What Are Some Symptoms of Entropion in a Dog?

Entropion is a genetic condition affecting a dog’s eyes, causing the eyelid to fold inwardly. Entropion usually affects puppies and can be detected just a few months after birth, but older dogs can be affected as well. Entropion can sometimes be reversed with a simple surgical procedure performed by a veterinarian. It is more common in breeds with flat faces.

Inward-Rolling Eyelid

• One of the most common symptoms of entropion is an inward-rolling eyelid. According to The Pet Wave website, entropion can occur on the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both. The inversion of the eyelid causes fur to rub against a dog’s cornea, which can severely affect vision. Inverted eyelids can also cause ulcers to form on a dog’s cornea as a result of eyelashes rubbing against that part of the eye. Veterinarians use a dye to detect ulcers.

Pawing at Eyes

• Entropion is a painful, uncomfortable condition for dogs. For this reason, scratching or pawing at eyes is a common symptom. This behavior, while alerting an owner to his dog’s discomfort, does not relieve the pain associated with entropion. Your veterinarian can prescribe eye drops for pain relief. Your vet may also require that your dog wear a special cone-shaped collar around her neck that prohibits the dog from pawing at the affected eye. Though the dog may dislike wearing this apparatus, the cone will spare the dog the unnecessary pain of accidentally scratching her eye as the eye heals

Tearing or Discharge

• Many dogs suffering from entropion experience excessive tearing from the affected eye, making the area around that eye wet to the touch. In addition to tearing and squinting its eyes, a dog suffering from entropion may experience a thick, mucus-like discharge.

Lack of Reaction to Anesthesia

• The inverted eyelid of a dog suffering from entropion will not react to an anesthetic. This is important to differentiate it from another condition—blepharospasm—that is often mistaken for entropion. If a veterinarian administers a topical anesthetic, the inverted eyelid will disappear if the dog is suffering from blepharospasm. If the eyelid remains inverted, it is likely that a dog is suffering from entropion.