VetOnIt clinical notes
Corneal ulcers in horses: examining and sampling the complicated ulcer
How Dr. Rachel Allbaugh approaches the painful equine eye in Vet On It's Advanced Equine Ophthalmology course: infection and melting risk, sedation and nerve blocks for the exam, and culture plus cytology from the ulcer margin.
Updated · VetOnIt
Why equine ulcers can turn quickly
Horses live in environments rich in bacteria and fungi, so corneal wounds are at risk of infection; some horses also begin a melting process even when infection is not involved. [1]
Most painful eyes are easier to examine after sedation and an auriculopalpebral nerve block. [1]
Sample complicated ulcers
Complicated ulcers benefit from diagnostics because of the concern for infection: collect samples for both culture and susceptibility testing and for cytology. [1]
Reading at least one cytology slide yourself is worthwhile: intracellular bacteria within degenerate inflammatory cells can often be identified, and fungal ulcers sometimes show branching hyphae in dense cellular mats. [1]
Sample from the margin of the ulcer, because that is where the active process is. [1]
Related lectures
On-demand lecture
Advanced Equine Ophthalmology: Comprehensive Management of Corneal, Intraocular, and Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders
View on-demand lecture →References
- Advanced Equine Ophthalmology: Management of Corneal, Intraocular and Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders (lecture recording, May 8 2026) VetOnIt lecture transcriptLecture source retained by VetOnIt.