NAVLE Special Senses

Canine Uveitis Study Guide

March 28, 2026 25 min read 16 views
Uveitis refers to inflammation of the uveal tract, which comprises the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It is one of the most common and clinically significant ocular diseases encountered in canine practice.

Overview and Clinical Importance

Uveitis refers to inflammation of the uveal tract, which comprises the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. It is one of the most common and clinically significant ocular diseases encountered in canine practice. The uvea is the highly vascular middle layer of the eye responsible for producing aqueous humor, regulating pupil size, and providing nutrients to the retina.

Uveitis can be classified anatomically as anterior uveitis (inflammation of the iris and ciliary body, also called iridocyclitis), posterior uveitis (inflammation of the choroid, also called choroiditis), or panuveitis (inflammation involving all three structures). Anterior uveitis is the most commonly diagnosed form in dogs.

High-YieldApproximately 40-60% of canine uveitis cases are idiopathic or immune-mediated in origin. Always consider systemic disease when bilateral uveitis is present.
Category Examples Key Features
Immune-Mediated/Idiopathic Idiopathic uveitis, uveodermatologic syndrome (VKH-like), lens-induced uveitis, Golden Retriever pigmentary uveitis Most common category (approximately 75% of cases). Diagnosis of exclusion. May require lifelong treatment.
Infectious - Tick-borne Ehrlichiosis (E. canis), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease (Borrelia) Often bilateral. Associated with thrombocytopenia, hyphema. Test in endemic areas.
Infectious - Fungal Blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, coccidioidomycosis Geographic distribution. Often involves posterior segment (chorioretinitis). Look for respiratory signs.
Infectious - Bacterial Leptospirosis, brucellosis, septicemia, pyometra-associated Leptospirosis: hepatic and renal signs. Brucellosis: reproductive signs. Primary bacterial uveitis is rare.
Neoplastic Lymphoma (most common metastatic), uveal melanoma, iridociliary adenoma/adenocarcinoma Lymphoma: check peripheral lymph nodes. May see iris thickening, hyphema, dyscoria. Aqueous cytology can be diagnostic.
Traumatic/Reflex Blunt or penetrating trauma, corneal ulceration (reflex uveitis), foreign body Usually unilateral. Corneal ulcer causes mild reflex uveitis via axonal reflex and prostaglandin release.
Lens-Induced Phacolytic (cataract protein leakage), phacoclastic (lens capsule rupture) Common in diabetic cataracts. Phacoclastic more severe. Treat uveitis before cataract surgery.

Pathophysiology

Blood-Aqueous Barrier (BAB)

The blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) is maintained by tight junctions between the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium and the posterior iris epithelium, as well as the endothelium of iris blood vessels. This barrier normally prevents proteins and cells from entering the aqueous humor.

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