Kahler: Keep eye peeled on dog for errant lashes

Penelope might need surgery, not ointment, to cure irritation

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Penelope, who is almost 2 years old, is quite a joy for her owners.

John and Allison rescued Penelope as a puppy from an abandoned house in their neighborhood. She was emaciated. With Allison and John's care, Penelope gained weight and became healthy. She does, however, have one problem that appears to be somewhat chronic.

Penelope seems to have constant tearing from her right eye. At times, she appears to be quite irritated by the condition and will rub her eye on the carpet. This in turn makes the area around the eye red and hairless, compounding the problem.

Allison also points out that there are times when Penelope will keep her eyelids partially or completely closed.

Allison has had Penelope's eye checked multiple times by her veterinarian and has been prescribed ointment for conjunctivitis. There has usually been improvement but, invariably, some time after the treatment is stopped, the problem resumes.

In cases like this, it helps to seek out a veterinary ophthalmologist. Keep in mind that these specialists are not always available in all areas.

I believe Penelope's case can be diagnosed without a specialist, though. First off, we should numb Penelope's eye so we can "poke around" a bit. I would culture the eye for bacteria. It may be that because of being treated several times with antibiotic eye ointment, a resistant bacteria may have colonized the eye. More likely, if there is an infection, it is secondary to another underlying process. I would also like to observe Penelope's eye after the anesthetic takes effect. Remember that Allison reported that Penelope sometimes kept the eyelids closed in the affected eye? This usually indicates discomfort in the eye and sometimes can cause the lower lid to role inward. This rolling inward in turn can cause the eyelashes of the lower lid to rub against the eye, which irritates and causes discomfort and tearing. With the benefit of the anesthetic, there will be no discomfort and the eyelids will be in their normal position. If, by chance, we see that the lower lid still remains rolled inward, we have a diagnosis. This condition is called entropion.

Entropion is corrected with a surgical procedure somewhat analogous to a plastic surgery procedure in humans. The lid is modified to eliminate the rolling inward, and then the dog no longer has eyelash contact with the eye and the problem is alleviated.

Another possible cause for Penelope's eye problem is the presence of abnormally located eyelashes. This condition is termed dystichiasis; the aberrant lashes are called dystichia. I usually need magnification to spot these sometime tiny hairs, but if they are there, they can cause tremendous irritation. Treatment for this problem is also surgical with a couple of different techniques, depending on the location and population of the dystichia.

I think with a little deeper digging, it will be possible to unearth Penelope's eye problem and bring about a resolution. One thing is for sure: It won't be cured by dumping more ointment into the eye.

Jeff Kahler is a veterinarian in Modesto. Questions can be submitted to Your Pet in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352.