Whether you have a French Bulldog, English Bulldog, American Bulldog, or Olde English Bulldogge; entropion is a common health problem within all of the bulldog breeds. I am going to explain what to look for, how to prevent it, and some common treatments for this pain that bulldogs and their owners go through every day.
Some of you may not be familiar with entropion or know what it is. Entropion is a genetic condition in which a portion of the eyelid is inverted or folded inward. It can occur in one or all four eyelids. This can cause an eyelash or hair to irritate and scratch the surface of the eye, leading to corneal ulceration or perforation. It is fairly common with brachycephalic breeds and usually diagnosed around or by the time a puppy reaches one year old. Symptoms and variations can include excess tears, squinting, and inflammation of the eyes. Mucus and/or pus discharge can happen as well. This can be a great deal of discomfort for the dog. Dogs with inherited entropion should not be bred, as it can be genetic and they can pass on the trait to their offspring.
Diagnosis should be done of course by a veterinarian. They will do a complete eye exam. The Dr. will pay special attention to the placement of the eyelashes and look for rubbing on the eye. He or she can also check for any damage to the eye such as ulcers that would be caused from the rubbing of the eye lashes. This can be done by inserting stain into the eye, which will expose any ulcers.
There are a couple different measures for treatment. Veterinarians can sometimes suture or tack the eye lids for a certain amount of time to try to correct the issue or until the condition resolves with younger dogs. Things may change as the puppy grows and their bodies/skin change, so puppies may need to “grow into” their eyelids. Or a more intense surgery may need to be done to remove part of the tissue directly under the eye or some of the skin around the eye. The two sides would be sutured together pulling the affected eyelid down. Eye drops or ointments are most likely sent home for aftercare of surgery. In general, surgery is successful about 90-95% of the time.
There really are no preventative measures other than to research where you get your dog from and their breeding stock. You can inspect the parents visually yourself as well, this is why it is preferred to see them yourself in person over pictures from the internet. Some breeders will have a health warranty in their puppy contract that mentions being protected against any genetic/hereditary defects. It is crucial to look these over and ask questions. Health should be everybody’s main concern while breeding or purchasing a new dog.
