Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Eye and nose leech infestation in a dog treated with salt drops
By Perry, E N et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2023·Northside Emergency Veterinary Service, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Topical hypertonic saline as a treatment for ocular and nasal hirudiniasis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog was brought in with a suspected foreign body in its left eye, and it turned out to be a leech stuck to the eye. The vet sedated the dog and used a special saline solution to help detach the leech, which was successfully removed. After the leech was taken out, another one came out from the dog's nose. The dog was treated for a small eye ulcer and was sent home with ointment. A follow-up exam showed that the dog's eye was normal, proving that the saline treatment worked well for this unusual problem.
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Abstract
This case report describes ocular and nasal leech infestation (hirudiniasis) in a dog. The patient presented for a suspected ocular foreign body. The patient was sedated to allow proper examination, which revealed a leech foreign body attached to the bulbar conjunctiva adjacent to the inferotemporal limbus of the left eye. A 3.5% hypertonic saline solution was applied topically to the eye in four sequential drops, until the leech detached itself and was removed with a cotton bud. The affected eye was found to have a small corneal ulcer, a small area of scleral haemorrhage, and prominent lymphoid follicles within the third eyelid. Approximately 5 min after the leech was removed, another leech emerged from the left nostril. The patient was sent home on chloramphenicol ointment for treatment of the corneal ulcer, was rechecked 4 days later by an American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmology resident (PM) and found to have a normal ocular exam. This case report highlights that topical hypertonic saline solution (3.5%) can be an effective and easily prepared treatment for ocular and nasal hirudiniasis in veterinary patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37127402/