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Entropion is an ocular condition frequently identified in most companion animals. It is a rolling-in of the eyelids, and can involve the upper or lower eyelids, and in some cases, both. Entropion causes discomfort due to the hair and/or lashes rubbing on the cornea.
Homeopathic veterinarian Richard Pitcairn DVM PhD offers this tip to check for entropion. With proper diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is excellent for maintain comfort and a healthy, visual eye. Several successful surgical techniques are employed, the most common of which is the modified Hotz-Celsus procedure.
Acquired Entropion
Place one end of the tape near your lower eyelashes, then pull down gently and attach the other end of the tape to your upper cheek. Ask your doctor to demonstrate proper technique and placement of the tape. This procedure can be done in your doctor's office with local anesthesia. After numbing the eyelid, your doctor places several stitches in specific locations along the affected eyelid.
But many other breeds, from Bull Terriers to Spaniels or Golden Retrievers can also get it. If left untreated, entropion can lead to vision deficits caused by corneal ulceration, corneal perforation or severe scarring. Recently, collagen or Hyaluronic acid compounds have been used as fillers to “puff out” the entropic eyelids in elderly animals that are poor candidate for surgical correction. Cicatricial entropion is seen less commonly and is due to scarring of the eyelids or conjunctiva, causing contraction of the eye lids toward the globe. In most cases, once the entropion is corrected, it will not return.
Red, Swollen Eyes
One technique that you can try at home is to “roll” your puppy’s eyelids outwards several times a day. This can help relax the muscles that are causing the eyelids to invert. The technique could help your puppy outgrow his entropion. Brachycephalic breeds need a different approach than dogs with very droopy eyes.
In these cases it has a strictly genetic cause and cannot be prevented, except through breeding programs the avoid using cats that have no family history of the problem. Your vet may recommend delaying entropion surgery if your cat is a young, larger breed, male cat because sometimes they will grow out of it. Entropion most often affects the outer aspect of the lower eyelids of one or both eyes. In the flat, round-faced breeds of cat, the lower eyelids closest to the nose may be affected.
Treatment
Dressings should typically be changed regularly and the surgical wound should be kept clean and watched for signs of infection. Cats with severely turned eyelids may need surgical treatment right away. Entropion often occurs in brachycephalic breed cats at birth.
The medial canthus is most commonly affected in brachycephalic breeds including Shih Tzus, Pekingese, English Bulldogs, Pugs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Primary entropion is also common in large breed male cats. While there are a few different techniques, entropion surgery involves removing a small wedge or “smile-shaped” piece of fur and skin from below the abnormal eyelid margin.
Shortly after Leo turned 1 year old, he began to develop allergies. He began to scratch around his head and neck excessively, and his eyes began to weep brownish fluid continuously throughout the day. Local anesthesia reverses spastic entropion, but not with anatomic entropion. Surgery is generally required to fully correct entropion, but short-term fixes can be useful if you can't tolerate surgery or you have to delay it.
Cicatricial entropion is uncommon in cats and happens when the eyelid is damaged or swollen causing an abnormal rubbing of the eye. The eye’s anatomy is initially normal, but chronic irritation, especially from feline herpesvirus-1, causes damage that is sometimes permanent. Most often, spastic entropion involves only one eye, but it can involve both.
This can be very painful as their eyelashes and fur will irritate and damage the surface of the eye over time. If you suspect that your cat might be developing entropion, your veterinarian will want to examine your feline’s eyes. Entropion surgery may cost less than $1,000, depending on the veterinarian’s location and experience level, and if the entropion involves one or both eyes.
So it’s important to recognize entropion quickly and take steps to resolve it. Most vets will tell you it can only be cured with surgery … but as I’ll explain later, that’s not always true. Trauma caused by hair rubbing on the clear cornea can lead to ulcers.
The most common surgery is called Hotz-Celsus surgery or blepharoplasty. It shouldn’t be done until your dog’s head conformation is fully developed. This condition will usually resolve once the underlying cause is treated. For example, once the pain of a corneal ulcer is relieved, the entropion should ease as well. It happens most often in breeds with wrinkly skin or droopy eyes … like Shar-peis or Bloodhounds. Brachycephalic breeds like Pugs or Bulldogs are also prone to entropion.
He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in treating eye disorders . Usually, your veterinarian will recommend waiting until your pet is done growing to have this procedure, since your pup’s eyelids may change as they mature. Surgery is the only way to correct entropion in adult dogs, and to prevent the pain and irritation that would otherwise happen in the eyes on a daily basis.
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