Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Corneal Ulcers in Dogs: A Case Report

Abstract

The development and complication of corneal ulcers (CU) in dogs has become a serious burden in pet health. Dogs with exaggerated juvenilelike craniofacial conformations, such as pug breed, are twenty times more prone to develop this condition. Although most of the cases are treated without surgical intervention, complicated and infected cases could lead to permanent blindness and other related complications. New approaches in treating this condition with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been proposed with great results. Given their immunomodulation and regenerative properties, local administration of MSCs has proven to be safe and efficient in treating ocular related health conditions. This manuscript presents a complicated case of a canine CU treated with local infiltration of 1x106 canine dental pulp MSCs (cDMSCs). Stem cell therapy was performed at the Central Medica Veterinaria in Colima, Mexico with the consent of the owner, as it was hypothesized that the regenerative properties of MSCs could potentially alleviate the patient ́s condition. Notorious improvement was reported after 12 hours of infiltration, and neovascularization process was observed within the next few days. The patient was discharged on the 29th day of treatment, with minimal scar and fully regain normal vision. Therefore, using MSCs is a viable option for treating corneal ulcers in dogs.