Entropion in newborn lambs

: The Entropion in newborn lambs could be proved so far in 8 sheep-breeds and 7 cross-breeds out of 33 flocks in the Federal Republic of Germany. In our patients the Entropion was found at the lower eyelid only. The owners of the animals often mistake the Entropion for an ophthalmia. An early diagnosis and an early beginning of the therapy keep the expenditure of treatment small and shorten the period of treatment; therefore examination is commendable within a short time after birth. Female lambs get clearly more often affected than male ones (Gynecotropia). In small pure-bred flocks with only one breeding-ram (and also in breeds with a limited population) the percentage of suffering lambs is higher than in large and crossed flocks with several rams and in large populations (except the breed "Heidschnucke"). In agreement with the literature it must be supposed that different genes are responsible for the Entropion. The selection of ill animals and those which are suspected of transmitting the disposition is evidently appropriate to lower the number of attacks of illness within a population considerably. All 47 affected eyes of 32 lambs were treated. Low degrees of Entropion were healed by repeated manual eversion plus application of antibiotic eye-ointment. In middle and high degrees of Entropion the application of Michel-wound-clamps on 23 of 26 eyes was successful; antibiotic eye-ointment was applied here, too; additionally these lambs prophylactically got 2000 I.U. of Tetanus-antitoxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)