Entropion: Is A Boxer Dog Prone To It?

One of the roles expected to a Boxer dog is being a guide dog to those with physical impairment, more particularly as seeing eye dog to blind or vision impaired people. That role can be best performed by a Boxer dog as long as good health condition exists. But what if, unfortunately, something hits him in the eye? Hit not by a stone or a bullet or a sharp object but hit by a painful medical condition that will surely cause him discomfort and enable him to do tasks expected of him.

In rare circumstances, entropion occurs among Boxer dogs. Entropion is a medical condition in which the eyelid roll inward, most commonly the lower lid. The eye lashes rub against the surface of the eye (the cornea), causing discomfort and irritation. This may then lead to corneal ulcers or erosions and may result to corneal scarring. A dog usually experience excessive tearing and squinting and may be sensitive to light and wind. You will see him rub at his eyes more often than usual. Sagging skin as well as redness and pain around the eye can also be seen. As the disease progresses, especially if the cornea is damaged, the dog's vision will apparently decrease. This disease affects the upper and the lower lid and one or both eyes. Entropion may occur in both eyes simultaneously, the condition is called bilateral entropion.

Based on the signs mentioned, the veterinarian will evaluate the degree of entropion and use flourescein dye to find out if there is any corneal ulceration. A simple surgical correction is enough to treat this disease. The process involves removing the excessive folds and section of the skin to tighten the eyelid and should be done to dogs more than five or six months of age. After surgery, entropion will not more likely to recur if it is performed before the cornea is damaged.

Entropion is caused by genetic factors and may be congenital. Selective breeding to conformation of the skull and create exaggerated facial features with facial folds as in the Boxer dogs worsened the problem. That is why responsible breeding is important to prevent passing the trait to their offspring thus decrease the spread of this disease.

If your Boxer dog is showing signs of entropion, it is better to see your veterinarian as soon as you can for the diagnosis. He may then refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist for further evaluation and proper treatment.

Richard Cussons writes articles about Boxer dog. Visit boxersavvy.com and learn more about Boxer dog training.