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Treatment

Treatment will depend on the underlying cause. If the ulcers are deep or are growing, surgery (with hospitalization) may be required and activity will be restricted. Your veterinarian may also put a collar on the dog’s neck to keep it from clawing at its eyes. If the erosion or tumor are superficial, surgery will probably not be recommended. The veterinarian may take a cotton swab and remove loose layers of the cornea if the ulcer is deep. An incision is sometimes made into the cornea for purposes of repairing it. Any corneal laceration requires immediate treatment and repair.

Antibiotics and other medications will be prescribed and are applied topically onto the eye, including those used to stimulate tear production. Inflammation and pain may be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. In certain cases contact lenses may be inserted to reduce eyelid irritation; this can sometimes substitute for surgery.

Living and Management

 Follow your veterinarian's instructions. Activity should be limited during the treatment and healing period. If the ulcer is superficial, it should heal in about a week. If is more serious, it may require extensive treatment and/or surgery, in which case the cornea should be healed about two weeks after the surgery. If your dog is one of the breeds listed above, be cautious with their eyes.