ABC EURASIER CLUB of GREAT BRITAIN

Eurasiers today seldom suffer from any eye conditions.  Due to breeders observing   health checks that have helped to partly stamp out these problems. Therefore makeing the Eurasier a healthier breed than it has been  in the past.

To ensure that all hereditary defects are kept to the minimum it is recommended that tests for the conditions listed below are carried out on all future stock, before breeding takes place.

DISTICHIASIS 

This is the name given to the extra eye lashes that are growing around the eye but should not be there.  Many breeds are affected by this condition and it can be detected from quite a young age. It hasn't been the subject of a lot of scientific work, and therfore has not been proven to be Hereditary, But most vets  who specialise in eye conditions will assume this to be the case.

There are many factors to determine the severity of this condition, the angle in which the hairs grow, the closeness to the edge of the eye lid and the amount of extra hairs are growing , will all affect the amount af discomfort that is being caused.  It can be detected if your dog blinks a lot more than normal,and the eye is partly closed, the tear production increases and causes a tear-streaking down the face.

Apart from all the obvious discomfort this will cause to your dog, if left untreated it could lead to Corneal ulcers, Chronic eye pain, Excessive tearing and eyelid spasms and when any clinical signs are present the best thing is the permanent removal of the offending eyelashes.  There are several ways this can be done depending on the number of hairs that are growing, and the surgeon's methods of treatment.  These include Freezing, Electrolysis and surgery.     PLUCKING  is not an option as it is difficult to do and the hairs will grow back anyway.  

Through a battle to overcome this condition, A few Eurasiers that have suffered from Distichiasis today only have a very mild case with maybe just a few extra lashes and have rarely required medical treatment.

ENTROPION

Entropion is a condition in which the eye lids roll inwards so that the eye-lashes and the edge of the eyelid rub on the surface of the eye, It may affect part or all of the lid. On some occasions both Entropion and Ectropion are present at the same time.

There are several things that can cause Entropion.  It can be a congenital defect, which is common in some breeds, One of them being the Chow-Chow, This form will usually affect both eyes, and can affect the upper and  or lower eyelids.  In Chow-Chow's this is usually associated with an abnormal narrowing between the upper and lower eyelids this is called (Blepharophimosis).

The acquired forms of Entropion are most commonly involving the upper eye-lid of one eye and these can be caused by;-

1, If a wound to the eye fails to heal properly, say after a fight or accident.

2, If the eyeball its self was to sink into the head, which can occur with several conditions where the fatty pad behind the eye is absorbed.

3, With other eye conditions such as Conjunctivitis.

4, A loss of tone in the tarso-orbital fascia  which can be caused by old age.

5, A spasm of the muscle in the eye lid.

Common signs of this condition, include Blinking,Squinting, excessive tear formation which will produce runny eye's.  Conjunctivitis causes reddening of the whites of the eyes, Ulcers can also form on the cornea.  Some dogs may rub or paw at their eyes because of the disscomfort this causes..Serious damage can be done to the cornea, including ulceration, chronic thickening, and black pigmentation.

No treatment is necessary if the Entropion is minor and is merely a cosmetic effect.

Epilation may be used if there are just a few lashes in contact with th eye.

For a much more serious condition plastic surgery may be used to correct the alignment of the eyelids,of the skin a muscle adjacent to the eyelid margins.

ECTROPION

Ectropion is a condition in which the eye-lids roll outwards so that the underlying conjunctiva is exposed.  This will only affect the lower eye-lid. Again either part or the whole eye-lid can be affected, Sometimes Ectropion and Entropion will be prestent at the same time,  The tear duct may well be out of position due to the pocket that the eye condition creates, causing the tears to collect in it and causeing an overflow from the eye.

A congenital defect can cause the condition, this is common in some breeds, more so those breeds with excessive facial skin folds.

Acquired defects can be caused by;

1, The healing of a wound involving the eye-lids that result in scarring,

2, A loss of tone in the skin and muscle being age related.

3, Where the orbicular is in the muscle in the eye lid spasms.

Common signs of this are tear pooling, a failure to drain away properly the tear duct, resulting in runny eyes , This can lead to  secondary infections.

CONJUNCTIVITIS

This is a reddening of the whites to the eyes, No treatment is necessary if the Ectropion is minor and only of a cosmetic affect. Eye drops from the vet should settle this condition.