Unfortunately, eye pathologies in dogs are not uncommon. For the most part this happens to hunting or service breeds. However, pets suffer from eye diseases. One of the common diseases of the organs of vision is the inversion of the eyelid, which can lead to complete loss of vision.
Pathology definition
Inversion of the eyelid in dogs is also called entropion. This is a transformational change in the position of the eyelid, as a result of which the eyeball comes into contact with the eyelid and eyelashes.
Inversion of a century in a dog (photo in the text) - the disease is very dangerous. As soon as the owner notices symptoms, it is necessary to immediately lead the animal to the veterinary clinic. If pathology is not treated, the dog may lose its eyes and even vision.
Therefore, you should always carefully monitor the health of your beloved pet, and if he suddenly has a clouding and redness of the eyes, lacrimation or purulent discharge, then perhaps the dog needs surgical intervention to correct the eyelid, which cannot be delayed.
Causes
The appearance of a twist of the century in dogs has a number of reasons:
- Genetic predisposition. Sometimes this reason is called specialists, but this is only an assumption, since it is 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, thoroughbred animals bred by crossing genetic relatives suffer from this disease.
- Features of the structure of the cranium.
- The location of the eyeballs.
- Elasticity and eyelid length.
- Eyelid injury.
- Squinting The habit of squinting is very rare in animals, but sometimes it happens that it can lead to a twist of the eyelids in dogs.
Entropion can also develop after severe conjunctivitis or scarring of the eyelid.
Signs and Symptoms
Inversion of the eyelid in dogs is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Sensation of sand in the eyes, pain. The dog often rubs his eyes with his paws.
- Squinting
- Frequent blinking.
- Anxiety in behavior.
- Increased lacrimation.
- Purulent discharge.
- Dark paths under the eyes.
Considering a cornea with such symptoms is very problematic. The dog often looks askance, the animal’s eyes are either strongly covered or completely closed. The dog cannot look at the light.
Inversion of the third century in dogs
This form of the disease is characteristic of shepherds, pinschers, dogs. Other breeds very rarely suffer from third-century inversion. It develops either as a result of degeneration of the cartilage of the eyelid, or as a complication of the follicular form of conjunctivitis.
With this type of disease, deformation of the third century and red eye syndrome occur . With lacrimation, serous-mucous discharge from the eyes appears. Some diseased individuals have a characteristic spasm of the eyelids or tic, which always goes away when treatment is performed.
Inversion of the lower eyelid in dogs is most often found in sharpei and chow chows, which have too pronounced skin folds on the face. Excess skin hangs over the eyes, provoking an inversion of the eyelids.
Various degrees
With a twist of the eyelid in dogs, several degrees of the disease are distinguished:
- very tight fit of the eyelid;
- inversion of the eyelid, accompanied by a touch of the cornea with an angle of 90 °;
- 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, and behaves uneasily.
Inverted eyelids in dogs can be central or lateral. In the first case, the central part of the eyelid is twisted and sagging, and in the second, the skin sags from the middle to the corner of the outer eye.
It may happen that the problem goes away by itself. What happens when the disease is found in a puppy, with the growth of which the trouble disappears with the eyelid. Or if the bones of the cranium grow at the same time with the skin. In these cases, the puppy generally does not harm the inversion of the eyelid. However, consultation with a specialist is still required.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by examining the patient. In order to reduce the unpleasant pain from the examination, drops with anesthetic are instilled into the dog’s eyes.
To identify ulcers or erosion on the cornea that occur during the course of the disease, veterinarians can use fluorescent solutions, after treatment, with which damaged areas of the cornea begin to glow under ultraviolet light.
Non-surgical therapy
It is also possible to treat the dog’s eyelid twist with medication. This occurs in mild cases of the disease. The veterinarian prescribes antiseptic drops that relieve inflammation and kill the pathogenic microflora.
Treatment 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 carried out in a clinic using autohemotherapy. Here the blood of the animal is introduced into the thickness of the eyelid through a medical syringe. This procedure can be carried out by a strictly qualified specialist and with the use of additional drugs.
The effect is possible for 10-14 days. Then, if necessary, the procedure is repeated. When applying this method, the deformed eyelid unfolds, passing into a normal position. Before starting the procedure, the patient needs a 12-hour diet.
Surgical intervention
But nevertheless, in the vast majority of cases, surgery with a twist 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 surgical intervention will allow for the highest quality sanitation of the foci of infection and will alleviate the general condition of the dog.
The technique of eyelid inversion surgery in dogs consists in stopping the bent part of the eyelid by straightening and cutting it. Then there is the imposition of supporting seams that fix 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 properly strengthen the ligamentous apparatus.
In puppies who have reached the age of 6 months, such operations are the easiest. Their ligamentous apparatus has not yet managed to become rougher, so surgical intervention will be minimal. Here only supportive sutures are superimposed, allowing you to fix the eyelid in the required position.
If wounds, ulcers, conjunctivitis and keratitis appeared during the disease, then they are treated in a general manner. Dogs with the hereditary nature of the twisting of the eyelids in breeding are not allowed.
The postoperative prognosis is very positive. If, of course, the treatment was carried out in a timely manner, before the appearance of irreversible processes in the cornea of the eye. In cases where it is not possible to avoid severe injuries, the outcome will depend only on the severity of the injuries received by the animal during the illness. In especially severe cases, the dog is shown eye removal.
Postoperative period
Proper and high-quality animal care after surgery is very, very important for positive dynamics and speedy full recovery. You can’t take this 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.
Mostly, veterinary surgeons use thin suture material for such operations. Its use will not leave any signs of interference on the dog’s eyelids. However, it is very easy to tear off such light seams to the animal before the healing process ends, so you will have to use a special collar that will not allow the dog to go down the drain of the treatment.
After surgery, the veterinarian prescribes special eye drops and antiseptic ointments, which are not recommended to be neglected.
Prevention
Preventive measures should include the following:
- preventing injury to the pet’s eyes;
- attention to hygiene of the organs of vision and muzzle of the animal;
- regular visits to the veterinary clinic for periodic examinations;
- timely access to a doctor in case of symptoms and signs of an inversion of the eyelid in a dog.
The health of the dog is the responsibility of its owner in its entirety. And how healthy and well-groomed a pet is is an indicative factor for assessing the personal qualities of its owner.