Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How 13.8% EDTA helped dissolve corneal mineral in 17 dogs
By Pytak, Richard A & Wasserman, Neal T·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2025·Eye Care for Animals-Wheeling, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Dissolution of presumed calcareous corneal degeneration with 13.8% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution in 17 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Seventeen dogs with corneal problems caused by calcareous corneal degeneration (CCD) were treated with a special solution (13.8% EDTA) to dissolve the mineral buildup. Some dogs also needed a follow-up procedure called diamond burr keratotomy to remove any remaining mineral. After treatment, about a quarter of the dogs had their condition fully resolved, while more than half showed improvement. A couple of dogs experienced complications, but these were successfully treated. Overall, the EDTA solution proved to be a safe and effective option for managing this eye issue in dogs.
People also search for: dog corneal degeneration treatment · EDTA for dogs eye problems · dog eye ulcer treatment
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe a novel treatment for dissolving calcareous corneal degeneration (CCD)-associated mineral in 17 dogs with 13.8% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. METHODS: Cases seen between 2021 and 2023 were reviewed. Seventeen dogs with CCD associated with corneal ulcerations were treated with a mineral dissolution procedure using 13.8% EDTA solution. A diamond burr keratotomy (DBK) was subsequently performed in some cases when residual mineralization remained present. RESULTS: Of the 19 eyes (17 dogs) included in the study, 10 eyes (8 dogs) required a DBK procedure. One eye (one dog) required a repeat procedure 26 weeks following the initial procedure and two eyes (one dog) required a repeat procedure 24 and 37 weeks following initial treatment in the left and right eye, respectively. Mean follow-up time to last recheck for eyes not requiring a second chelation procedure was 20.4 weeks (range, 10-47 weeks). At the last follow-up examination for all 17 dogs, the CCD resolved in 26.3%, improved in 57.9%, and recurred in 15.8% of eyes. Complications occurred in two eyes (two dogs) and included an infected stromal ulcer at 2-week recheck and the creation of a 40% depth stromal defect immediately following debridement. Both complications were successfully addressed with medical management. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of 13.8% EDTA solution appears to be an effective and safe means of treating lesions associated with CCD.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38468157/