front of the eye include constriction of the pupil,
blood in the chamber, or a white ‘sediment’ in
the lower portion of the eye which are actually
white blood cells and fibrin accumulating trying
to fight off the infection.
Trauma is the most common cause of
ulceration in the horse. Infection should
be considered likely in every corneal ulcer.
Infectious keratitis in horses develops in eyes
with surface defects, and eyes with defects due
to chronic inflammation. Fungal involvement
should be suspected if there is a history of
corneal injury with vegetative material, or if a
corneal ulcer has received prolonged antibiotic
and/or corticosteroid therapy with slight or no
improvement. Foreign bodies, chemical burns,
and immune mechanisms may also cause
corneal ulceration as well. Perforation of the
cornea is a possible sequela to all corneal ulcers
in the horse.
Treatment options vary depending on the
inciting cause. All corneal injuries should be
evaluated by a veterinarian to determine the
correct course of treatment. Special stains can
be applied to the damaged cornea. Retention
of fluorescein stain determines if ulceration is
present and the severity. If the stain is present
over the entire surface of the ulcer, the eye is
not at immediate risk of rupture, but if the stain
is retained only at the periphery of the ulcer,
the cornea is very thin in the center and at risk
of rupture without aggressive therapy. Another
stain known as Rose-Bengal, helps to determine
if a fungal component is present and if there is
leaking of fluid from the anterior chamber at the
site of the ulcer.
Topical antibiotic and/or antifungal ointments
are usually effective at treating most corneal
ulcers, but in some cases, an ocular lavage/
treatment system must be applied to aggressively
treat some of the more severe cases. Systemic
use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
such as phenylbutazone or flunixin meglumine
(Banamine™) can be used judiciously to control
pain. There are also some surgical treatment
options for more severe cases, but should be
determined by your veterinarian or specialist
based on the given situation.
Dr. Craig Sweatt • Dr. Tom Hutchins • Dr. Stacy McLeod
8283 FM 920 • Weatherford, Texas • 817-458-3355
Small Animal •Equine •Livestock •Ambulatory Services
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