What is Cherry Eye?
Cherry eye occurs when the tear gland of the third eyelid begins to protrude and becomes a reddish mass. Though it may look like more of a cosmetic condition than a medical one, the prolapsed lacrimal (tear) gland can become painful, irritated and inflamed. Predisposition to the condition can be seen in the Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Beagle, Bulldog, Shih-Tzu, Boston Terrier, Saint Bernard and Poodle breeds.
Normally, connective tissue holds the lacrimal gland of your pet’s eye in place. Weakness in the tissue or inflammation in the ocular mucous membranes are two instances that can cause the gland to protrude. For most, it is a genetic defect. Cherry eye can lead to the compromising of the function of the third eyelid. Prolapsed lacrimal glands will most often be seen in dogs under the age of two, but it can occur at any age. It is very important to bring your dog to the clinic if you see indications of a problem within the eye.
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Symptoms of Cherry Eye in Dogs
The most obvious symptom of cherry eye is the red, swollen mass in the corner of the dog’s eye which may appear suddenly. Cherry eye can progress quickly. Your canine companion may rub or paw at his eye which can lead to an infection or bleeding. If you notice a red bulge appearing in your dog’s eye, a veterinary visit is a must.
- Swollen tear gland and third eyelid
- There will be the appearance of an oval mass
- The bulge will be reddish in color
- The bulge can become irritated and painful if rubbed
- Your dog may squint if pain is present
- The eye can become dry due to lack of lubrication
- There may be swelling around the eye
- There could be a pus-filled discharge if there is a secondary infection
Causes of Cherry Eye in Dogs
Why canines suffer from cherry eye is not well understood. What is known is that the third eyelid plays an important part in tear production. If the cherry eye is not repaired, your dog could develop dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), which requires the administration of medicated ointment or drops several times daily for life.
- Weakness of the connective tissue attachment between the third eyelid membrane and tissues around the eye
- Inflammation in the mucous membrane of the eye
- Secondary infection of the third eyelid is possible with cherry eye because of exposure to environmental elements and the loss of protective moisture found in the eye
- Abnormal swelling and thickening prevent the third eyelid from returning to its normal position
- Brachycephalic breeds (with wide, flat faces) have an eye structure that may require stronger tissues; therefore, we could say they are genetically predisposed to problems with the third eyelid
Diagnosis of Cherry Eye in Dogs
You may notice that the cherry eye appearance of your dog’s eye may change in severity; at times, it could appear to be improving. However, this is a temporary improvement, and the prolapsing of the eyelid will eventually become a persistent problem. Do not delay in taking your furry companion to the clinic because the bulge can easily become injured or infected. Not dealing with the issue of prolapsed third eyelid will eventually lead to the risk of chronic conjunctivitis, persistent ocular discharge and 'dry eye'.
The veterinarian will do a thorough ocular examination, inspecting all aspects of the eye, to verify if there is a foreign object present and to check for pus related to additional infection. If your dog is a senior, testing may be done to rule out cancer. In general, though, a prolapsed third eyelid is a straightforward diagnosis.
Treatment of Cherry Eye in Dogs
Prompt treatment of cherry eye will bring the most successful resolution. If the prolapse is apparent for only a day or two, there is a chance that anti-inflammatories (to reduce swelling), and antibiotics may be enough to clear up the issue.
However, relapse is common and in many cases, medical treatment must involve surgical intervention. The most important part of the surgery will be to retain the tear gland. (In the past, the prolapsed lacrimal gland was often removed. Current veterinarian practice avoids this procedure.)
Two procedures are considered. The veterinarian will most likely refer you to an ophthalmologist for the surgery, as they specialize in ocular care. Of course, any infection or irritation will be attended to first, through ointments and antibiotics, before the surgery is scheduled.
- Suturing the gland in place is one technique. The gland is tacked to the orbital rim
- The pocket technique is surgery whereby a new pocket is made for the tear gland. The gland is protected by the tunnel put in place, and is tucked into the pocket, and then sutured
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Recovery of Cherry Eye in Dogs
The prognosis for recovery of surgery for prolapsed lacrimal gland is very good. You may see one to two weeks of inflammation before the eye begins to regain its normal appearance, but 7 to 10 days of ointment application and 5 to 10 days of oral antibiotics will assure that the eye heals properly, and infection is avoided.
As with any type of surgery, allow your furry family member to rest in a quiet area for several days. Short leash walks are permitted, but swimming and bathing are prohibited for at least two weeks.
