Long-term success rate of entropion surgery is equivalent in juvenile and adult dogs.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare long-term outcomes of lower lid entropion surgery performed in juvenile dogs versus adult dogs and evaluate the success rate of temporary tacking procedures in dogs < 1 year of age. ANIMALS: 116 client-owned dogs. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed evaluating dogs younger than 3 years old diagnosed with primary lower lid entropion between 2010 and 2020. Recurrence of entropion following temporary tacking sutures was evaluated. Surgical outcomes were evaluated of entropion surgery in dogs < and > 1 year of age. RESULTS: 44 dogs with entropion (71 eyes) had a temporary tacking procedure. The entropion resolved in 36.6% of eyes, requiring no further therapy. The median age of dogs successfully treated with a temporary tacking procedure was younger than those that failed. Forty-seven dogs (75 eyes) had entropion surgery at maturity, and 52 dogs (79 eyes) were juvenile. Twenty-seven dogs had temporary tacking procedure prior to surgery, accounting for the difference in number. There was no statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate of entropion between eyes of adult (6/75 [8%]) and juvenile dogs (10/79 [12.7%]) following surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Entropion surgery in juvenile dogs is not associated with a higher risk of recurrence and need not be delayed until dogs are older than 1 year of age.