Effect of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on healing times and complications in dogs with spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects

Background Little is published regarding topical NSAID effect on corneal healing in dogs. This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare healing times and complications in dogs with spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCED) treated with and without topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Methods Medical records of 66 dogs (71 eyes) diagnosed with SCCED between 2008 and 2019 were included. Eyes were divided into: (1) those receiving topical NSAIDs (n = 33) versus (2) those not receiving topical NSAID (n = 38). Follow-up until healed, such as comfortable eye, negative fluorescein stain was required. Use of topical or systemic anti-inflammatories outside of NSAID or presence of ocular disorders or systemic endocrinopathies that may contribute to delayed healing resulted in study exclusion. Results Healing times were significantly longer in eyes that received topical NSAID (p = 0.008), however, the use of more topical medications for treatment was also associated with longer healing times (p = 0.001). The majority of eyes in the NSAID group received multiple medications, compared to the non-NSAID group, so it was not possible to separate the effects of NSAID from a number of medications. Complications occurred in three eyes of three dogs within the NSAID group. Conclusions In these canine SCCED eyes, the use of more topical medications, including NSAID, was associated with significantly delayed healing time.