Oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not delay corneal healing in dogs with spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects: A retrospective cohort of 186 ulcers.

Short-term oral NSAIDs do not delay corneal healing or increase complications in dogs with SCCEDs.

This retrospective cohort study investigated whether oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) delay corneal healing in dogs diagnosed with spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs). SCCEDs are a common clinical condition in dogs, typically managed with corneal debridement procedures and supportive analgesia. While topical NSAIDs are known to impair epithelialization and risk stromal melting, the systemic safety profile of oral NSAIDs in this context had not been previously established. Researchers reviewed medical records from 2018 to 2024, identifying 186 SCCEDs in 170 dogs. Eyes were grouped based on whether oral NSAIDs were prescribed at presentation (n=136) or not (n=50). All cases underwent a standardized corneal debridement procedure. The primary outcome was time to complete re-epithelialization; secondary outcomes included number of debridement procedures required and complication rates (stromal melting, descemetocoele, perforation). Results showed no statistically significant difference in median healing time between groups (15 days in both; p=0.638), nor in the number of procedures required (median of one in both groups; p=0.210). Critically, no complications such as stromal melting, descemetocoele, or corneal perforation were recorded in either group. Study limitations include its retrospective, non-randomized design and potential selection bias, which may limit generalizability. Nevertheless, these findings provide clinically meaningful evidence supporting the safe short-term use of oral NSAIDs for analgesia in dogs with SCCEDs, without compromising corneal healing outcomes.

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