Comparision Between the Use of Topical Antibiotic and Septostil in Spontaneous Chronic Corneal Epithelial Defects in Dogs.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the use of a topical antiseptic eye drop after corneal debridement in dogs with spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs). METHODS: This prospective, randomized, blinded study included 99 dogs presenting with SCCEDs. Each dog was treated with diamond burr debridement (DBD) and then randomized into one of two groups. One group was treated with topical antiseptic (Septostil, SG) four times daily (QID), and the other group was treated with topical cefazolin QID (CG). Follow-up was performed at 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 4 (T3) weeks after DBD, and success was considered when re-epithelialization occurred after DBD. RESULTS: In total, 104 eyes were included. Fifty eyes were treated with cefazolin and 54 with antiseptic. The success rates were 94.4% (51/54) in the SG (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.9%-98.1%) and 92% (46/50) in the CG (95% CI, 81.2%-96.8%), with no statistical difference (p = 0.708). The median healing times were 14 days (95% CI, 7-14) for the CG and 14 days (95% CI, 14-14) for the SG, without statistical difference (p = 0.873). Skull conformation and previous antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs before DBD did not influence epithelial healing time, whereas female participants showed faster healing times than male participants. CONCLUSIONS: Septostil did not show significant differences in terms of re-epithelialization or healing time compared with antibiotics. The application of antiseptic eye drops could represent a promising approach for topical prophylactic treatment following SCCEDs in dogs; however, these findings are preliminary, and larger studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions.