Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with lung cancer developed corneal ulcers from erlotinib treatment
By Jung, Sunjun·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2023·Allimals Animal Medical Center, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Presumed erlotinib-induced bilateral corneal ulcers in a dog with lung tumor.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 13-year-old Maltese dog with lung cancer developed eye problems, including a month-long history of discharge and squinting. Upon examination, the vet found corneal ulcers in both eyes that didn't improve with antibiotics and artificial tears. The dog's owner had been giving him erlotinib (Tarceva) for his cancer treatment, and after stopping the medication, the ulcers healed within two weeks, although some thinning of the cornea remained at the six-month check-up.
People also search for: dog eye problems · Maltese corneal ulcers treatment · erlotinib side effects in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the corneal toxicity of erlotinib in dogs. ANIMAL STUDIED: A 13-year-old castrated male Maltese dog. RESULTS: A dog with lung cancer presented with a month-long history of mucoid discharge and blepharospasm in both eyes. Corneal ulcerations with stromal thinning were diagnosed in both eyes, which were refractory after 2 weeks of treatment with topical antibiotics and artificial tears. The dog was orally administered erlotinib (Tarceva®) by his owner for 2 months to treat his lung cancer. Urgent withholding of erlotinib was recommended, and after 2 weeks of discontinuation, the corneal defects resolved; however, corneal thinning remained until the six-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first report in the veterinary literature that describes bilateral corneal ulcers associated with erlotinib administration in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36287091/