The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the prevalence and distribution of presumed inherited eye diseases in pugs in Germany and to evaluate potential risk factors for selected diseases. Therefore, ophthalmic findings from 294 pugs provided by the German panel of the European Eye Scheme programme were analyzed retrospectively. Associations between diseases and age and sex were assessed using multivariable linear probability models and correlation analyses and prevalences with 95% confidence intervals were reported. Entropion was the most frequent diagnosis (72.4%), followed by pigmentary keratopathy (36.7%), macroblepharon (24.8%), distichiasis (20.1%) and non-congenital hereditary cataract (12.2%). Based on anatomic location, 81.3% of pugs had at least one adnexal disorder and 41.5% at least one corneal disorder. Increasing age was significantly associated with a higher probability of pigmentary keratopathy, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and hereditary cataract. No significant association with sex was identified. Pugs in this German population were commonly affected by adnexal and corneal diseases. Further ophthalmic screening and prospective studies are warranted to better characterize presumed hereditary eye diseases of this breed, clarify inheritance patterns, and improve ocular welfare in pugs.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which inflammatory cells infiltrate the exocrine glands, reducing glandular secretory function and ultimately resulting in keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes) and xerostomia (oral dryness). Cardiovascular risk factors are more prevalent in patients with SS than in healthy controls; patients with SS and metabolic syndrome also have higher leptin and inflammatory cytokine levels. In this study, we investigated the effects of HGR4113, a structural analogue of glabridin that promotes mitochondrial function and is in clinical trials for obesity treatment, on the development of SS in non-obese diabetic NOD/ShiLtJ mice. HGR4113 inhibited IL-17 production by regulating STAT3 activity and the metabolic profile of splenic CD4[+] T cells; it also increased the frequency of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells and decreased immunoglobulin production. Oral administration of HGR4113 (100 mg/kg) improved salivary flow rate, reduced lymphocyte infiltration and lowered inflammatory cytokine levels in the salivary glands of NOD/ShiLtJ mice. HGR4113 also decreased the frequencies of splenic IL-17-producing T and B cells, germinal-centre B cells and plasma cells ex vivo in NOD/ShiLtJ mice. Additionally, 3D epithelial structure formation from salivary gland cells of HGR4113-treated NOD/ShiLtJ mice increased, as did the levels of E-cadherin, aquaporin-5, α-SMA and cytokeratin-14. Finally, treatment with HGR4113 promoted the development of 3D salivary epithelial structures in vitro. HGR4113 improves salivary gland hypofunction by inhibiting lymphocyte infiltration and inflammation in the salivary glands and restoring damaged salivary tissue in SS-like NOD/ShiLtJ mice.

Brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS) is a complex condition resulting from craniofacial anatomy, predisposing affected animals to various ocular surface diseases. Data describing ocular disorders in both brachycephalic cats and dogs from Türkiye are limited. This case series included 40 brachycephalic animals (30 cats, 10 dogs) presented to the Surgery Clinic of Aksaray University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine between December 2022 and May 2024. All animals underwent ophthalmic examinations, including Schirmer Tear Test-1 (STT-1), tear film break-up time (TFBUT), and fluorescein staining. In dogs, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and corneal ulcer were the most common diagnoses (n = 5 each), whereas bacterial conjunctivitis (n = 19) and corneal ulcer (n = 10) predominated in cats. A moderate negative correlation was identified between age and STT-1 values in dogs (r = -0.636; P = 0.048), and a positive correlation was observed between STT-1 and TFBUT in both species. These findings indicate that BOS-related ocular disorders are prevalent in brachycephalic breeds, and routine ophthalmic screening, including STT-1 and fluorescein testing, may facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention.

Canine tear proteomics is an emerging field with significant potential for advancing both veterinary ophthalmology and comparative biomedical research. Tears are a readily accessible, non-invasive biofluid that contain a mixture of proteins involved in ocular surface protection, immune defense, and intercellular signaling. In dogs, tear proteomics studies have revealed biomarkers associated with various ocular and non-ocular diseases including keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), glaucoma, neoplasia, and diabetes mellitus. This review compiles all previous studies conducted on the comprehensive canine tear proteome and highlights some of the key tear proteomic studies in human biomedical research. Tear film composition, study design, technological advancements, and select tear proteins are discussed along with key protein alterations and their use as potential biomarkers of disease. Fundamental challenges, clinical implications, and future directions of this rapidly growing field are discussed in detail. As proteomic technology and analytical techniques continue to evolve, canine tear proteomics will become a valuable tool for the veterinary ophthalmologist, enabling the early identification and diagnosis of ocular disease as well as providing a means for monitoring treatment outcomes, disease progression, and overall prognosis for the canine patient.

Objective This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted to evaluate patient-reported scores for the 5-part Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) over a six-month treatment period using cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.09% (CsA 0.09%). Materials and methods Patients with moderate-to-severe dry eye disease (DED) who completed the DEQ-5 at baseline and at least one post-baseline assessment after one, three, and six months of twice-daily CsA 0.09% treatment were included in the study. Adverse events were recorded. Results A total of 392 patients entered the study. At baseline, the mean (standard deviation (SD)) DEQ-5 score was 14.7 (3.4). The scores improved to 12.6 (4.1), 11.9 (4.2), and 10.8 (4.4) at one, three, and six months, respectively, corresponding with reduced DED symptoms. Most patients reported improvements in DEQ-5 scores at each time point; by month six, 69/88 (78.4%) patients reported improved DEQ-5 scores from baseline, while 8/88 (9.1%) reported no changes and 11/88 (12.5%) reported progression of DED symptoms. Conclusions CsA 0.09% was well tolerated and led to significant improvements in DEQ-5 scores, reflecting better management of DED symptoms at one, three, and six months of treatment. These results highlight the potential of CsA 0.09% as a long-term treatment option for moderate to severe DED.