Your bulldog’s adorably wrinkly face comes with a hidden cost. Those signature skin folds that make bulldogs so irresistibly cute can actually cause their eyelids to roll inward, a condition called entropion. When this happens, fur and skin constantly scrape against the eye’s surface with every blink, turning a cosmetic quirk into a genuinely painful problem that can threaten your dog’s vision.
At Broadway Veterinary Hospital, we’ve built a reputation for understanding bulldogs better than most. Our UC Davis-educated team, led by Dr. Sam Varon and Dr. Tyler Baum, has extensive experience with surgical procedures specific to flat-faced breeds, including entropion repair. This straightforward surgery removes a small portion of skin from the affected eyelid, allowing it to roll back to its normal position and finally giving your bulldog relief from constant eye irritation.
Why Bulldogs Are Prone to Entropion
Bulldogs are adorable with their wrinkly faces and big, expressive eyes, but these same features that make them so lovable also make them vulnerable to eye problems like entropion. All their skin folds and their shortened muzzles can pull the eyelids inward, creating constant irritation.
Some bulldog puppies show signs of entropion as early as a few months old, while others develop the condition later in life. The lower eyelid is usually the troublemaker, though entropion can affect both upper and lower lids.
Signs Your Bulldog May Have Entropion
Catching entropion early makes treatment more successful and keeps your pup comfortable. Watching for the following symptoms allows your dog to get the care they need and prevent further issues later on:
- Frequent squinting or keeping eyes partially closed: Your dog may look like they’re perpetually winking or struggling to open their eyes all the way.
- Excessive tearing: If your bulldog’s face is wetter than usual, their eyes might be working overtime to flush away irritation.
- Redness or inflammation around the eye area: The skin around their eyes may look swollen or angry.
- Pawing at the face or rubbing eyes against furniture: Your bulldog will try anything to scratch that itch, including rubbing against your couch or carpet.
- Discharge from the eye: Yellow or green gunk isn’t normal and usually means an infection has joined the party.
- Cloudiness on the eye’s surface: This is a sign of corneal damage and needs immediate attention.
Any of these symptoms warrant a veterinary examination. The sooner you address entropion, the better your bulldog’s chance of avoiding permanent eye damage.
How Entropion Damages the Eye
Think of entropion like having an eyelash stuck in your eye, except it never goes away. Every time your bulldog blinks, their fur and skin scrape against the delicate surface of the eye. This constant rubbing creates tiny scratches called corneal ulcers.
Left untreated, these ulcers can deepen and become infected. Over time, scarring may develop on the cornea, permanently blurring your dog’s vision. In serious cases, untreated entropion can even lead to blindness. The ongoing irritation also increases the risk of bacterial infections. Once bacteria get into the damaged tissue, you’re dealing with more than just a structural problem.
What to Expect During the Entropion Repair Procedure
Entropion surgery is like giving your bulldog’s eyelid a little facelift. We carefully remove a measured strip of skin below the eyelid, allowing it to rotate back into place. Your pup will be comfortably asleep under general anesthesia for the whole procedure.
Getting the measurements right is key to making this procedure work effectively. We need to remove just enough skin to fix the roll without causing the opposite problem. After trimming the excess skin, we close everything up with small sutures. The surgery usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on whether we’re fixing one eye or both. Most bulldogs head home the same day with pain medication and antibiotics to keep infections away.
Recovery and Aftercare
Your bulldog will need to wear a cone for about two weeks after surgery. We know it’s not their best look, but it keeps them from pawing at their healing eyes. Keep the area clean and stick to the medication schedule we give you.
Plan on a return visit in 10 to 14 days so we can remove the sutures. During recovery, keep an eye out for any unusual swelling, discharge, or redness. Fortunately, most bulldogs start feeling relief within just a few days once that constant irritation stops. Try to keep your pup calm during healing time. No wild zoomies or roughhousing until we give the all-clear. Their face needs time to heal without any bumps or knocks.
Long-Term Outlook After Entropion Surgery
Once your bulldog heals from entropion surgery, their eyelids stay put in the right spot, and all that uncomfortable rubbing becomes ancient history. Your bulldog will finally get to enjoy life without constant eye irritation.
Occasionally, a dog might need another procedure if entropion recurs in a different area of the eyelid. This doesn’t happen often when the surgery is done right. Regular wellness exams help us keep tabs on your bulldog’s eye health and catch any new issues before they become big problems. Beyond just relieving discomfort, the surgery protects your dog’s vision for years to come by stopping the damage before it gets worse.
Trust Broadway Veterinary Hospital for Your Bulldog’s Eye Surgery
At Broadway Veterinary Hospital, we understand bulldogs’ unique needs inside and out. Dr. Sam Varon, a UC Davis graduate, has performed countless entropion repairs and understands exactly what these special dogs need. Our team brings both skill and genuine care to every bulldog who comes through our doors.
Your bulldog shouldn’t have to live with constant eye discomfort. If you’ve spotted any signs of eyelid trouble, there’s no reason to wait and watch it get worse. Contact us today to schedule an examination and let us show you how we can help your bulldog see clearly and feel comfortable again.