Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vision loss and optic nerve inflammation in dogs - causes and outcomes
By Smith, Sara M et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2018·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Optic neuritis in dogs: 96 cases (1983-2016).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs diagnosed with optic neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve causing vision loss, were studied to understand their symptoms and treatment outcomes. Most of the dogs, aged between 6 months and 13 years, were brought in because they were losing their sight, and many also had other neurological issues. The causes varied, with some dogs having isolated optic neuritis while others had more complex conditions like multifocal meningoencephalitis. Unfortunately, follow-up showed that many dogs remained blind, although a few experienced some improvement in their vision.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To characterize ocular and neurologic findings, causes, and treatment outcomes of dogs with optic neuritis. PROCEDURE: Medical records from dogs with a diagnosis of optic neuritis at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Hospital between 1983 and 2016 were reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety-six cases (20 unilateral, 76 bilateral), comprised of 38 males and 58 females with a mean age of 6.1 ± 3.0 years (range 0.5-13), were identified. Seventy-four cases were presented for vision loss, and 42 had other concurrent neurologic abnormalities. Funduscopic findings included optic nerve head elevation (n = 92), peripapillary retinal edema or separation (n = 37), retinal hemorrhage or dilation of retinal vasculature (n = 23), and multiple inflammatory foci in the peripapillary region (n = 13). Retrobulbar optic neuritis was diagnosed in four cases. The final diagnoses included the following: multifocal meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE, n = 35), isolated optic neuritis (I-ON, n = 42), neoplasia (n = 10), microbial infection (n = 6), orbital inflammation (n = 2), and suspected ivermectin toxicosis (n = 1). Dogs with I-ON were more commonly male, and medium-to-large breed, when compared to dogs with MUE. Follow-up was available in 72 cases, 50 of which remained blind, 10 had partial visual improvement, and 12 were assessed as having normal vision in the affected eye(s). CONCLUSION: Optic neuritis was most commonly associated with multifocal MUE or was isolated as the sole neurologic finding, with a similar incidence between the two groups. Findings suggest that a clinical syndrome of isolated optic neuritis, distinct from multifocal MUE, occurs in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29251394/