However, if the condition is severe, it may be necessary to refer the patient to a veterinary ophthalmologist for assessment and surgical correction. A general veterinary practitioner can successfully perform this corrective surgery in most cases. Treatment involves eye surgery to restore the normal contour of the eyelid. What is involved with surgical correction?
If the condition is severe, surgical correction can be performed to shorten the eyelids. Ophthalmic antibiotics will be used to combat any corneal ulcers. The treatment for mild ectropion generally consists of medical therapy, such as lubricating eye drops and ointments to prevent the cornea and conjunctiva from drying out. Testing for hypothyroidism and for antibodies against certain muscle fibers may be done if looking for underlying causes. Muscle or nerve biopsies may be recommended if neuromuscular disease is suspected. Corneal staining will be performed to assess the cornea and to determine if any corneal ulceration is present. If the dog is older, blood and urine tests may be performed to search for an underlying cause for the ectropion. In many cases, pigment contained in the tear fluid will cause a brownish staining of the fur beneath the eyes.ĭiagnosis is usually made on physical examination. Tears may run down the face if the medial aspect of the eyelid (the area of the eyelid toward the nose) is affected. The dog may rub or paw at the eye if it becomes uncomfortable. The eye and conjunctiva may appear reddened or inflamed. A thick mucoid discharge often accumulates along the eyelid margin. The clinical signs are a 'sagging' or 'rolling outward' lower eyelid. What are the clinical signs of ectropion? chronic inflammation and infection of the tissues surrounding the eyes.
Some common causes of acquired ectropion include: Acquired ectropion means that a condition other than an inherited trait causes the lower eyelid to 'sag' or evert. These breeds include:Īcquired ectropion can occur in any dog at any age. Congenital ectropion is the most commonly seen form of this condition in veterinary practice. Ectropion is usually diagnosed in dogs less than one year of age.Īre certain breeds more likely to have ectropion?Ĭertain breeds have a higher incidence of ectropion than others. Corneal damage can also result in corneal scarring, that can impair or obstruct vision. The surface of the eye or the cornea may also dry out, resulting in keratitis (corneal inflammation). This causes the lower eyelids to appear droopy.Įctropion exposes the delicate conjunctival tissues that line the inner surface of the eyelids and cover the eyeball, causing drying of the tissues.
Ectropion is an abnormality of the eyelids in which the lower eyelid 'rolls' outward or is everted.