Your dog will be required to wear an Elizabethan collar for a week or two, depending on how fast the eye appears to be healing, and how much your dog is attempting to rub the eye.
The veterinarian will want to check the eye after two weeks, and it is quite possible that an ocular exam will be recommended at every check up in the future. It should be noted that dogs predisposed to the condition are more apt to have a relapse. As well, even with surgery, 20% of canines who had had the cherry eye repaired could develop dry eye in later years. Many dogs develop cherry eye in the other eye going forward.
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Cherry Eye Average Cost
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Cherry Eye Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Shih Tzu
Josie
10 Weeks
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Cherry Eye
My 10 week old Shih Tzu has cherry eye. Our vet prescribed a steroid cream but it does not seem to be working so we will be heading for surgery. Do we need to try to manage this until she is old enough to to be spayed or is it safe to have the surgery now? It does bleed on occassion when she is playing and something accidentally hits it. I’m concerned about infection.
Dec. 31, 2017
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Whether or not you can wait until she has her spay surgery to have the cherry eye fixed sort of depends on how large it is, and if it responds at all to the ointment. If the ointment helps a little, and keeps it smaller than it would be without it, and the tissues are healthy, you may be able to wait until then. If it is constantly inflamed and causing problems, it would probably be best to have the surgery to correct her eye earlier. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you better on that, as they have seen the eye. You can also talk to them about possibly having her spay performed earlier if needed , as some veterinarians are very comfortable performing pediatric spays. They would just need to be more aware of regulating body temperature, blood sugar, and speed of the surgery. I hope that she does well!
Dec. 31, 2017
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Yorkie
Princess
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Clear Discharge, Swelling Reduced
My dog is antibiotics for conjunctivitis. Neomycin, polymyxin B, and dexamethasone ointment. She was fine day 1 and all day 2, however day 3 she seems to have a little red skin showing from corner of her eye duct. Is this normal? I took her to the vet on Tuesday and it’s only Thursday, so I’m just not sure if this is part of the healing process or if she has cherry eye.
Dec. 21, 2017
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for contacting us about Princess. It might be a good idea to have a recheck with your veterinarian to make sure that it is healing normally - I often recommend rechecks for eye concerns 2-3 days after starting the medications, as sometimes the eyes don't respond as planned. They'll be able to let you know if it looks like a cherry eye, or if it is fine and you can continue the medications.
Dec. 21, 2017
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American Cocker Spaniel
Bailey
5 and half
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My puppy cocker spaniel to cherry eye surgery on both eyes last week..His left eye is horrible, its all swollen pretty much covering half his eye..Took him to the vet at home and now he is on some med for the swelling. I think the eye is infected. Do you think it was due to the surgery? what is my next step if this does not clear up?
Dec. 7, 2017
0 Recommendations
Swelling is a common problem after surgery, it is a possibility that the eye is infected but this may have been due to the cherry eye before the surgery; most eye drops given after surgery contain an antibiotic, check the label. If you have concerns you should return to your Veterinarian for an examination. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 7, 2017
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Miniature Pinscher
Lacie Love
2 Years
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My baby had surgery 4 days & then her eye looked like there was nothing done to it at all. However 2 days after surgery it looked like it was trying to come back. If she does have a 2nd surgery will it just keep coming back?
Nov. 7, 2017
0 Recommendations
Normally surgery is curative with a success rate of 95%, however that means that there is a recurrence rate of 5%; it would be best to keep an eye on it and have your Veterinarian evaluate the success of the surgery during a post surgery checkup. In severe cases where recurrence is high, the gland may be removed but this put dogs at a higher risk of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, corneal ulcers etc… Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 7, 2017
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American Spaniel
Bailey
4 and half months
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Another question on surgery for cherry eyes, if the surgery is done right away, is there a chance for prolapse? That is why my vet is saying to wait till he is neutered and also he is young to be put under. Should this surgery be done by an eye specialist not a regular vet?
Nov. 5, 2017
0 Recommendations
For a first time occurrence of cherry eye, your regular Veterinarian would be able to do the surgery; prolapsing of the gland may occur at any time and it may be a case that Bailey’s third eyelid is just showing and not prolapsed yet which is different, in that case a wait and see approach can be taken. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 5, 2017
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Cherry Eye Average Cost
From 367 quotes ranging from $250 - $2,500
Average Cost
$600
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