Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Healing times after diamond burr treatment for chronic dog eye ulcers
By McKeever, Fiona et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2026·Eye Vet Ltd·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical Outcomes Following Diamond Burr Debridement of Spontaneous Chronic Corneal Epithelial Defects: A Retrospective Study of 521 Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old French bulldog was brought in for a persistent eye problem caused by a spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defect (SCCED), which is a type of ulcer on the cornea. The dog underwent a procedure called diamond burr debridement to help heal the ulcer. While many dogs healed well after this treatment, French bulldogs like this one were more likely to experience complications and take longer to heal. In this case, the dog was treated with oral pain relief and a topical medication, but these treatments were linked to slower healing.
People also search for: French bulldog eye problems · dog corneal ulcer treatment · diamond burr debridement for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcomes following diamond burr debridement (DBD) of spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) in dogs, and to identify predisposing factors and treatment choices that may affect outcomes. ANIMALS STUDIED: Medical records of dogs treated for SCCED by DBD between January 2018 and May 2023 at an ophthalmology referral centre were retrospectively reviewed. PROCEDURE: Data collected included breed, age, eye affected, prior treatment, co-morbidities, treatment after the DBD procedure, time to healing, further procedures, and complications. Outcomes were classified as normal healing (NH: ulcer healed ≤ 16 days) or delayed healing (DH: ulcer healed > 16 days). RESULTS: A total of 598 eyes from 521 dogs were analyzed. French bulldogs (21.4%), Boxers (16.4%), and Staffordshire bull terriers (8.4%) were the most common breeds affected. Overall, 405/598 eyes (67.7%) healed after a single DBD without further intervention (range: 6-55 days), with 370/598 eyes (61.9%) achieving healing within 16 days. Complications occurred in 49 eyes (8.2%) following DBD. In multivariable analysis, French bulldogs demonstrated significantly lower odds of normal healing and a higher risk of complications. Postoperative administration of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and topical 0.2% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in carbomer were also associated with reduced odds of normal healing. CONCLUSION: Clinical outcomes following DBD for SCCEDs are influenced by breed, comorbidities, and postoperative treatments. French bulldogs are predisposed to delayed healing and complications, and the use of oral NSAIDs or topical EDTA in carbomer may adversely affect healing outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41623201/