What is entropion?
Entropion is the inward rolling of the eyelid margin, causing the eyelashes and facial hair to constantly rub against the eye surface (cornea and conjunctiva). The chronic friction causes irritation, inflammation and, if untreated, corneal ulcers that can threaten vision.
Most affected breeds
- Shar Pei: the highest-risk breed; the excess skin folds on the face mean many Shar Pei puppies can barely open their eyes at birth (severe entropion).
- Chow Chow.
- English and French Bulldog.
- Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Great Dane: lateral lower lid entropion.
- Retrievers and Spaniels: mild entropion is common.
- German Shepherd, Siberian Husky.
Symptoms
- Excessive discharge (mucous or purulent).
- Partially or fully closed eye (blepharospasm) from pain.
- Continuous tearing.
- Conjunctival redness.
- Corneal cloudiness (oedema or pigmentation) in chronic cases.
- Corneal ulcer (visible with fluorescein staining at the vet clinic).
Treatment
Temporary (puppies, secondary cases)
In Shar Pei puppies with severe entropion, temporary eversion sutures ("tacking sutures") are placed: small sutures in the lid that mechanically evert it while the puppy grows and facial conformation may improve.
Definitive surgery
The most common technique is the Hotz-Celsus blepharoplasty: an elliptical strip of skin just below the affected lid is removed; the scar pulls the lid margin outward to its normal position. A straightforward operation with excellent results (90–95 % success rate).
When to operate?
As soon as primary entropion is confirmed. Waiting for the dog to "grow out of it" is not recommended in high-risk breeds — corneal damage accumulates with time.
Breeding considerations
Primary congenital entropion should not be reproduced: dogs with confirmed primary entropion are not recommended for breeding according to veterinary ophthalmology association standards.