Dogs are lovely creatures and the best family companions. Since they are our best friends, it is only natural to feel sad when they are sick. The truth is that dogs, like humans, are not prone to diseases, infections, and pain.
Entropion is a dangerous eye condition that primarily affects wrinkled-faced dog breeds whose skin folds. So, if you own one of these, you must educate yourself on the subject.
What is Entropion In Dogs?
Dogs entropion is a malformation of the eyelid. The eyelids are rolled inwards, and the lashes constantly rub the cornea. It is a dangerous condition that can affect the dog’s vision and lead to corneal ulcer, cornea scaring, perforation, eye irritation, vision impairment, etc. (*)
Entropion can be developed on both the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid. It usually affects both eyes, and if it is not treated, it may cause some serious eye problems.
Dogs’ entropion can be genetic or inherited, acquired or spastic. The most common kind of entropion is the genetic one. It is mainly manifested in dogs with wrinkled faces and dropped eyes. If your pup has generic entropion, it will start right after birth.
The second form is the acquired one. A dog can develop acquired entropion if it experiences some changes in the affected eye muscles.
The third one is the spastic entropion, which is a temporary condition. It is usually caused if the pup has some kind of infection like an ulcer or conjunctivitis.
What Causes Entropion In Dogs?
Determined by the different symptoms, the condition divides into primary and secondary entropion. The primary entropion can happen because of two causes: some deficiency during the pup’s development or a congenital disability.
Primary entropion is more often found in puppies. It develops if the entropion is genetic. It is more common in purebred dogs such as Chow-Chow, Boxer, Doberman, Cocker, Shar Pei, Springer Spaniel, Hound, Bulldog, Mastiff, Border Collie, etc.
Primary entropion is common in short-nosed dog breeds where the nose and the face create a lot of pressure on the inner eye. It also manifests in giant or sporting dog breeds because their eye corner has extra skin.
The secondary entropion happens due to environmental reasons or some health problem. It is usually caused by corneal scarring, blepharospasm, nerve damage, obesity/weight loss, or eye infections. It affects all breeds, but it manifests in older dogs.
Whether the condition is primary or secondary entropion, it can cause serious eye problems.
How Does It Manifest?
A few symptoms indicate that your dog is suffering from entropion. However, because entropion is more common in puppies than in older dogs, you need to pay more attention if you have young dogs in your home. Call your veterinarian immediately if you see any malformations in your dog’s eye.
Swollen Eyelid That Is Rolled Inward
The first and most common symptom of entropion is the eyelid that is rolled inward the skin.
Watery Eyers: Uncontrolled Tearing
If you notice any excessive tearing from the dog’s eyes, it may be because its eyelid is turned inside and suffers from entropion.
A Lot Of Bloody Discharge Or Pus
Another sign of entropion is a bloody discharge or pus that comes out from the corner of the dog’s eyes. If you see a thick and green discharge or a bloody one, you should take your dog to the vet.
A Lot Of Squinting, Rubbing, and Blinking
While these symptoms do not always scream entropion, they may be crucial. If your dog is squinting a lot, it may be because it is trying to keep the eyelashes away from the eye cornea—the squinting accompanied by eye rubbing is a serious indicator that your dog has an eye infection.
Excessive blinking is also a sign that something is bothering your dog’s eyesight. This condition is referred to as blepharospasms, which means your dog’s excessive blinking occurs because it feels some pain or discomfort in the eye.
Red Eye
The red-eye is also known as conjunctivitis, and it is one of the most common infections caused by entropion. When the hairs from the eyelash rub on the eye cornea, it causes an eye infection, therefore conjunctivitis.
Corneal Ulcers
Ulcer of the cornea is caused by excessive hair rubbing. When the hairs from the eyelashes rub the cornea, they cause an infection. This may be accompanied by cornea scarring, which can be hazardous to the eye. If your dog’s eye turns cloudy or has a white tinge, it may indicate corneal ulcers.
Other symptoms that may manifest simultaneously with the ones mentioned above are difficulty opening the eye, inflammation, lethargy, aggression, and depression.
How is Entropion Diagnosed?
Now that we know this is scary, you may ask yourself, is it hard to do diagnosis entropion?
The sooner it is diagnosed, the same as all other diseases, the better. If you notice anything strange happening with your dog’s eyes, you should schedule an appointment with a veterinary eye specialist for a fluorescein stain test. This test will help the vet determine whether your dog has corneal damage.
If you consult a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, it will say that surgery is the only option. Though, that is not true. Many medications and natural remedies for entropion can save your dog from unnecessary surgical procedures.
Still, most dogs get through it quickly if the case is severe and requires a surgical correction. The dog should wear a collar sometime after the plastic surgery to prevent eye damage. With the help of the collar and oral medications, your pup will soon be as good as new!
What Is The Treatment?
As mentioned before, there are many different treatments for entropion that can relieve symptoms. While many of you would choose the easier path that means surgery, there are a lot of dog parents who would like to try other alternatives. (*)
- Medication – Depending on the severity of the infection, the entropion can be cured with oral or topical medications. Yet, never take medication on your own; always consult with your vet first.
- Temporary Sutures – One possible treatment for entropion is suturing the dog’s eyelids. If this procedure is done when the dog is still a puppy, it will help the condition to resolve or manifest mildly.
- Entropion Surgery – Entropion Surgery may be the only option if your pup is born with entropion. This procedure is called HotzCelsus or Blepharoplasty, and it is done when the dog is at least six months old.
- Natural Remedies (Homeopathy) – Homeopathy is another successful treatment for entropion. When treating your dog with homeopathy, use one of the following remedies: Borax or Calcarea Carbonica. They are proven to have significant effects on dogs with eye problems. Plus, homeopathy is cheaper and much safer than surgery!
Can You Prevent Entropion In Dogs?
Entropion can be prevented if you try rolling the eyelids of the dog while it is still a puppy. This is exceptionally effective if you have a dog with a wrinkled face showing skin folds.
You need to roll the pup’s eyelids manually. Start doing this when the dog is still young and repeat it a couple of times a day. If you practice this technique, you will help your dog outgrow the condition.
Aside from this method, it is pretty challenging to prevent entropion. But, if it is treated early, it will not have heavy consequences. For this reason, you need to take your pup on routine wellness check-ups at least twice a year.
Which Dog Breeds Are Most Affected?
As mentioned earlier, dogs with excess skin and very droopy eyes have the most potential to develop entropion in their life. The condition also affects giant breeds and sporting breeds.
The following dog breeds are most affected by this eye disease: Bloodhound, Boxer, Mastiff, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Doberman, Chow-Chow, Rottweiler, Labrador, Bull Terrier, Pekingese, Pug, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Great Dane, Irish Setter, and Poodle.
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*photo by gabitodorean – depositphotos