Entropion: When the Eyelid Rolls In, and Which Breeds Get It
Entropion is an eyelid that rolls inward and rubs the eye. What a study of 2.25 million UK dogs found about breeds, age, signs and surgery.
Written by thecanineledger
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If your dog is squinting, keeps an eye shut, or has a cloudy or red eye, see a vet the same day. These can be signs of a corneal ulcer, which can get worse quickly.
Our note: This advice is ours, and “the same day” is our choice.
→ Corneal Ulcers, and Why Flat-Faced Dogs Get Them
Entropion is an eyelid that rolls inward, so the lashes and hair rub the surface of the eye. A 2025 study of UK vet records says that “Unless surgically managed, conformational eyelid disorders are typically chronic in nature and it is reasonable to assume that most of these dogs suffer from chronic pain” (O’Neill et al., PLOS ONE 2025). “Conformational” means caused by the shape the dog was bred for.
While entropion is uncommon in dogs overall, it is very common in a few breeds. This page sets out what the study found.
1. The study
The dogs. Researchers used VetCompass, a database of anonymised UK primary-care records. They looked at all 2,250,417 dogs under care in 2019, and read the records of a random sample of cases.
How common. In 2019, 0.33% of dogs had entropion, or about one in 300. The opposite problem, ectropion, where the lid droops outward, was rarer still.
Funding. The work was supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer.
2. Which breeds
Highest. The breeds with the most entropion in a year were:
- Shar-Pei, 15.41%
- Chow Chow, 9.28%
- Neapolitan Mastiff, 6.88%
Lowest. Compared with crossbreeds, the Border Collie, Whippet and Husky had the lowest odds.
Purebred versus crossbred. Purebred dogs had 2.45 times the odds of entropion compared with general crossbreds. Flat-faced breeds had higher odds too, and heavier breeds had higher odds of eyelid disorders overall.
Crossbreeds still get it. Crossbreeds made up about one in nine of all eyelid cases in the sample. A mixed breed isn’t a guarantee.
Seen as normal. The authors warn that seeing these eyelids as ““normal for breed” based on currently published breeding standards and breed norms may have led many owners and veterinarians to fail to recognise true cases”. In other words, the real numbers may be higher.
→ Choosing a Breed or a Mix: The Health Data Breeders Don’t Lead With
3. Age and signs
Young dogs. The median age at first diagnosis was about two years. The odds were highest in dogs aged one to two.
What owners and vets saw. Among cases with signs recorded, “the most common clinical signs were ocular discharge (n = 735, 47.73%), epiphora (426, 27.79%), blepharospasm (353, 22.92%)”. Epiphora is tears spilling over. Blepharospasm is squinting or blinking hard.
Linked problems. Conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers were the commonest other eye problems in these dogs. “It should be noted that there was no certainty that these clinical signs or comorbid disorders were definitely caused by the eyelid conformational disorders.”
4. Treatment
Many plans included both. At diagnosis, vets recorded plans for medical care and for surgery in similar numbers.
Surgery actually done. “There was evidence in the available clinical records that surgical management was carried out for 414/2,275 (18.20%) of the entropion cases.” The methods ranged from temporary stitches to roll the lid out, to permanent surgery that reshapes the lid.
Some need a specialist. The authors note that complex cases may need specialist care.
Our note: The study doesn’t say which dogs do well without surgery.
Our note: Temporary stitches are often described as a puppy treatment while the face grows. We have no source for that.
5. If you have, or want, a high-risk breed
- Watch for squinting, tears and discharge, especially in the first two years.
- Don’t accept “normal for the breed” as a reason to leave a sore eye.
- Ask a breeder whether the parents have had eyelid surgery.
Our note: These points are ours, not the study’s.
6. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Droopy or wrinkled eyes are normal for the breed” | Not a reason to ignore them. The study’s authors say this view may hide real cases. |
| “Crossbreeds don’t get entropion” | No. Crossbreeds had lower odds, but still made up about one in nine cases. |
| “Entropion always needs surgery” | Not confirmed. Surgery was recorded for 18% of cases. We don’t know how the rest fared. |
| “Puppies grow out of it” | Not confirmed either way. We found no source on this. |
Sources
- O’Neill DG, Mustikka MP, Brodbelt DC, et al. Conformational eyelid disorders in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK - Epidemiology and clinical management. PLoS One 2025: VetCompass study, 2,250,417 dogs in 2019. Supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.