OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare regulation of diabetes mellitus (DM) in dogs with cataracts and well-controlled DM that received an ophthalmic preparation of prednisolone acetate versus diclofenac sodium. ANIMALS 22 client-owned dogs with cataracts and well-controlled DM. PROCEDURES A prospective, randomized, double-masked, experimental study was conducted. On days 0 and 32, serum fructosamine concentrations (SFCs), clinical scores, and body weights were determined. Dogs were assigned to receive a topically administered ophthalmic preparation of either prednisolone acetate 1% or diclofenac sodium 0.1% in each eye 4 times daily for 28 days. Data analysis was conducted with generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS Findings indicated no meaningful differences in SFCs, clinical scores, or body weights between the treatment groups on days 0 or 32. Clinical score on day 0 was positively associated with SFC, as indicated by the corresponding rate of change such that each 1 -unit increase in clinical score was associated with an approximately 45.6 ± 9.4 μmol/L increase in SFC. In addition, the least squares mean ± SEM SFC was higher in spayed females (539.20 ± 19.23 μmol/L; n = 12) than in castrated males (458.83 ± 23.70 μmol/L; 8) but did not substantially differ between sexually intact males (446.27 ± 49.72 μmol/L; 2) and spayed females or castrated males regardless of the treatment group assigned. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings indicated no evidence for any differential effect on DM regulation (assessed on the basis of SFCs, clinical scores, and body weights) in dogs treated topically with an ophthalmic preparation of prednisolone versus an ophthalmic preparation of diclofenac. Additional research investigating plasma concentrations of topically applied ophthalmic glucocorticoid medications is warranted.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in pupil size and intraocular pressure (IOP) following topical application of a 0.5% tropicamide solution in the eyes of healthy butorphanol-sedated dogs. ANIMALS: 12 healthy adult Beagles. PROCEDURES: In a randomized crossover study consisting of 2 treatment periods with a 1-week washout between periods, dogs received an IM injection of butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) or an equal volume of sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. For each dog, 1 drop of 0.5% tropicamide ophthalmic solution was topically instilled in one eye and 1 drop of artificial tear solution was topically instilled in the other eye 10 minutes after the IM injection and again 5 minutes later. Extent of sedation, pupil size, and IOP were evaluated from 20 minutes before to 80 minutes after the IM injection and compared among treatment combinations. RESULTS: Butorphanol induced mild (n = 9) or moderate (3) sedation in all dogs and slightly delayed the onset of, but did not prevent, tropicamide-induced mydriasis. Butorphanol caused a significant increase in IOP, which was not exacerbated by tropicamide-induced mydriasis; however, that increase was generally not sufficient to exceed the upper limit of the IOP reference range. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that butorphanol did not prevent tropicamide-induced mydriasis but did increase the IOP in ophthalmologically normal Beagles. Although the butorphanol-induced increase in IOP did not appear clinically relevant for the dogs of this study, that may not be true for dogs with glaucoma, and care should be taken when butorphanol is administered to such dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of orally administered raltegravir in cats with experimentally induced ocular and respiratory feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection. ANIMALS 14 healthy 6-month-old unvaccinated specific pathogen–free cats. PROCEDURES On day 0, all cats were experimentally inoculated by topical application of 0.1 mL of a solution containing 106 plaque-forming units of FHV-1 strain FH2CS to the inferior conjunctival fornix of each eye. Cats were randomly assigned to receive either raltegravir (80 mg; n = 7) or lactose (250 mg; vehicle; 7), PO, every 12 hours for 14 days beginning on day 1. Cats were assigned clinical ocular and respiratory disease scores every other day from days 0 to 30. Conjunctival swab specimens were collected for detection of FHV-1 by virus isolation and real-time PCR assay at 3-day intervals from days 0 to 30. Confocal microscopy was performed on days 0 and 10 to assess corneal epithelial leukocyte infiltration. The assessed variables and duration of FHV-1 shedding were compared between the 2 treatment groups. RESULTS Cats in both groups developed moderate to severe conjunctivitis and ulcerative keratitis characteristic of FHV-1 infection. Median duration of FHV-1 shedding was shorter and signs of ocular and respiratory disease were less severe for raltegravir-treated cats than for vehicle-treated cats. However, the mean conjunctival FHV-1 titer and corneal epithelial leukocyte count did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested orally administered raltegravir might be effective for alleviation of ocular and respiratory signs of FHV-1 infection in cats.