Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ectopic cilia causing eye irritation in 112 dogs studied
By Dulaurent, Thomas et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2022·Centre Hospitalier Vé, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ectopic cilia in 112 dogs: A multicenter retrospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2.3-year-old female Shi Tzu was brought in with eye problems caused by ectopic cilia, which are misplaced eyelashes that can irritate the eye. The dog showed signs of corneal issues, including keratitis and ulcers, which were linked to the ectopic cilia. After surgery to remove the hair follicles causing the problem, the dog had a successful recovery, with a high success rate reported for this treatment. If your dog is experiencing eye irritation or corneal issues that aren’t improving, it could be worth discussing ectopic cilia with your vet.
People also search for: dog eye problems · Shi Tzu corneal ulcers · ectopic cilia treatment for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to review the clinical data and outcomes of patients that suffered ectopic cilium (EC). ANIMALS STUDIED: One hundred and twelve dogs from multiple private practices in France, with a clinical diagnosis of EC were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of affected dogs was 2.3 years. There were 64 females and 48 males. The most represented breeds were the Shi Tzu, the French Bulldog, the English Bulldog and the Chihuahua. Eleven dogs were affected bilaterally. The upper eyelid was implicated in 93.5% of the cases, with the median portion being the most affected. No statistical difference was observed between the right and the left eye. EC were associated with distichiasis in 50% of the cases. Pigmentation of the conjunctiva at the point of exit of the EC was present in 58% of the cases. EC were short in 75% and long in 25% of the cases. Corneal complications were statistically associated with short EC. The corneal lesions associated with EC were keratitis (94%), corneal granuloma (0.8%), corneal fibrosis (2.7%), corneal degeneration (0.8%), superficial corneal ulcer (68.7%), deep corneal ulcer (8%) and perforating corneal ulcer (0.8%). The surgeries which consisted of the removal of the hair follicle was successful in 88.4% of the cases. CONCLUSION: EC is a rare condition which can be treated successfully by the removal of the hair follicles. It must be suspected in cases of corneal lesions unresponsive to medical treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34821455/