How to treat entropion in ornamental Pekingese dogs? A detailed explanation of surgical treatment options
The Pekingese is a breed developed by crossing the Pekingese dog with the Lhasa Apso, similar to the Pekingese. Because of its small size and beautiful appearance, it is one of the popular ornamental and companion dogs. However, in recent years, entropion eye disease has been successively found in Pekingese dogs (not found in other dog breeds in China), which affects both appearance and the dog's development, and in severe cases can lead to blindness. Conventional therapies are used in clinical treatment, such as benoxinate hydrochloride eye drops and symptomatic antibiotic treatment, but these can only relieve symptoms. To fundamentally achieve the treatment goal, surgery is still needed. The following is introduced for reference.
1 Clinical manifestations
Entropion occurs more often in the lower eyelid, manifesting as part or all of the eyelid rolling inward. Because the eyelid margin rolls inward, the eyelashes and other structures at the eyelid margin irritate the conjunctiva and cornea. At the beginning of the disease, eye discharge increases and is serous. Later it becomes mucous and purulent. The conjunctiva and cornea become red, swollen, and congested, and neovascularization may be seen. In the late stage of the disease, orbital cellulitis often develops secondarily. In some cases, body temperature rises and appetite decreases, and in severe cases it can cause blindness in the dog.
2 Treatment methods
2.1 Restraint: Use a bandage (or thin rope) about 1 m long, tie a slip knot in the middle, and place the loop around the middle of the dog's nose bridge and the middle of the lower jaw, then tighten the loop, then pass the two ends of the bandage strip behind the ears, tighten, and tie a knot. Then place the affected dog in dorsal recumbency, bind and fix the front and hind limbs separately on the operating table, and secure the dog's head.
2.2 Anesthesia: Use 2 ml of 0.5% procaine hydrochloride solution for subcutaneous point-by-point injection and subconjunctival injection at the inner canthus of the lower eyelid of the affected eye; for fierce-tempered Pekingese dogs, inject 2-3 ml of Jing Song Ling intramuscularly for general anesthesia.
2.3 Surgery: Shave the hair around the affected eye, rinse the affected eye several times with 2% boric acid solution, and apply it to disinfect the skin around the eye. At a distance of 2-3 mm from the eyelid margin, excise an elliptical strip of skin parallel to and equal in length to the inverted eyelid margin. Clamp the skin with toothed hemostatic forceps, and use tweezers to adjust the amount of tissue clamped so as to maintain the width to be excised. Then use pliers to press the hemostatic forceps that have already clamped the skin, causing the skin to form a protruding fold. After clamping and pressing the skin for 30 seconds, remove the hemostatic forceps, cut off the raised skin with blunt-tipped scissors, and then bring the two edges of the incision together and suture. For suturing, use size 4 silk thread for interrupted sutures, 10-15 stitches, with a needle spacing of about 2 mm. To prevent bleeding, drop 2-3 drops of 0.1% adrenaline at the incision. After surgery, apply a few drops of 0.2% hydrocortisone eye drops to the affected eye, continuing for 3-4 days, 2-3 times per day. In combination, inject penicillin C potassium 600,000 u intramuscularly once every 8 hours for 3 consecutive days. After the surgery is completed, the eyelid should maintain a normal position. According to the specific situation, stitches can be removed in 7-8 days. In the first few days after surgery, due to swelling, the eyelid may appear overcorrected, and it will later return to a normal position. Generally, the surgical wound can heal in about 10 days.
3 Experience
3.1 This disease can be clinically cured by surgical treatment. Eye anesthesia and fixation are important links in preventing eye damage, so anesthesia must be reliable.
3.2 Preventing postoperative infection is the key to the success of the surgery. Early selection of antibacterial eye medications and injection of antibiotics, along with shaving the hair around the eye area and preventing the affected dog from scratching the eye, are important. After surgery, eye ointments should not be used on the affected eye, because ointments easily pick up dust, which is unfavorable for healing of the affected eye. Instead, eye drops should be used, commonly 0.2% hydrocortisone acetate eye drops. Drop 4-6 times daily into the lower eyelid, 4-5 drops each time.