| Ridgebacks by Kat |
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When eyelids turn inward, they allow the dog's eyelashes and fur to rub against the eye causing irritation, excessive tearing and pain. Left untreated,
this irritation can cause infections and painful ulcers on the surface of the eye that lead to blindness.
The most common causes of entropion are:
Heredity .... the tendency toward entropion can be an inherited defect. If one or both parents of the dog have the condition, they are likely to pass it on to
their offspring. Therefore, veterinarians suggest that dogs with entropion should not be used for breeding.
Irritation from dust, allergies, injury, etc. .... temporary minor eye irritations can cause some dogs to squint and rub their eyes which creates a vicious
cycle - the more they squint and rub, the more it hurts and the more they squint and rub! Eventually, this can cause the muscles sorrounding the eyelid
to spasm and force the eyelid to turn inward, creating an entropion condition. In some cases, the dog's eyelashes may be growing in the wrong
direction and are irritating the eyeball as well.
Relief for entropion:
Entropion that is caused by a temporary eye irritation can sometimes be relieved by using appropriate medication prescribed by your veterinarian. In
many cases, though, entropion needs to be corrected surgically.
Surgery to correct entropion is a fairly straightforward procedure that most veterinarians are able to perform. It may help to think of it as an "eyelid tuck" -
depending on which eyelid is involved (upper or lower, sometimes both), a small amount of skin is removed and the eyelid sewn into its proper
outward-turning position. In cases where muscle spasm is believed to be the culprit, the veterinarian may choose to also alter the muscles under the
eyelids to prevent spasms from recurring.
Most veterinarians shave the area around the eye before surgery. Some dogs' eyelids swell after surgery but you shouldn't be alarmed - it may make
your dog look awful but the swelling will disappear in a couple of days. It's important that the dog not be allowed to rub his eyes before the stitches are
removed (10-14 days) so your veterinarian will probably send your dog home with an "elizabethan collar", a large soft plastic cone that attaches to your
dog's regular collar and is designed to prevent him from scratching his face. Most dogs don't like wearing the cone at first but quickly become
accustomed to it.
The cost of entropion surgery seems to vary greatly from doctor to doctor. You may need to get estimates from several vets in your area to find a
reasonable price for your budget. Keep in mind, though, that cheapest is not necessarily best!
Baby puppies with entropion occasionally outgrow the condition so some veterinarians prefer to delay surgery until the puppy reaches adolescence.
You should not neglect the puppy's eyes, though, while hoping the problem will go away! The veterinarian should prescribe daily eye drops or ointment
to relieve irritation during this time to keep them from becoming worse. In severe cases, "eye tacking" may be recommended to provide temporary relief
while the puppy matures enough for surgery. Eye tacking involves temporary sutures that hold the eyelid in its proper position for up to two weeks.
Some veterinarians are willing to perform entropion correction surgery on puppies as young as eight weeks so discuss the situation with your doctor to
determine what options may be best for your dog. For a few dogs, one surgical correction is not enough and they may need a second surgery later in
their lives.
Entropion can be an inherited condition but can also be acquired as a result of temporary eye irritation. (see the above paragraphs on causes of
entropion) Because the breeder has no control over what happens to your puppy once you take it home, all she can really do to protect your puppy from
entropion is to use entropion-free breeding stock and to have your puppy examined by a veterinarian before purchase to ensure that it is entropion-free
at the time of sale.
this irritation can cause infections and painful ulcers on the surface of the eye that lead to blindness.
The most common causes of entropion are:
Heredity .... the tendency toward entropion can be an inherited defect. If one or both parents of the dog have the condition, they are likely to pass it on to
their offspring. Therefore, veterinarians suggest that dogs with entropion should not be used for breeding.
Irritation from dust, allergies, injury, etc. .... temporary minor eye irritations can cause some dogs to squint and rub their eyes which creates a vicious
cycle - the more they squint and rub, the more it hurts and the more they squint and rub! Eventually, this can cause the muscles sorrounding the eyelid
to spasm and force the eyelid to turn inward, creating an entropion condition. In some cases, the dog's eyelashes may be growing in the wrong
direction and are irritating the eyeball as well.
Relief for entropion:
Entropion that is caused by a temporary eye irritation can sometimes be relieved by using appropriate medication prescribed by your veterinarian. In
many cases, though, entropion needs to be corrected surgically.
Surgery to correct entropion is a fairly straightforward procedure that most veterinarians are able to perform. It may help to think of it as an "eyelid tuck" -
depending on which eyelid is involved (upper or lower, sometimes both), a small amount of skin is removed and the eyelid sewn into its proper
outward-turning position. In cases where muscle spasm is believed to be the culprit, the veterinarian may choose to also alter the muscles under the
eyelids to prevent spasms from recurring.
Most veterinarians shave the area around the eye before surgery. Some dogs' eyelids swell after surgery but you shouldn't be alarmed - it may make
your dog look awful but the swelling will disappear in a couple of days. It's important that the dog not be allowed to rub his eyes before the stitches are
removed (10-14 days) so your veterinarian will probably send your dog home with an "elizabethan collar", a large soft plastic cone that attaches to your
dog's regular collar and is designed to prevent him from scratching his face. Most dogs don't like wearing the cone at first but quickly become
accustomed to it.
The cost of entropion surgery seems to vary greatly from doctor to doctor. You may need to get estimates from several vets in your area to find a
reasonable price for your budget. Keep in mind, though, that cheapest is not necessarily best!
Baby puppies with entropion occasionally outgrow the condition so some veterinarians prefer to delay surgery until the puppy reaches adolescence.
You should not neglect the puppy's eyes, though, while hoping the problem will go away! The veterinarian should prescribe daily eye drops or ointment
to relieve irritation during this time to keep them from becoming worse. In severe cases, "eye tacking" may be recommended to provide temporary relief
while the puppy matures enough for surgery. Eye tacking involves temporary sutures that hold the eyelid in its proper position for up to two weeks.
Some veterinarians are willing to perform entropion correction surgery on puppies as young as eight weeks so discuss the situation with your doctor to
determine what options may be best for your dog. For a few dogs, one surgical correction is not enough and they may need a second surgery later in
their lives.
Entropion can be an inherited condition but can also be acquired as a result of temporary eye irritation. (see the above paragraphs on causes of
entropion) Because the breeder has no control over what happens to your puppy once you take it home, all she can really do to protect your puppy from
entropion is to use entropion-free breeding stock and to have your puppy examined by a veterinarian before purchase to ensure that it is entropion-free
at the time of sale.