Canine panuveitis: a retrospective evaluation of 55 cases (2000-2015)

To determine the most common etiologies of panuveitis in a group of dogs, patient response to therapy, and visual outcome.

Retrospective study.

Medical records of 55 dogs diagnosed with panuveitis at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between December 2000 and December 2015 were reviewed. Data collected included signalment, season of diagnosis, descriptions of ocular lesions, diagnostic testing, treatment protocols, etiologic diagnoses (when determined), and visual outcome.

The most common clinical sign in the anterior segment was aqueous flare and in the posterior segment was serous retinal detachment. The most common diagnosis was idiopathic/immune-mediated disease followed by systemic blastomycosis, lymphoma, and other causes (leptospirosis, aspergillosis, and histoplasmosis). Of the 43 dogs for which follow-up was available, 40% of dogs had resolution of visible inflammation and retinal reattachment, 32% of dogs had slight to moderate improvement, and 28% of dogs had no improvement or deterioration of lesions. Mean follow-up time was 11 months, and mean time to resolution of visible inflammation and retinal reattachment was 32 days. Sixty-five percent of dogs either retained or regained vision in one or both diseased eyes with initial medical therapy.

Idiopathic/immune-mediated panuveitis was the most common diagnosis. Dogs with idiopathic/immune-mediated panuveitis tended to respond more favorably to medical therapy than dogs with infectious panuveitis. Visual outcome was favorable in those dogs that responded to initial medical therapy, but long-term therapy was required in many dogs to maintain vision and prevent recurrence of disease.