Dog Trichiasis Symptoms and Treatments

Trichiasis is a medical term for ingrown eyelashes. This can be caused by infection, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, and trauma such as burns or eyelid injury.

Trichiasis in dogs is a condition where the hair from the eyelid position growing in the wrong direction and rubbing onto the eye, contacting the cornea or conjunctiva (lining of the eyelid) and causing irritation. These conditions usually happen at the lateral upper eyelid.

Dog trichiasis sometimes also refers to hair from a nasal fold rubbing on the eye. This type of trichiasis problems can be solve by flattening the hair by rubbing petroleum jelly onto it, but surgery is sometimes necessary for permanent correction.

More frequently found in dogs than in cats, and in younger puppies than adult dogs, Trichiasis is more common found in dog breeds with prominent eyes and flat noses, such as the bulldog, pug, shih tzu, and Pekingese, as well as in the dog breeds that has long hair around their eyes, such as the American and English cocker spaniel.

Canine trichiasis conditions may be treated easily in some dogs with the implementation of medication alone, but some other more serious condition may require more effort. Some of the standard treatment may involves using ophthalmic ointments, antibiotics or lubricants to coat the hairs with oil to protect the cornea, closure of the medial canthal (inner eyelid margin), surgical correction to remove the disturbing hairs, and removal of the affected eyelashes with electrology or specialized laser.

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