dog eyelid entropion

Entropion is an eyelid disorder that can affect dogs, cats, and humans. This is a potentially painful condition that, if left untreated, can cause serious damage to the surface of the eye. Fortunately, there are treatments for entropion in dogs.

What is entropion?

Entropion in dogs is an eye disease that causes the eyelids to turn inwards. This can cause eyelashes and other hair around the eye to rub against the cornea (surface of the eyeball), causing irritation. Entropion affects both the upper and lower eyelids and may occur in one or both eyes.

Symptoms of entropion in dogs

Most cases of entropion usually occur in dogs under one year old, but dogs of any age can develop the condition. If left untreated, eye disease can progress rapidly. If your dog develops any eye abnormalities, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

symptom

squint

Excessive tearing

eye discharge

swelling around the eyes

Rubbing eyes

red eyes/conjunctivitis

excessive blinking

corneal ulcer

Dogs with entropion and corneal ulcers

squint

Dogs will squint their eyes to try to keep the hair away from the cornea.

Excessive tearing

The tearing is most likely watery discharge (rather than tears) from your dog's eyes due to irritation. Drainage may cause the fur around your dog's eyes to become tangled.

eye discharge

Many larger breeds will develop discharge from the outer corners of the eyes, indicating the possibility of entropion. However, discharge may indicate another eye problem besides entropion. The discharge may be thick and green in color.

swelling around the eyes

Swelling of the eye indicates that the cornea may be damaged due to entropion.

Rubbing eyes

Dogs with entropion will feel discomfort and try to relieve the discomfort by rubbing their eyes. Activities around the eyes may cause eye swelling.

red eyes/conjunctivitis

Non-infectious conjunctivitis can develop when hair rubs against the cornea.

excessive blinking

Dogs with entropion may develop a habit of blinking excessively, also known as blepharospasm. This is an involuntary reaction to eye irritation or pain.

corneal ulcer

Hair rubbing against your eyes may cause itching or pain. It can also cause irritation, leading to corneal ulcers. Once a corneal ulcer occurs, if the entropion of the eyelids is not treated promptly, the condition will continue to worsen. This can leave scars on the cornea, affecting vision. 1 It may also progress to more severe corneal ulcers, which can permanently damage the eye. You may see your cornea become cloudy and have a white or bluish tinge.

What causes entropion in dogs?

Entropy is thought to be hereditary. Entropion can occur in any dog, but certain short-nosed, giant breed, and sporting dog breeds may be more prone to entropion. Short-nosed breeds, such as bulldogs, have greater tension on the eye ligaments, which may cause the eyelids to turn inwards. Conversely, large dog and sporting dog breeds may have excessive laxity of the ocular ligaments, causing the eyelids to turn inwards. In other breeds, however, skull shape, facial folds, and pronounced eyes may cause entropion of the eyelids.

The following breeds are among those more likely to develop this condition:

bullmastiff

Bulldog

knight charles

chesapeake bay retriever

Great Dane

pug

Shar Pei

saint bernard dog

Entropion may also occur secondary to other eye diseases, trauma, or neurological disorders. In some cases, another eye disease may cause temporary entropion. 1 If this is the case, treating the underlying eye disease may also be effective in treating entropion.

How does a veterinarian diagnose entropion in dogs?

The sooner your veterinarian diagnoses entropion, the less damage will be done to the cornea. Entropion can usually be diagnosed with an eye exam.

Your veterinarian will then need to check your dog for corneal damage, and if so, your pet will require additional treatment. To determine this, your veterinarian will perform a fluorescein stain test on your dog's eyes to look for corneal damage:

A sterile strip coated with a diluent (such as saline) and a safe fluorescent dye is placed into the dog's eye. Your veterinarian will ensure that the test strip does not come into direct contact with the cornea.   

The dog's eyes will be flushed of excess stains.

A special light will be used to see if there are any stains on the cornea.

Stains indicate the presence of ulcers or abrasions.

How to Treat Entropion of the Eyelids

Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition. Your veterinarian will determine the severity of the entropion and whether the cornea is damaged.

drug

Topical antibiotic ointment may be recommended to prevent infection and to lubricate the eye. This condition may or may not progress, so it's important to use your medication as directed, see your veterinarian for recommended follow-up, and contact them at the first sign of any changes in your eyes.

suture

For puppies with entropion, the eyelids can be temporarily closed with sutures that can be removed as the puppy grows. 1 Some dogs' heads may grow and change shape enough that the entropion becomes mild or resolves completely.

Surgery

If the entropion is severe enough to cause corneal damage, surgery may be necessary. 1Adult dogs with entropion may require surgery to permanently reshape the eyelids so that they no longer roll inward. This procedure is called blepharoplasty. This is a plastic surgery procedure that involves removing excess eyelid tissue and sewing the eyelids into a more favorable position for normal eyelid function. 2 Blepharoplasty can be performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist or an experienced veterinarian.

Prognosis for dogs with entropion

After surgery, your veterinarian will send your dog home with an electronic collar to prevent rubbing or scratching of the eyes. Topical and/or oral medications may also be needed to control pain, reduce inflammation, and prevent infection.

Be sure to follow your veterinarian's recommendations for treatment and follow-up examinations. Your veterinarian will check your dog's eyes regularly to monitor your pet's recovery and ensure eye health.  

How to prevent entropion of eyelids

Although preventing entropion can be difficult, it can be detected early. Your veterinarian may notice early signs of entropion during routine health exams, so it's important to take your dog to the vet once or twice a year.

animal tags：