Canine Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca Treatment

Three groups of dogs, each with 11 animals (22 eyes), were evaluated: the NCG contained dogs who did not have KCS; dogs that were diagnosed with KCS were randomly assigned to either the tacrolimus group (TG) or homologous PRP group (HPRPG). The characteristics of the groups are described below.
Negative control group (n = 22 normal eyes): 11 healthy dogs (six males and five females); aged 4.3 ± 1.9 (1.0–7.0) years; weighing 20.4 ± 14.9 (5.0–43.0) kg; nine mixed-breed dogs, one Boxer, and one Labrador. The NCG was used to extract reference ocular values for the study region and to serve as a comparison group with the KCS-positive groups.
Tacrolimus group (n = 22 eyes positive for KCS): 11 dogs (five males and six females); aged 8.5 ± 2.1 (5.0–11.0) years; weighing 7.5 ± 1.4 (5.2–9.8) kg; seven Lhasa Apso, one Shih Tzu, one Yorkshire Terrier, and one mixed-breed dog. Once the diagnosis of bilateral KCS was confirmed, the following protocol was established: topical treatment with 0.03% tacrolimus eye drops (Laboratory Centro Paulista, São Paulo, SP), at one drop twice a day in both eyes, and eye lubricant based on 20% chondroitin A sulfate (Laboratory Labyes, Valinhos, São Paulo, Brazil), at one drop twice a day, in both eyes, for 6 months.
Homologous platelet-rich plasma group (n = 22 eyes positive for KCS): 11 dogs (four males and seven females); aged 9.7 ± 4.0 (5.0–15.0) years; weighing 7.1 ± 2.4 (3.6–12.1) kg; six Lhasa Apso, two Shih Tzu, two Yorkshire Terriers, one Cocker Spaniel, and one mixed-breed dog. Once the diagnosis of bilateral KCS was confirmed, the following protocol was established: In the ambulatory clinic, one drop of anesthetic eye drops (Allergan, São Paulo, Brazil) was instilled in each eye topically, 3 times at an interval of 5 min; then, 0.3 mL of HPRP was administered with an insulin syringe and needle at 0.1 mL in the third eyelid gland, 0.1 mL in the inferior palpebral conjunctiva, and 0.1 mL in the superior palpebral conjunctiva of both eyes (Figure-1). In addition, a topical ocular lubricant (Laboratory Labyes) was prescribed, at one drop twice a day in both eyes, for 6 months. The frequency of injectable HPRP administration was based on the initial improvement of clinical signs and the STT-1 and TBUT results for a maximum of three applications. The dogs whose condition did not improve after the third application were switched to conventional treatment with topical immunosuppressants.
If diagnosed with secondary bacterial infection and ocular inflammation (conjunctivitis or keratitis) in TG and HPRPG, ciprofloxacin-based antibiotic eye drops (Laboratory Labyes), at one drop 3–4 times a day and sodium diclofenac-based anti-inflammatory eye drops (Allergan), at one drop 3 times a day for 15 days, were prescribed [17 (link), 22 , 23 (link)].