Causes of Canine Third Eyelid Hyperplasia

Canine third eyelid hyperplasia is usually related to the dog's own body structure development, such as hair stimulation to the eyes, excessive glandular secretion, congenital corneal cartilage defects, and tissue defects. It is a common disease in dogs and is difficult to heal spontaneously. Secondly, the prolapse of the third eyelid can lead to vision impairment in dogs and produce a large amount of tear stains. It also has a certain genetic component and can easily cause complications such as bleeding and inflammation around the corner of the eye. Therefore, for the health of your dog, it is necessary to go to the pet hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time when the dog has symptoms of third eyelid prolapse.

Symptoms of Prolapsed Third Eyelid in Dogs

In the early stage of the prolapse of the third eyelid in dogs, there will be mild congestion of the conjunctiva, tearfulness, and other symptoms. Due to the discomfort, some dogs will even use their front paws to scratch the affected eye. After 1-2 days, a reddish-pink object the size of a green bean to a soybean will be found protruding from the inner corner of the eye. As the disease progresses, the object will become the size of a peanut and have a smooth, wet, and tough surface.

If the prolapsed gland is small, it can shrink back into the eyelid spontaneously. However, if the prolapsed gland enlarges and cannot shrink back, it will cover part of the cornea and affect vision. The color will change from the initial pink to purplish red.

What to Do About Canine Third Eyelid Hyperplasia

When a dog has third eyelid hyperplasia, you can first drop eye drops for the dog for about a week. In some cases, the third eyelid will retract during this time. However, this condition is prone to recurrence. If the eyelid does not retract within a week, surgery is the only option. Therefore, the best way to treat third eyelid hyperplasia in dogs is surgical resection. However, after surgery, there is still a certain chance that the dog will develop dry eye syndrome.