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In the main eye problems have been bred out, thirty or so years ago hounds were being bred with too much loose skin, the skin being heavy and causing the eyelids to invert inwards, ectropian and entropian being present, thus causing irritation to the eyes and potentially corneal ulcers, ulcers can be extremely painful and need immediate medical attention.

Some eyes have looser eyelids than desired normally resulting from an overlong lower eyelid, this generally does not cause any problems, hounds eyes nowadays are clearer and more visible, the eye ball supporting the upper eye lid,  sometimes the third eyelid is quite visible, as long as there are no signs of cherry eye or irritation it should be fine.

The eye ball should not be set back into the head as this provides no support for the eyelid.

Occasionally you can get a hound where an eyelash will grow inwards instead of outwards, this will need removing or else it will scratch the cornea causing an ulcer.

As the conjunctiva is more exposed in a Bloodhound check that no foreign objects are stuck and the conjunctiva is not inflamed.

Breeders are working to further improve the eye conformation however breed type should not be lost whilst trying to achieve this.

Watch out for any eye injuries, hounds have a habit of sticking their head into bushes and may walk into things, corneal ulcers can be effectively treated if caught early from an injury, if left they can end up very sore and potentially lose the eyesight or eye.

The Bloodhound Club have a longstanding eye scheme, where they have developed their own scoring system for the Bloodhound eye,  this is supported by years of data, an Ophthalmic Veterinary Surgeon is invited along to complete the assessments and score the eye.