Entropian is a disorder of the eyelids in dogs and occurs when the eyelids roll in toward the eye. Enropian can occur in one or both eyes and is often a result of breed disposition or heredity. The hair on the surface of the eyelid rubs against the surface of the eye and can cause irritation, ulcers and vision loss.
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Occurance
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Entropion can occur in any dog breed; however, certain breeds are more commonly affected due to the conformation of their heads and the normal folds of their skin. These breeds include the mastiff, bullmastiff, Shar pei and chow chow.
Cause
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Several breeds have been shown to carry a hereditary gene for this disorder; therefore, affected dogs should not be bred. Entropion can also result from trauma (cicatricial entropion) or can be a physiological reaction to pain (spastic).
Symptoms
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Symptoms of entropion include red watery eyes, squinting and pawing at the eyes. You may also notice that your dog is sensitive to light.
Diagnosis
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Entropion is easily diagnosed simply by the appearance of the in-rolling eyelid. Your veterinarian will likely apply a stain to your dog's eye to check for ulcers and scarring.
Treatment
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Treatment for dogs under 5 or 6 months of age will include temporarily "tacking" the eyelid down so that it does not roll inward to allow the dogs facial feature to reach maturity. Older dogs are treated surgically to remove excess skin and tighten the skin around the eyes. Repeat surgeries are often required.
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