Distichiasis in Dogs: Extra Eyelashes and Eye Irritation

If your dog squints, tears up, or keeps pawing at one eye, a tiny hair you can barely see may be part of the story. Distichiasis is a common eyelid condition in which extra eyelashes grow from an unusual spot along the edge of the eyelid. Some of these hairs are soft enough that a dog never notices them, while others brush the eye with every blink and cause irritation. This guide explains distichiasis and two related conditions, the signs that warrant a veterinary exam, how veterinarians confirm the problem, the main management options, and when to seek help right away.

Important: This article shares general educational information for pet owners and is not a substitute for an in-person veterinary examination, diagnosis, or treatment. For any medical concern or emergency, contact your veterinarian promptly.

What Is Distichiasis?

Along the edge of each eyelid sits a row of tiny openings that belong to the meibomian glands. These glands produce an oily layer that spreads over the tear film and keeps tears from evaporating too quickly. Normally, only oil comes out of these openings. In distichiasis, hairs grow out of them instead of, or as well as, oil.

Each abnormal hair is called a distichia (the plural is distichiae). They can appear on the upper lid, the lower lid, or both, and on one eye or both eyes. A dog may have a single extra hair or a whole row of them.

Because these hairs start right at the lid margin, they often point toward the eye rather than away from it. Whether they cause trouble depends largely on how stiff they are, how long they grow, and which way they point. Coarser hairs can rub the cornea and the conjunctiva, the pink tissue lining the eyelids.

Distichiasis is usually present from a young age and is thought to have an inherited component in many dogs, although hairs may not become noticeable or bothersome until later.

Related Conditions: Ectopic Cilia and Trichiasis

Ectopic cilia

An ectopic cilium is a hair that grows through the inner surface of the eyelid, poking out through the conjunctiva instead of from the lid margin. It usually emerges from the inside of the upper lid and points straight at the cornea. Because it contacts the eye directly with every blink, ectopic cilia are often much more painful than typical distichiae and are a well-known cause of corneal ulcers, sometimes ulcers that are slow to resolve until the hair is removed.

Trichiasis

Trichiasis describes normal hairs that grow from a normal location but still end up rubbing the eye. Examples include hairs from facial folds or eyelashes that turn inward because of how the eyelid sits. Our guide to entropion and other eyelid problems explains how eyelid position affects the eye.

A dog can have more than one of these issues at once, and sorting them out guides the plan.

Which Dogs Are More Likely to Have It?

Any dog can develop distichiasis, including mixed breeds. However, it is seen more often in certain breeds, which supports the idea that genetics play a role. Breeds commonly mentioned include some spaniels, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and Poodles. If your dog is one of these breeds, ask your veterinarian to check the lid margins at wellness visits.

Because the condition is believed to be inherited in many cases, responsible breeders often have breeding dogs examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist before planning a litter.

Signs That Warrant a Veterinary Exam

Many dogs with soft distichiae show no signs at all, and the hairs are found only during a routine eye exam. When the hairs do bother the eye, you may notice one or more of the following:

• Excess tearing: a wet face, damp fur below the eye, or tear staining that seems new or worse.
• Squinting or frequent blinking: holding the eye partly closed, especially in bright light.
• Rubbing or pawing: rubbing the face on carpet, furniture, or your leg, or pawing at one eye.
• Redness: a pink or bloodshot look to the white of the eye or the lining of the lids.
• Discharge: watery, mucus-like, or thicker discharge collecting in the corner of the eye.
• Changes on the eye surface: a dull, hazy, or cloudy patch on the normally clear cornea, which can signal an ulcer.

Mild, ongoing tearing or occasional rubbing deserves a scheduled appointment. A cloudy spot on the eye, sudden severe squinting, or an eye held shut is a different matter and calls for a veterinarian or emergency clinic right away, as described below. Our article on eye discharge in dogs and cats can help you describe what you see to your veterinary team.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Distichiasis

Extra eyelashes are often tiny, pale, or tucked against the lid, so a careful eye exam with magnification is the key to diagnosis. Your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist for a more detailed look, particularly if ectopic cilia are suspected.

1. Magnified eyelid exam: using a bright light and magnification, the veterinarian examines the lid margins for hairs coming from the meibomian gland openings.
2. Everting the lids: gently turning the eyelids outward lets the veterinarian check the inner lining for ectopic cilia.
3. Fluorescein stain: a harmless dye is placed on the eye to highlight any scratch or ulcer on the cornea.
4. Tear production test: a small paper strip may be used to measure tear production and rule out dry eye as a contributing factor.
5. Additional checks: the veterinarian may also look for eyelid rolling or facial fold contact.

