How Much Does Entropion Surgery Cost For Dogs?

Entropion is a condition affecting dogs in which the eyelid rolls inward and causes the eyelashes and skin to rub against the surface of the eye. If you’re looking around for information on entropion surgery costs, you’ve landed in the right place.

In this article, we’ll look at entropion, its causes and available treatments, plus the costs of surgery. Failure to address this condition might lead to more serious health issues, like chronic eye infections. With fifteen plus years of experience in the insurance industry and as a dog owner myself, I’ve seen how important timely intervention can be to ensure your pet’s health and well-being.

Symptoms And Diagnosis

• Squinting or Holding Eyes Closed: Dogs with entropion will often squint or keep their eyes at least partially closed because of discomfort.
• Redness and Swelling: Constant irritation of the eyes may cause swelling, redness and discomfort.
• Excessive Tearing: The eyelid rolling inward may cause tears to spill over the eyelid instead of draining as they should.
• Corneal Ulcers: Eyelashes rubbing against the cornea of the eye can lead to painful ulcers, which may threaten vision if left untreated.

Diagnosis

A vet will diagnose entropion by using several methods, including a visual inspection of the eyelids, evaluation of the dog’s eyelid function, fluorescein stain that will temporarily highlight any scratched areas of the cornea, checking for infections or scars, breed disposition, and in rare cases, X-Rays and/or ultrasounds.

Causes

In most cases, entropion in dogs is caused by genetics. Certain breeds of dogs are more likely to develop entropion, for different reasons. Brachycephalic breeds, for example, such as bulldogs, boxers, and pugs develop entropion as they mature because the shape of their face and muzzle leads to excessive tension on the ligaments around the eye’s inner corners.This excess tension causes the upper and lower eyelids to roll inwards.

In giant breeds like Saint Bernards, Great Danes,and Bullmastiffs, it’s just the opposite. In those breeds, the ligaments around the outer eyes have too much slack, resulting in an inward rolling of the upper and lower eyelids. This is why sporting breeds such as Irish Setters and Retrievers develop entropion, also. Brachycephalic breeds are prone to entropion, as well.

Not all cases of entropion are genetic. Some cases are secondary to medical conditions. Nerve damage and eyelid scarring from previous injuries, excessive weight loss, and infections around the eyes and eyelids can cause excess skin around the dog’s eyes, leading to the development of entropion.

Treatment

Surgery to correct the condition is the only permanent way to treat entropion. The surgical procedure is called blepharoplasty, and involves removing some tissue from the upper and/or lower eyelids to prevent them rolling inward. In genetic cases of entropion, this surgery is usually performed when the dog is a minimum of six months old.

Doing the procedure too soon, especially in breeds with lots of facial skin folds, doesn’t eliminate the risks of entropion, as the puppy may still develop more skin folds and risk developing entropion again as it gets older.

Another surgical approach for treatment of entropion is to place temporary sutures around the eyelids in appropriate places to prevent the inward rolling. This is usually done in puppies showing severe signs of entropion but not yet old enough for blepharoplasty procedures.

How Much Does Entropion Surgery Cost?

On average, you can expect to spend $500–$1,500 for entropion surgery, more if the vet is a board certified veterinary surgeon or ophthalmologist.

What Is Included In The Entropion Surgery Cost?

The total cost of entropion surgery generally includes these components:

• Initial Vet Visit
• Preoperative Diagnostics
• Anesthesia
• Surgical Procedure
• Medications Pre and Post Operative
• E-collar

Post-op check-ups with the vet to ensure proper healing are usually not included in the initial quote and may add to the total cost.

Real-World Examples of Entropion Surgery Costs

1. VCA Animal Hospitals: Costs range from $500 to $1,800 for surgical correction of entropion.
2. Lemonade Pet Insurance:They provide a range of $500 to $2,000 for entropion surgery in dogs.
3. A-Z Animals: They report a general cost range of $300 to $2,500, depending on the severity of the case.

What Factors Affect The Cost Of Entropion Surgery?

The cost of entropion surgery may differ significantly depending on various factors. Having a good working knowledge of these factors can help you anticipate expenses and make informed decisions about your pet’s care and well being.

