Saturday, February 16, 2008

Dog Health: What Is Entropion?

Although entropion is a somewhat common condition in dogs, few canine owners know about it until their dog is diagnosed. It’s important to be aware of this condition to prevent possible damage to your dog’s eyes.

Entropion is a hereditary condition in which a dog’s eyelid is rolled inwards. This causes irritation to the eye, and over the time it can become so severe that it can cause permanent damage to the dog’s eye and vision. Entropion is painful for a dog, especially if the dog develops chronic conjunctivitis or lesions of the cornea.

Symptoms of entropion include excess discharge and tearing from the eye. Your dog will often be squinting due to irritation and sensitivity to light. The afflicted eye will often look red, and you may see white spots on the cornea. If you suspect your pet has entropion, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian right away to prevent severe complications. A vet will be able to properly diagnose this condition.

The only treatment for entropion is a surgery that tightens the eye lid to prevent it from folding inwards. Multiple surgeries may be required if your dog has developed entropion on more than one eyelid or if the condition is especially severe.

Since entropion is hereditary, there is no way to prevent it except to avoid breeding dogs that have this condition. Although entropion occurs in many breeds, it seems to be particularly severe in mastiffs and chows.

Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/authors/324/Jason-Ladock
Jason Ladock

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