Intracorneal stromal hemorrhage in dogs and its associations with ocular and systemic disease: 39 cases.

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinical features of dogs diagnosed with stromal intracorneal hemorrhage (ICH).

ANIMALS STUDIED

Retrospective case series of 39 dogs (44 eyes) with ICH.

PROCEDURES

Medical records of dogs evaluated by the Cornell University ophthalmology service were searched to identify animals with a clinical diagnosis of ICH between 2005 and 2014. Signalment and clinical details, including concurrent ocular disease, concurrent systemic disease, diagnostic tests performed, outcome of hemorrhage, presenting client complaint, and treatment, were recorded.

RESULTS

Intracorneal hemorrhage was identified in 44 eyes of 39 dogs. The mean (±standard deviation) age of dogs was 11.5 years (±2.8 years). The Bichon Frise breed and older dogs were statistically over-represented relative to the entire ophthalmology service canine referral population during the same time period. Concurrent ocular disease was present in 40 eyes (91%) and included keratoconjunctivitis sicca, cataracts, and corneal ulcers. Twenty-three dogs (59%) suffered from concurrent systemic disease, most frequently diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, and systemic hypertension. Less commonly, life-threatening systemic conditions were identified in dogs with ICH including immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, metastatic neoplasia, and sepsis. Intracorneal hemorrhage was found in all corneal locations, and corneal vascularization was present in each affected eye.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracorneal hemorrhage is an uncommon condition in dogs that occurs in association with corneal vascularization. The risk of ICH may be increased due to certain ocular and systemic diseases. Although uncommon, ICH may also be an ocular manifestation of severe immune-mediated, infectious, and neoplastic systemic diseases in dogs.