Some dogs need sedation for a thorough look, especially if the eye is very painful or the dog finds handling stressful.

Management Options Your Veterinarian May Discuss

The right approach depends on how many hairs are present, how stiff they are, and whether the cornea has been injured.

Monitoring

If the hairs are soft and your dog shows no discomfort and no corneal changes, your veterinarian may simply recommend watching the eyes and rechecking periodically. Many dogs live comfortably with mild distichiasis that never needs intervention.

Plucking by your veterinarian

A veterinarian can pluck problem hairs with fine instruments under good magnification. This can provide short-term comfort, but plucking is temporary because the hair follicle remains and the hairs regrow.

Longer-lasting removal

For hairs that keep causing trouble, your veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmologist may discuss procedures that aim to destroy the follicle so the hair does not return. These include cryotherapy (freezing the follicle), electrolysis or electroepilation (using a fine electrical probe), and surgical removal of the follicle or the affected section of lid margin. Ectopic cilia are typically removed surgically along with a small amount of surrounding tissue. These are usually done under general anesthesia, and new hairs can develop later.

Supporting the eye surface

If the cornea is irritated or ulcerated, your veterinarian may prescribe medicated eye drops or ointment, such as an antibiotic eye medication, as well as lubricating drops. Use these only as prescribed by your veterinarian and for as long as directed.

Caring for Your Dog at Home

Home care supports the plan your veterinarian sets. It does not replace a proper exam, and it is never a substitute for removing a hair that is damaging the eye.

If giving eye drops is a struggle, our step-by-step guide on how to give eye and ear drops offers gentle handling tips.

When to Call Your Veterinarian

Any eye that looks red, teary, or uncomfortable deserves a veterinary exam. Schedule an appointment soon if your dog:

• Has mild tearing or tear staining that is new or getting worse
• Blinks more than usual or rubs the face now and then
• Has a mild pink tinge to the white of the eye
• Has small amounts of discharge in the corner of the eye
• Shows mild signs again after earlier hair removal

Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away if

• Your dog suddenly squints severely or holds an eye shut
• You see a cloudy, white, or bluish spot on the surface of the eye
• The eye looks very red, swollen, or appears to bulge
• Your dog will not let you near the eye or seems in significant pain
• Your dog appears to have trouble seeing

Corneal ulcers can worsen quickly, so these signs should never wait for a routine appointment. Our guide to corneal ulcers in dogs and cats explains why fast action matters.

Common Mistakes and Myths

Mistake: Plucking the hairs at home.

Using tweezers near a dog's eye risks a serious injury if the dog moves, and the hairs grow back anyway. Leave hair removal to your veterinarian.

Myth: Every extra eyelash needs to be removed.

Fact: many dogs with soft distichiae have no signs at all. If the eye is comfortable and the cornea is healthy, monitoring may be all that is needed.

Myth: Once the hairs are removed, the problem is gone for good.

Fact: plucked hairs regrow, and even after longer-lasting procedures some dogs develop new hairs. Ongoing eye checks are part of good care.

Mistake: Using leftover or human eye drops.

Some eye medications can make certain corneal injuries worse. Use only drops your veterinarian has prescribed for this specific problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is distichiasis painful for dogs?

It depends on the hairs. Soft, fine hairs often cause no discomfort. Stiffer hairs can irritate the eye, and ectopic cilia are often quite painful because they rub the cornea directly.

Can distichiasis cause blindness?

Distichiasis itself does not usually affect vision, but ongoing irritation can lead to corneal ulcers or scarring. Sudden squinting, a cloudy spot, or an eye held shut should be checked by a veterinarian or emergency clinic right away.

Will the extra eyelashes grow back after removal?

Plucked hairs regrow. Procedures that destroy the follicle, such as cryotherapy, electrolysis, or surgical removal, aim for a longer-lasting result, though new hairs can still develop.

Can cats get distichiasis?

It is recognized mainly in dogs and is uncommon in cats, though cats can have other eyelid and eye surface problems that need a veterinary exam.

Key Takeaways

Distichiasis means extra eyelashes growing from the meibomian gland openings along the eyelid margin. Related conditions include ectopic cilia, which grow through the inner lid lining and are often more painful and linked to corneal ulcers, and trichiasis, in which normal hairs rub the eye. Many dogs with soft distichiae show no signs, while others have tearing, squinting, rubbing, redness, or a corneal ulcer. Diagnosis relies on a careful exam with magnification, sometimes by a veterinary ophthalmologist. Options range from monitoring to plucking by a veterinarian, which is temporary, to cryotherapy, electrolysis, or surgical removal. Use lubricating drops only as prescribed, never pluck hairs at home, and contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away for sudden severe squinting, a cloudy spot on the eye, or an eye held shut.