Risk Factors and Treatment Outcomes for Canine Spontaneous Chronic Corneal Epithelial Defects (SCCED): 335 Cases Within a Reference Population.

CTA-DBD is superior to CTA alone for SCCED treatment; Boxers at highest breed risk.

This retrospective study analyzed 335 dogs with spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCED) at UC Davis, comparing them with 157,362 dogs from the general population to identify risk factors and evaluate treatment outcomes. Boxers were dramatically overrepresented (O:E = 12.38), followed by Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs, and English Bulldogs. Dogs aged 6-10 years and weighing 31-40 kg showed significant overrepresentation, while younger dogs (<5 years) and smaller dogs (<10 kg) were underrepresented. Treatment success rates following single procedures were: cotton applicator debridement (CTA) alone 49%, CTA with diamond burr debridement (DBD) 70%, and CTA with grid keratotomy (GK) 66%. The combination treatment CTA-DBD demonstrated significantly superior outcomes compared to CTA alone. This large-scale study confirms previously suspected breed predispositions through proper epidemiologic adjustment, validates known age-related risk factors, and establishes CTA-DBD as the most effective single-procedure treatment modality for SCCED.

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