Reconstruction of the eyelids of a dog using grafts of oral mucosa.

A five-month-old English cocker spaniel with distichiasis had been treated four times surgically by a tarsomeibomian resection technique. As a result, three-quarters of the margins of its upper eyelids had been eliminated and the lower eyelids had become considerably thinner. The dog had developed upper entropion and upper eyelid trichiasis, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It was treated medically and grafts of oral mucosa were used to reconstruct its upper eyelids. A year after surgery, the new palpebral margin was completely functional and cosmetically acceptable. The dog's eyes appear normal and only require treatment with artificial tears.