• Preoperative Consultations and Diagnostics: Diagnostic tests and consultations including blood work and physical exams are required before surgery, which will add to the overall cost​​.
• Veterinarian’s Experience and Specialty: A veterinary surgeon who is board certified may charge more due to specialized training and expertise, critical for complicated cases​​.
• Geographical Location: The price of veterinary care may vary greatly depending on the location of the clinic, with metropolitan areas having higher costs and lower costs in rural areas​.
• Anesthesia: The type of anesthesia used during the surgery along with its duration can have a significant impact on the cost.
• Post-Surgery Medications and Follow-Up Care: Post-Op care, including medications as well as follow-up visits, increases the overall expense and is important for ensuring a good recovery along with managing any complications​.
• Complications and Additional Treatments: Additional treatments and possibly more surgeries may be needed if complications arise during or after surgery, significantly adding to the cost.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Entropion Surgery?

Pet insurance coverage for entropion surgery will vary according to the policy and provider. Usually, most pet insurance plans have coverage for surgeries for conditions like entropion. It is best to read the fine print, though, to be sure hereditary and congenital conditions are covered.

Hereditary And Congenital Conditions

A lot of comprehensive pet insurance policies do provide coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions such as entropion. For instance, Lemonade Pet Insurance ordinarily covers the cost of entropion surgery, excluding any deductibles and coinsurance, as long as the policy was in place before any symptoms appeared​.

MetLife Pet Insurance also covers entropion surgery under policies that include hereditary conditions, and advises pet owners to check for any exclusions related to pre-existing conditions​​.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Most pet insurance policies won’t cover pre-existing conditions. If your dog is diagnosed with entropion prior to purchasing the policy, or if the dog shows symptoms during the waiting period, it’s doubtful the entropion surgery will be covered​​.

How Can I Save Money On Entropion Surgery?

Saving money on entropion surgery for your dog is certainly possible and may be achieved through several strategies.

First of all, you should consider getting pet insurance that covers hereditary and congenital conditions, because this can significantly offset your out-of-pocket cost. A lot of comprehensive pet insurance policies will cover the surgery, minus deductibles and coinsurance, saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars. You need to enroll your pet in insurance early on, to avoid problems with pre-existing condition exclusions.

Another way to save money on pet care such as entropion surgery is to explore financing options or payment plans sometimes on offer by veterinary clinics. Some offer interest-free financing options or payment plans that help you manage the cost over time, spreading payment so that it doesn’t come out as a lump sum all at once. Check into local veterinary schools that sometimes offer discounted rates for procedures performed by students under supervision, too.

What Breeds Are Typically Affected By Entropion?

Certain dog breeds are more susceptible to developing primary entropion, due to genetics:

• Shar-Pei
• Chow Chow
• Bouvier des Flandres
• Rottweiler
• Great Dane
• Saint Bernard
• Leonberger
• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• German Pointer
• English Springer Spaniel
• English and American Cocker Spaniels
• English Bulldog
• Japanese Chin
• Bernese Mountain Dog

Is Surgery Required For Entropion?

Sometimes puppies will have entropion that resolves itself before they are a year old. If the entropion is causing a lot of discomfort and irritating the eye, a vet may temporarily tack the eyelid/s to alleviate the problems until it is outgrown.

That being said, most cases in older dogs will require surgery to correct entropion.

What Happens If Entropion Is Left Untreated?

If entropion in dogs is left untreated, it may cause serious complications, many of which can affect your dog’s quality of life as well as its vision. The chronic, ongoing discomfort and pain from untreated entropion might also lead to behavioral changes in dogs, such as increased aggression, irritability, or withdrawal from normal activities.

Here are a few of the things that can result from untreated entropion:

• Chronic Eye Irritation
• Corneal Ulcers
• Eye Infections
• Vision Loss
• Chronic Pain and Discomfort
• Behavioral Changes

How Can I Prevent Entropion?

The quick answer to this question is: you can’t. Not primary entropion, anyway. Since primary entropion is hereditary, it can’t be prevented. If an eye problem is caused by secondary causes like corneal ulcers, it’s critical to get the issue checked by a vet quickly to avoid or reduce the occurrence of secondary entropion.

You can help prevent other dogs from having primary entropion by not breeding your affected dog, and only getting a dog from a responsible breeder.