isoflurane if required. All animals were healthy and had no surface ocular pathology detectable during slit lamp biomicroscopy. STT I tests were performed using commercial STT test strips placed in the lower fornix for 1 min. IOP was measured using an applanation tonometer after topical anesthesia. The higher value of the two eyes for both STT and IOP was analyzed. STT was measured in 53 koalas (34 conscious, 19 anesthetized) and IOP was measured in 43 koalas (30 conscious, 13 anesthetized). A two-sample t-test was used to compare means. A P-value <0.05 was regarded as significant. Mean ± SD is presented. RESULTS: The mean higher STT in conscious koalas was 10.3 ± 3.6 mm wetting/min and in anesthetized koalas it decreased to 3.8 ± 4.0 mm wetting/min (P < 0.0001). The mean higher IOP in conscious koalas was 15.3 ± 5.1 mmHg, and in anesthetized koalas it was 13.8 ± 3.4 mmHg (P = 0.32). There was no effect of sex on either STT or IOP. CONCLUSIONS: The mean and SD of STT and IOP values for koalas both conscious and anesthetized were reported. The mean STT was significantly reduced by alfaxalone anesthesia.

Repair of a scleral defect with an autogenous fascia lata graft in a dog.

A case of a traumatic scleral rupture with uveal herniation in a dog was treated with an autogenous fascia lata graft. Placement of the graft resolved the uveal prolapse and resulted in return of strength and a more normal structure. Fascia lata appears to be an effective scaffolding graft for the repair of scleral defects. It is cheap, easily harvested and large grafts may be obtained. Healing was rapid and the end result was a cosmetic, comfortable, fully functional eye.

Keratomycosis in a dog treated with topical 1% voriconazole solution.

A 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier was presented for treatment of a worsening corneal ulcer and keratomalacia following removal of a vegetative foreign body. The keratomalacia responded to topical gentamicin therapy; however, the eye became suddenly painful and at examination two areas of increased opacity had developed. Fungal keratitis was demonstrated by corneal scrape showing branching, septate fungal hyphae. Treatment with 1% voriconazole was effective in resolving the keratomycosis.

Taenia serialis causing exophthalmos in a pet rabbit.

A 16-month-old, male, neuter Dwarf Lop rabbit presented with exophthalmos of the right eye of 3 weeks duration. Under sedation an ultrasound of the right eye was performed and showed an orbital hypo-echoic area posterior and ventrolateral to the right globe, which was presumed to be a cyst. Fine needle aspirate removed 5.5 mLs of straw-colored fluid from the cyst, which allowed the globe to return to its normal position. Two months later the rabbit re-presented with exophthalmos of the right eye. Exploratory surgery was performed and a large cystic structure was removed from the ventro-lateral conjunctival fornix. Histology confirmed the cyst to be a coenurus of Taenia serialis.