Flipped Eyelid

[Kara Duurloo]

I am hoping someone can put my mind at ease.  A few months ago my doodle had a flipped lower eyelid.  I brought him to the vet and they told me that it was not painful and that it would flip back on it's own which it did or I could bring him to a dog Opthamologist (which I hesitated doing because a consultation alone was astronomical) .  I believe at that time they even called it "Cherry Eye" but I am not 100%. I contributed it to pulling on the leash (which is something we are really working on correcting) After a few days the eyelid did flip normal and we haven't had a problem since....until now I noticed this morning that the same eyelid is now flipped in instead of out.  Instead of it being red it is white, which I think is kinda strange.  

I am wondering has anyone else experienced this?  Is it something to be alarmed about?  I may end bringing him to the vet but I wanted to see if there were any suggestions before I went.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Cherry eye" in dogs is a congenital defect and it does need to be treated, usually surgically. If you let it go, a condition called KCS, or keratoconjunctiviis sicca" (dry eye) develops which is very painful, and requires time-consuming and costly treatment for the life of the dog. The DRC has had dogs relinquished by their owners because of KCS. 

Here is some info: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_cherry_eye.html

Although this article mentions only certain breeds, this occurs in poodles, too, and can happen in any breed. 

More info from the canine inherited disease database: http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/disorder/keratoconjunctivitis-sicca-kcs-dry-eye

I strongly suggest that you do consult a veterinary opthamalogist. This is not going to correct itself, there is no "home remedy" for it, and it is harmful and painful for your dog. 

I would also suggest that you investigate pet insurance. It won't help with this, since it would be considered a pre-existing condition, but you never want to have to make a health decision for your dog based on money. 

Good luck.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Adina, DoodleKisses site administrator's dog, Rosco, had eye surgery. I don't believe it was Cherry Eye, but something similar/not similar.  Eye surgery, non the less.  Hopefully she will add her experience with her dog's surgery here.

My comments will be concerning leash pulling and better options of obtaining this result without the use of flat collars and force.  Many of us are also concerned with the Larynx and Trachea injuries that happen to  dogs and common in Poodle breeds from flat collar leash training.  It is serious and common in poodle breeds especially.

Collapse Trachea

Collapse Trachea

Collapse Trachea

My thoughts are that this type of training is concerning and there are much better collars to leash train:  Prong collar  and Easy Walk Harnesses are excellent tools which do not apply pressure to the throat or put strain on blood vessels tightening the blood flow to the head and this may also help with the eye issues. Just a thought.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your dog. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Adina's Rosco had entropion: http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/a/CW-Entropio...

This is also congenital and usually requires surgery to correct. I believe that Adina's breeder honored her health guarantee and helped with the cost, since this is a genetic condition which affects Goldens, Labs, and miniature poodles: http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/disorder/entropion

[F, Calla & Luca]

This sounds like what Kara's dog has.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I thought it sounded more like Cherry eye. But either way, I think he needs to see the opthamalogist to be sure of what it is and what to do about it. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

The original episode did but now it's flipped in. An ophthalmologist is needed to evaluate either way.

[Adina P]

Different eye issue for Rosco. He had entropian.  It was traumatic for me because he was neutered AND he had umbilical hernia surgery at the same time as eye surgery--so the recovery for him seemed to be forever between the cone and the no-hyper-stuff limitations. I'm sure if it was just eye surgery it wouldn't have been so bad.  He had to wear a cone to keep paws out of eyes (and from licking various other sutures on his body) and we had to put in eye salve/antiobiotics but it was not really too eventful.  No sticker shock for me, though, because his breeder paid for it as part of the genetic health guarantee.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

I would also look around for a different price on a consultation with a specialist. From our experience, our local, privately owned specialist center was WAY more expensive than a Vet. University Animal Hosp.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep; the veterinary school hospitals are almost always less expensive than private specialists.