Geriatric care has become a very important aspect of veterinary medicine. Although older dogs can have many of the same corneal diseases found in younger dogs, there are three diseases unique to the geriatric. Indolent ulcer: Although first described in the boxer, this disease can be found in any middle aged or geriatric dog; it is seldom seen in a young dog. The disease has also been referred to as a basement membrane dystrophy, boxer ulcer, refractory ulcer, superficial corneal erosion, canine dendritic ulcer, canine persistent superficial comeal ulcer, and recurrent erosions. There are two theories as to etiology. The most widely accepted etiology is a dystrophy involving the basement membrane of the corneal epithelium that results in non-adherence of the epithelium to the stroma. The second theory is a degeneration of the superficial stroma resulting in a thin acellular zone of hyalin collagen. The basement membrane and epithelium cannot adhere to this abnormal stroma. A diagnosis of indolentulcer should not be made in the case of a recurring ulcer caused by KCS, ectopic cilia, exposure keratitis, or entropion.
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