Shar pei eyes pinned back - how often?

by shane
(wales)

How often do shar pei eyes have to be pinned back?




Hi Shane
I'm not personally very familiar with the Shar Pei breed and I can't give you numbers or statistics on this, but I can say that Entropion (where the eyelid turns inwards and eyelashes cause abrasions and damage to the eyeball) is a problem that affects this breed.

A well-bred puppy or dog is less likely to have a problem as his/her parents wouldn't have, or carry, the problem genetically. But that's no guarantee of an eye-problem free dog, just better odds.

Sometimes puppies who have this condition can 'grow out' of it, but while they're doing this the eyelids may need to be tacked back (I think this is what you mean by 'pinned back') to prevent damage to the eyeball. Once mature the 'tacks' can be removed and the eyelids may be in a normal position. If they're not then surgery is performed to correct the problem permanently. Once corrected, it should be good for the lifetime of the dog.

Your own veterinarian is the best person to ask about this problem, and the procedure to fix it, as he/she will have the professional knowledge that I lack.

It's a fairly minor surgery and if a dog suffers from Entropion (or Ectropion where the eyelids turn outwards) it's highly recommended that they have the appropriate procedure. Left untreated ectropion can cause permanent damage to the cornea causing blindness and the condition is extremely painful for the pup or dog.

I hope this answers your question!