Eye infections are extremely common in dogs, says Dr. Lionel Sebbag. “This is true in Israel and around the world – and it’s a serious concern.” Left untreated, these infections can lead to vision loss or even loss of the eye itself.
Fortunately, treatment is available: When a bacterial infection is diagnosed, dogs are often prescribed antibiotic eye drops. The catch? For severe infections, these drops must be administered every hour or two – day and night.
“Even in the middle of the night,” emphasizes Sebbag, a researcher and senior lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “It’s an intensive, exhausting treatment plan. Compliance is very difficult, but that’s what’s required to get enough antibiotic into the eye and bring about improvement.”
A recent study by Sebbag and his team offers hope for both dogs and their sleep-deprived owners. Conducted at Hebrew University’s Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, the research explores a way to make eye drops “stickier,” helping them stay on the eye longer and significantly reduce how often they must be administered.
Their findings were published in Veterinary Ophthalmology and involved testing the formulation on 10 dogs – half brachycephalic breeds, such as shih tzus and bulldogs, and half non-brachycephalic. Brachycephalic are the breeds with big heads.
“Brachycephalic dogs are man-made breeds that are prone to all sorts of diseases – ocular, respiratory, dermatologic, cardiac,” says Sebbag. “Due to their bulging eyes and unique physiological and anatomical quirks, they’re especially prone to eye inflammation and infections. We even have a name for it: brachycephalic ocular syndrome.”
The study’s rationale was to examine antibiotic retention in dogs with varied head shapes. “Unlike humans, dogs come in many shapes and sizes – from tiny Chihuahuas to Great Danes,” Sebbag explains. “A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.”
The innovation? The team added cross-linked hyaluronic acid, a biocompatible mucoadhesive polymer, to the antibiotic solution. This significantly extended how long the medication remained on the surface of the eye.
“If we can get the drug to stay in the tear film longer, we can reduce the frequency of administration to three or four times a day,” Sebbag says. “That’s a game changer in terms of compliance and treatment success.”
They tested two formulations, using commonly prescribed antibiotics – cefazolin and chloramphenicol – which are popular in Israel, Europe and the United States. These are considered good antibiotics against common bacterial infections in canine eyes but typically require extremely frequent dosing.
“The bacteria that cause these infections are well-known,” Sebbag says. “We often confirm the diagnosis by swabbing the eye and culturing the sample, like at Sheba’s microbiology lab. But even with a perfectly chosen antibiotic, delivery is still a major challenge. Our goal was to improve that part of the equation.”
Importantly, the study did not involve laboratory animals. “All dogs were healthy, much-loved pets,” he emphasizes. “Their comfort was ensured, and no disease was induced.”
Man’s beset friend
Sebbag’s unique perspective combines clinical expertise with scientific training. After completing a residency in comparative ophthalmology at the University of California-Davis and earning a PhD in biomedical sciences and pharmacology, he turned his focus to practical research that could bridge the gap between lab and clinic.
“I’ve worked on many projects where the central problem is inefficiency,” he says. “Standard eye drops only stay on the eye for about 30 minutes – nowhere near long enough to deliver the needed concentration over time. So you end up having to dose again and again.”
With a better formulation, dogs are less likely to resist treatment, owners are less likely to give up, and outcomes are more likely to improve. There may even be future benefits for humans.
“Canine and human eyes are anatomically and physiologically similar,” he notes. “If we want ocular research to translate to humans, dogs are a much better model than mice, rats or rabbits.”
Millions of small mammals are used in eye research every year, but translating the results to humans rarely works because of anatomical and physiological differences, he explains. “This kind of veterinary research offers a more relevant – and more ethical – path.”
Beyond convenience for pooch and parent, the implications are serious. Incomplete antibiotic treatment regimens don’t just endanger pets – they can contribute to antibiotic resistance, a growing threat in both human and veterinary medicine.
“Eye pathogens are becoming multidrug resistant,” Sebbag warns. “If we can improve how antibiotics are delivered and retained, we reduce the likelihood of resistance developing.”
The bottom line? When the treatment is this burdensome, even the most cooperative dog will eventually resist and head for the hills. And every missed dose gives bacteria a chance to fight back. Innovations like those led by Sebbag and his team could lead to better solutions than closing the door.
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