Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treating corneal hole in a 19-year-old cat without surgery
By Takae Natori & Eiichi Hirano·Published in Open Veterinary Journal·2025·Ikeda Animal Hospital, LY·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Combined ophthalmic therapy and equine placental extract supplementation to treat corneal perforation in geriatric cats: A case report in the absence of surgical intervention
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 19-year-old spayed female cat with chronic kidney disease developed a serious eye problem that led to a corneal perforation, which is a hole in the eye's surface. The owner chose not to pursue surgery, so the veterinarian started treating her with a combination of standard eye medications and equine placental extract, a supplement derived from horse placenta. After starting this treatment, the cat showed significant improvement in her eye symptoms, including reduced redness, less discomfort, and better overall eye health. This approach could be a helpful option for older cats that can't have surgery.
People also search for: cat corneal perforation treatment · geriatric cat eye problems · equine placental extract for cats
Abstract
Background: Environmental changes affecting pet animals, along with an increase in age-related conditions and diseases among pets, have become increasingly evident. Despite this trend, there remains a paucity of research on therapeutic approaches for geriatric companion animals. Case Description: The case report describes a 19-year-old spayed female cat that was diagnosed with chronic renal failure and recurrent corneal disease. Surgical intervention was not pursued at the owner's request, leaving medical management as the only viable option. The patient's corneal condition deteriorated, culminating in corneal perforation. Upon initiation of equine placental extract supplementation alongside medical treatment, substantial improvements were observed in hyperaemia, ocular discomfort, and additional corneal manifestations, including wound severity, ocular discharge, photophobia, lacrimation, and blepharospasm. Conclusion: The integration of medical therapy with placental extract supplementation may represent a novel therapeutic alternative for geriatric cats ineligible for surgical intervention. [Open Vet. J. 2025; 15(10.000): 5420-5426]
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.61