Introduction
The most common symptoms of entropion in dogs include squinting and excessive tearing. The eyes may also appear gummy, the dog may have difficulty opening its eyes (especially in sunlight), and the dog may appear depressed or aggressive due to the pain this condition causes.
Symptoms of Entropion
Pet owners may notice abnormalities to their dog’s eyelids. The eyelids may look like they are folding over, or the skin around the eyelids may appear thick and heavy. The eyes may also look like they are swollen or infected. Symptoms of entropion are not always extreme or severe, and in mild cases the only apparent symptoms pet owners notice may be occasional excessive tears.
Symptoms of entropion usually occur in both eyes but not always, and in some cases one eye may be more affected than the other. If the entropion is caused by an inherited disorder, symptoms will appear early in life and can be significant in puppies only a few weeks old. If the symptoms are caused by conditions such as obesity or skin conditions, the entropion may develop months or years after these conditions occur.
Severe entropion conditions caused by an untreatable condition (such as a physiological abnormality of the eyelid or excessive skin folds which contribute to the problem) will not improve without treatment, and the symptoms will become worse with time. Untreated entropion will eventually lead to symptoms which directly affect the eye including corneal scarring and ulcerations. These are extremely painful conditions which will ultimately lead to blindness.