Hey there, pet parents. Have you ever looked at your dog and seen a smooth, red, swollen lump popping out from the corner of their eye? It can be a bit of a startling sight! This is a very common condition known as Cherry Eye. While it looks alarming, the good news is that it's not usually painful and it is very treatable.
What is Cherry Eye?
Dogs have a "third eyelid" (called the nictitating membrane) located in the inner corner of their eye. This third eyelid acts as a "windshield wiper" for the eye and contains a special tear gland that produces about 30-40% of the eye's total tear film. This gland is vital for keeping the eye healthy and lubricated.
Normally, this gland is held in place by a small ligament. In some dogs, especially certain breeds, this ligament is weak. This allows the tear gland to prolapse, or "pop out," from its normal position. When it pops out, it becomes red and swollen, and it looks like a small cherry stuck in the corner of the eye.
Breeds Prone to Cherry Eye
Cherry eye is a condition of young dogs, usually under two years of age. It is known to be hereditary in certain breeds, especially brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds.
- •English Bulldogs
- •French Bulldogs
- •Cocker Spaniels
- •Beagles
- •Boston Terriers
- •Cane Corsos
- •And many other breeds.
If a dog gets a cherry eye in one eye, they are very likely to get it in the other eye at some point.
Spotting the Signs
You can't miss it! The main sign is the appearance of a round, smooth, bright red or pink mass in the inner corner of the eye. It can appear very suddenly. It may be present all the time, or it may pop in and out.
While the cherry eye itself is not painful, the exposed gland can become dry and irritated, which can cause some discomfort. You might see your dog pawing at their eye.
Treatment: Tacking it Back in Place
The treatment for cherry eye is surgery. The goal of the surgery is to return the gland to its normal position and secure it there so it can continue to produce tears.
Why Not Just Remove It?
In the past, it was common for vets to simply remove the prolapsed gland. We now know that this is a very bad idea! This gland produces a significant portion of the eye's tears. If it is removed, the dog is at a very high risk of developing a painful and difficult-to-manage condition called Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or KCS) later in life. KCS requires lifelong, expensive medication.
Therefore, the gland should never be removed.
The "Tacking" Surgery
The standard surgical procedure for cherry eye is called an imbrication or "pocket" technique. The surgeon creates a small pocket in the tissue of the third eyelid, tucks the gland back into the pocket, and then sews the pocket shut over the gland. This holds the gland in its proper place.
The surgery is very successful, although there is always a small chance that the cherry eye can recur.
What if I Can't Do Surgery Right Away?
If surgery is not an immediate option, you can try to manage the cherry eye with topical steroid eye drops prescribed by your vet. These can help to reduce the inflammation and may cause the gland to temporarily go back into place. However, the cherry eye will almost always pop back out, and surgery is the only permanent solution.
If you see that classic red lump in the corner of your dog's eye, don't panic! See your vet to confirm the diagnosis and to discuss the simple surgical procedure that can tuck that "cherry" away for good and preserve your dog's precious tear production for the future.
Sources & Further Reading:
- •American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists - Prolapse of the Gland of the Third Eyelid
- 1VCA Animal Hospitals - Cherry Eye in Dogs