Chow Chow: entropion, eyelids and monitoring the skin folds
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
A Chow Chow with persistently watery eyes or squinting eyelids may be dealing with a malformation its breed is particularly prone to. Find all our health pointers in the dog care and grooming section.
Contents · 4 sections
What the recent UK study shows
A study by O'Neill, Mustikka, Brodbelt, Church and Vaattovaara, published in 2025 in PLOS ONE using VetCompass data covering over 2.2 million dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, found the Chow Chow's annual entropion prevalence to be among the highest of all breeds studied, ranking just behind a single other brachycephalic breed (see the study). The pronounced skin folds around the eyes, sought after in the breed standard, stand out as a direct aggravating factor for this inward rolling of the eyelid.
What to watch for day to day
- Persistent tearing or discharge at the corner of the eye, often the first visible sign before corneal damage sets in.
- Frequent pawing or rubbing of the muzzle on the ground or with the paws, a sign of ocular discomfort not to overlook in this breed.
- Gentle cleaning of the facial folds, to limit local irritation, without ever attempting to correct the eyelid's position yourself.
When to seek help and planning for the budget
A red, cloudy eye or a cornea that looks opaque in a Chow Chow should prompt a swift ophthalmology visit, as surgical correction is often needed in marked cases. This follow-up comes with a cost that dog health insurance taken out early can help offset. Find the full breed profile on the Chow Chow page and browse all our guides on the dog hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does entropion affect every Chow Chow?
No, but the breed shows one of the highest prevalences identified by the study, which justifies close monitoring from a young age.
Can entropion be corrected without surgery?
Mild cases sometimes respond to close monitoring alone, but more marked forms usually require surgical correction.
Should simple tearing be a concern?
Persistent tearing in this breed deserves a vet's opinion, as it can signal corneal rubbing that early care can prevent.
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.