Twisted eyelids in dogs: causes, symptoms, treatment and postoperative care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Unfortunately, eye pathologies in dogs are not uncommon. For the most part, this happens with hunting or service breeds. However, pets also suffer from eye diseases. One of the most common diseases of the organs of vision is torsion of the eyelid, which can lead to complete loss of vision.

Determination of pathology

Turn of the eyelid in dogs is also called entropion. This is a transformational repositioning of the eyelid that brings the eyeball into contact with the eyelid and eyelashes.

Twisted eyelid in a dog (photo in text) is a very dangerous disease. As soon as the owner notices the symptoms, it is necessary to immediately take the animal to a veterinary clinic. If the pathology is not treated, then the dog may lose an eye and even vision.

Therefore, you should always carefully monitor the he alth of your beloved pet, and if he suddenly notices clouding and redness of the eyes, tearing or purulent discharge, then the dog may need surgical intervention toeyelid correction, which can not be postponed.

Reasons

The occurrence of eyelid torsion in dogs has a number of reasons:

Genetic predisposition. Sometimes this reason is called by specialists, but this is only an assumption, since it can be quite difficult to identify the cause. The gene that would be responsible for the occurrence of this pathology has not been identified. According to the observations of specialists, purebred animals, bred by crossing genetic relatives, mainly suffer from this disease

• Features of the structure of the skull.
• Position of eyeballs.
• Elasticity and eyelid length.
• Trauma to the eyelid or eye.
• Squinting. The habit of squinting is very rare in animals, but still sometimes it happens, which can lead to inversion of the eyelid in dogs.

Entropion can also develop after severe conjunctivitis or scarring of the eyelid.

Signs and symptoms

Twisted eyelids in dogs are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Sensation of sand in the eyes, pain. The dog frequently rubs its eyes with its paws.
• Squinting.
• Fast blinking.
• Anxiety in behavior.
• Increased tearing.
• Purulent discharge.
• Dark lines under the eyes.

It is very problematic to examine the cornea with such symptoms. The dog often looks askance, the eyes of the animal are either strongly covered or completely closed. The dog cannot look at the light.

Third eyelid torsion in dogs

This form of the disease is typical for shepherd dogs, pinschers, great danes. Other breeds very rarely suffer from torsion of the third eyelid. It develops either as a result of degeneration of the cartilaginous part of the eyelid, or as a complication of the follicular form of conjunctivitis.

This type of disease causes deformity of the third eyelid and red eye syndrome. With lacrimation, serous-mucous discharge from the eyes appears. Some affected individuals have a characteristic eyelid spasm or tic that always resolves when treated.

Inversion of the lower eyelid in dogs is most common in Shar Pei and Chow Chows, which have too pronounced skin folds on the muzzle. Excess skin hangs over the eyes, provoking an inversion of the eyelids.

Various degrees

When the eyelid turns in dogs, several degrees of the disease are distinguished:

• very tight eyelid fit;
• eyelid torsion followed by touching the cornea at a 90° angle;
• touching the cornea with the hair of the eyelid and its skin with an angle of 180°.

At each degree of the disease, the animal experiences discomfort, rubs its eyes, behaves restlessly.

Turn of the eyelids in dogs can be central or lateral. In the first case, the central part of the eyelid is everted and sags, and in the second, the skin sags from the middle to the outer corner of the eye.

It may happen that the problem goes away by itself. What happens when a disease is found in a puppy, as it grows, trouble with the eyeliddisappears. Or if the bones of the cranium do not grow simultaneously with the skin. In these cases, the puppy is generally not harmed by torsion of the eyelid. However, consultation with a specialist is still required.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is carried out by examining the patient. In order to reduce unpleasant pain from the examination, anesthetic drops are instilled into the dog's eyes.

To detect ulcers or erosions on the cornea that have occurred during the course of the disease, veterinarians can use fluorescent solutions, after treatment, with which the damaged areas of the cornea begin to glow under ultraviolet light.

Non-Surgical Therapy

Perhaps drug treatment of torsion of the eyelid in a dog. This occurs in mild cases of the disease. The veterinarian prescribes antiseptic drops that relieve inflammation and kill pathogenic microflora.

Treatments of the skin around the eyes with various antiseptic gels and ointments can also be prescribed. In addition, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs inside.

There is also a temporary non-surgical procedure performed in a clinic using autohemotherapy. Here, the blood of the animal is injected into the thickness of the century through a medical syringe. This procedure can be carried out by a strictly qualified specialist and with the use of additional medicines.

The effect is possible for 10-14 days. Then, if necessary, the procedurerepeat. The deformed eyelid, when applying this method, unfolds, moving into a normal position. Before starting the procedure, the patient needs a 12-hour diet.

Surgery

But still, in the vast majority of cases, surgery for torsion of the eyelid in a dog plays a leading role in the treatment process. Even if the animal has serious complications from the disease in the form of keratitis and conjunctivitis, then surgery will allow for the highest quality sanitation of the foci of infection and alleviate the general condition of the dog.

The technique of eyelid inversion surgery in dogs is to stop the bent part of the eyelid by straightening and cutting it. After that, supporting sutures are applied, fixing the ligaments in the required position. Absorbable sutures are used, which do not need to be removed. In adults, additional operations are often required to adequately strengthen the ligamentous apparatus.

Puppies who have reached the age of 6 months, such operations are the easiest. Their ligamentous apparatus has not yet had time to harden, so surgical intervention will be minimal. Here, only supporting sutures are applied, allowing you to fix the eyelid in the desired position.

If wounds, ulcers, conjunctivitis and keratitis appeared during the course of the disease, then they are treated in the general manner. Dogs with hereditary eyelid inversion are not allowed for breeding.

The postoperative prognosis is very positive. If, of course, the treatment was carried out in a timely manner, before the appearance of irreversibleprocesses in the cornea. In cases where severe injuries cannot be avoided, the outcome will depend only on the severity of the injuries received by the animal during the course of the disease. In especially severe cases, the removal of the eye may be indicated for the dog.

Post-operative period

Proper and high-quality care of the animal after surgery is very, very important for positive dynamics and a speedy full recovery. This cannot be taken lightly. Otherwise, the operation will have to be repeated, and this is extra stress for the pet and extra money spent for the owner of the animal.

Veterinary surgeons mainly use thin suture material for such operations. Its use will not leave traces of intervention on the dog's eyelids. However, it is very easy for an animal to tear such light stitches before the end of the healing process, so you will have to use a special collar that will not allow the dog to waste the treatment.

After surgery, the veterinarian prescribes special eye drops and antiseptic ointments, which should not be neglected.

Prevention

Preventive measures should include the following:

• prevention of injury to the pet's eyes;
• careful attention to the hygiene of the organs of vision and muzzle of the animal;
• regular visits to the veterinary clinic for periodic checkups;
• promptly seek medical attention in case of symptoms and signs of torsion of the eyelid in a dog.

The he alth of a dog is the responsibility of its owner entirely. And how he althy and well-groomed a pet is is an indicative factor for assessing the personal qualities of its owner.