🐾 Vet Guide 2025: Understanding & Treating Entropion in Dogs 👁️

By Dr Duncan Houston, revised 2025

What Is Entropion?

Entropion is a common and painful eyelid condition where the eyelids roll inward, forcing eyelashes and skin to rub on the cornea. This leads to constant discomfort, tearing, squinting, and potential corneal ulcers.

✅ Why It Matters in 2025

• Improved surgical techniques make correction quicker and safer than ever.
• Early diagnosis prevents irreversible corneal damage.
• Owners are more aware, enabling faster veterinary attention and better outcomes.

🐶 Who Gets Entropion?

The condition can be genetic (congenital) or develop later due to scarring, trauma, or nerve dysfunction. Genetic entropion is often seen in specific breeds:

• Boxer
• English Bulldog
• Pug, Shar Pei, Chow Chow
• Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever
• Great Dane, St. Bernard, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Poodle, Springer Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Also common in dogs with facial skin folds—breeds intentionally bred for the “wrinkled” look.

🔎 Symptoms & Signs to Watch

• Chronic tearing and eye squinting
• Frequent blinking or light sensitivity
• Mucus discharge and discomfort
• Visible eyelid rolling inward

Flat-face breeds like Pugs may hide signs, but pain and damage can still occur.

❗ Why Act Fast?

When eyelashes continuously irritate the cornea, it can lead to ulcers, scarring, infection, and vision impairment. Prompt treatment protects both comfort and sight.

🧪 How Vets Diagnose It

Diagnosis is made via an eye exam. After applying local anesthetic, the vet manually inverts the eyelid to observe rubbing directly on the cornea.

Fluorescein dye is often used to detect corneal ulcers: green stain highlights any damaged surface areas.

💊 Medical Management Helps But Doesn’t Cure

Short-term treatment includes:

• Topical antibiotics to protect against infection
• Ointments to soothe irritation

No medication resolves entropion long-term—surgery is the definitive solution.

✂️ Surgical Solutions in 2025

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Tuck)

This is the standard surgery: excess eyelid skin is removed and the lid is tightened in a single procedure. Recovery is rapid and recurrence is rare—except in extremely wrinkled breeds.

Sutures are removed ~10–14 days post-op. Many dogs wear a protective e‑collar during healing.

Lid Tacking (Temporary in Puppies)

Young puppies (<6 months) often benefit from temporary tacking stitches while facial growth continues. Once matured, permanent surgery is performed if needed.

🏥 Pre-Surgical Considerations

• Pre-op exam and stabilization of any corneal ulcers
• Removal of eye discharge and cleaning before surgery
• Anesthesia evaluation for safety

🛡️ Post-Op Care & Recovery

• Protective e‑collar for 7–14 days
• Antibiotic eye ointment until suture removal
• No rubbing or pawing at the eyes
• Recheck to confirm eyelid alignment and healing

📊 Prognosis & Follow-Up

Outlook is excellent if treated before corneal damage sets in. Puppies treated early often need no further surgery. Adults may experience lifelong relief. Recurrent cases—especially in Shar Peis—can be managed with retreatment.

🔍 Breeding & Genetics

Genetically predisposed dogs shouldn’t be bred. Aim for eye exams and follow Canine Eye Registration Foundation guidelines to reduce entropion in future generations.

Note: Dogs corrected for entropion may be ineligible for conformation shows.

📚 2025 Advances & Trends

• Minimally invasive lid tightening using small tacking sutures
• Laser-assisted blepharoplasty for precision and faster healing
• Customizable suture tension, especially for brachycephalic breeds
• Improved pain management protocols reduce discomfort

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Entropion is painful eyelid inward rolling causing corneal damage.
• Affects many breeds—especially flat-faced or fold-exaggerated dogs.
• Diagnosis via exam and fluorescein; treat medically until surgery.
• Surgery (blepharoplasty or tacking) corrects it with excellent outcomes.
• Early action prevents ulcers and protects vision.

📝 Owner Action Checklist

1. Watch for tearing, blinking, or squinting in your dog.
2. Visit your vet for eye exam if signs appear.
3. Start soothing eye drops to ease irritation while awaiting surgery.
4. Plan for corrective surgery with a trusted vet or ophthalmologist.
5. Follow through with post-op instructions for full recovery.
6. Avoid breeding affected dogs to break genetic cycles.

Conclusion

Entropion is highly treatable in 2025, thanks to precise surgical techniques and early diagnosis. With prompt veterinary care, dogs can enjoy comfort and clear vision well into their senior years.

— Dr Duncan Houston, DVM