Preliminary study on intraocular abnormalities found in senior dogs by ultrasonography in a veterinary hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Abstract

Research on ophthalmology in veterinary medicine in Ecuador is scarce, and ocular health in older dogs should be studied. This study aimed to determine the incidence of ophthalmic abnormalities in senior dogs attending a hospital at Guayaquil and relate them to the type of lesion, breed, sex, age, and type of dog head shape. One hundred healthy senior dogs (> six years old) who underwent consultation during the study were subjected to bilateral eye ultrasonography (USG 10-MHz transducer) and examined for ocular alterations. Breed, sex, age, and head shape were also recorded. Thirty-eight animals presented with ocular abnormalities: presumed cataracts (19%), crystalline luxation (6%), presumed senile retinal degeneration (6%), retinal detachment (4%), nuclear sclerosis (4%), masses and vitreous degeneration (3%), presumed glaucoma (2%), and cysts in the anterior and posterior chambers (1%), mainly as bilateral lesions (24%). Cataracts were present in a more significant proportion in dolichocephalic dogs (8/18) than in brachycephalic (3/22) and mesocephalic dogs (8/60) (p =0.01). In addition, older animals were more affected, both unilaterally and bilaterally, and in both locations (lens or retina)(p <0.05), whereas crystalline luxation and senile retinal degeneration were significantly associated with age(p <0.05), whereas trends were observed for cataracts (p =0.065). Although ultrasound alone does not allow a definitive diagnosis, these preliminary results provide insights into the ocular abnormalities in apparently healthy senior dogs from Guayaquil (Ecuador). Unsuspected intraocular lesions might be relatively high in these patients; however, more extensive studies with complete ocular examination are recommended to confirm these results. Keywords: Aging dog; Cataracts; Retinal lesion; Ultrasonography