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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog's dry eye worsened after starting atenolol and then got better

By Barsotti, G & Vezzosi, T·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2016·Department of Veterinary Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca exacerbation in a dog treated with systemic atenolol.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A 6-year-old male English cocker spaniel was brought in for chronic eye problems, including conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye) and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). He was diagnosed with a condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which means his eyes weren't producing enough tears. After starting treatment with eye ointments, his condition improved, but worsened again after he began taking atenolol, a heart medication. Once the atenolol was stopped, his eye symptoms got better quickly, and he remained stable with just the eye treatments.

People also search for: dog eye problems treatment · cocker spaniel keratoconjunctivitis sicca · atenolol side effects in dogs

Abstract

A 6-year-old, intact, male English cocker spaniel was referred for treatment of chronic conjunctivitis and unilateral keratitis. The dog was diagnosed with bilateral immune-mediated keratoconjunctivitis sicca, treated with topical cyclosporine 0·2% ointment and sodium hyaluronate eye drops and improved considerably. After 2 months, pulmonic stenosis was diagnosed, and the dog commenced treatment with oral atenolol; the ophthalmological disease worsened dramatically within a few days. The ophthalmic signs rapidly improved after discontinuation of atenolol, and there was bilateral complete remission after 3 weeks. No oral β-blocker therapy was reintroduced, and thereafter, keratoconjunctivitis sicca was well-controlled with topical therapy.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27071733/