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Distichiae of the upper and lower lid of a dog
A distichia is an eyelash that arises from an abnormal spot on the eyelid of a dog. Distichiae usually exit from the duct of the meibomian gland at the eyelid margin. They are usually multiple and sometimes more than one arises from a duct. They can affect either the upper or lower eyelid and are usually bilateral. The lower eyelids of dogs usually have no eyelashes.[1] Distichiae usually cause no symptoms because the lashes are soft, but they can irritate the eye and cause tearing, squinting, inflammation, and corneal ulcers and scarring.[2] Treatment options include manual removal, electrolysis, electrocautery, cryotherapy, and surgery.
[edit] Commonly affected breeds
In veterinary medicine, some canine breeds are affected by distichiasis more frequently than others:
[edit] Ectopic cilia
An ectopic cilia is a special type of distichia. It is usually found in younger dogs. Commonly affected breeds include Poodles, Golden Retrievers, and Shih Tzus.[5] The eyelash exits through the conjunctiva, usually at the middle of the upper eyelid. It can cause intense pain and corneal ulcers. Treatment is surgery or cryotherapy.
[edit] References
- ^ Brooks, Dennis E. (2005). Ophthalmic Examination Made Ridiculously Simple. Proceedings of the 30th World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Eyelids: Conformational Abnormalities. The Merck Veterinary Manual (2006). Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Gelatt, Kirk N. (ed.) (1999). Veterinary Ophthalmology, 3rd ed., Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-683-30076-8.
- ^ Kaufhold J, Hamann H, Steinbach G, Gordon S, Brahm R, Grussendorf H, Rosenhagen C, Distl O (2006). "[Analysis of the prevalence of distichiasis in the dog breed Elo]". Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 119 (5-6): 233–7. PMID 16729470.
- ^ Ketring, Kerry I. (2006). The Top Ten Ophthalmic Mistakes (PDF). Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
[edit] See also
