Ectropion in Dogs

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Mathew B. Sims is Editor-in-Chief and has authored, edited, and contributed to several books. He has been working in the insurance industry ensuring content is accurate for consumers who are searching for the best policies and rates. He has also been featured on sites like UpJourney.

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Written by Mathew B. Sims
Editor-in-Chief

Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific car insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person’s life, from budgets to coverage levels. She also specializes in automa...

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Reviewed by Melanie Musson
Published Insurance Expert

UPDATED: Nov 17, 2020

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Ectropion in dogs is a condition when the eyelids tend to droop or roll out. It can occur in either one or even both eyes and usually affects the lower eyelids.

Ectropion will affect the conjunctival tissues that line the inner surface of the eyelids and will cover the entire eyeball. The result is dry eyes and conjunctivitis.

The surface of the eye or the cornea may also dry out, which can lead to corneal inflammation or corneal ulcers.

Corneal damage can also impair your dog’s vision.

All of these conditions are painful for your pup.

Ectropion is usually diagnosed in puppies that are less than one year old.

Ectropion is usually inherited and is common in dogs with droopy skin.

Table of Contents:

Common Breeds
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Prevention

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Table of Contents

Breeds That Are More Pre-disposed to Ectropion:

St. Bernard
Great Danes
Bullmastiffs
Newfoundland
Cocker spaniel
Bloodhound
Bulldog
Basset Hound

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Causes

In addition to the high occurrence of Ectropion in certain breeds, the disease might also be a result of the following:

Injury to the eye
Damage it the nerve
Injured Cornea
Facial nerve paralysis
Infection of the eye tissue
Scarring as a result of an injury
Surgical overcorrection of ectropion
Hypothyroidism
Neuromuscular disease

Symptoms

Droopy eyelids (lower)
Redness in and around the eyes
Tearing
Eye infections
Pink eye
Conjunctivitis
The dog may paw at his eye
Brown staining underneath the eye

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will conduct a full physical and visual exam to assess the condition of the eye.

In older dogs, urine and blood tests might be taken to see if there is an unseen cause for the condition.

Corneal staining can help determine if there was corneal ulceration.

You may receive a recommendation of nerve or muscle biopsy, if nerve damage seems to be the cause.

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Treatment

Depending on the severity of the ectropion, there are different treatment options.

In most cases, the inflammation can be treated with vet recommended eye drops, and some ointments are also helpful.

Surgery is typically recommended if the dog is suffering from chronic pinkeye or damage to the cornea.

The procedure involves removing part of the drooping lid and then sewing the lid back together.

A veterinarian can usually perform the procedure.

In severe cases, an ophthalmologist might be needed to perform the corrective procedure.

Prognosis

The prognosis for Ectropion is very positive.

Most surgeries will correct the droopy eye.

Your dog might have to undergo two surgeries, to avoid over-correction. This will usually occur when there is additional swelling or tissue inflammation of the treated eye.

The medical treatment for ectropion is usually for the rest of your pup’s life.

If the Ectropion is treated on an older dog and there was corneal scarring, there tends to be diminished vision.

Can Pet Insurance Help With Ectropion?

If you have any of the breeds that are pre-disposed to ectropion, eye exams generally are recommended when your dog is a puppy.

Pet insurance can be very helpful to cover many of these costs, but only if your puppy or dog doesn’t yet have the condition and it is then called pre-existing.

With the cost of treatment ranging from $325 to $1,475 per eye, pet insurance plans like Healthy Paws can help offset up to 90% of the costs.

Pet insurance can help with not only the cost of testing and all the medical bills for this disease but also any related health conditions that might occur.

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Prevention

The best way to prevent ectropion is to discourage breeding dogs with severe ectropion because it is passed along to the offspring.

Further, breeds that are pre-disposed to ectropion should be tested as puppies to get treatment started right away if any of the symptoms have occurred.

Pet insurance can certainly help offset some of these costs as it would for any breed-specific conditions.

If you are looking for a new pet insurance company that covers hereditary or congenital issues, our list of the best pet insurance companies is a great place to start.

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