What is Cherry Eye in Dogs?

What’s commonly referred to as cherry eye in dogs is what you see when a poor pooch has a red, swollen gland in their eye.

Boxers, French Bulldogs and the other brachycephalic breeds are most commonly affected with cherry eye and, though it looks excruciating, it’s more uncomfortable and itchy for your dog than painful.

With that said, it will require treatment – often of the surgical kind. We’re going to dig our paws into what exactly it is and how you can help your doggo treat it.

What causes cherry eye in bulldogs and other dogs?

First off, did you know that each and every breed of dog has a third eyelid?

And of course, this has a complicated medical name – a nictitating membrane. Makes you feel smart just saying that out loud doesn’t it? This third eyelid is in their lower eyelid and it offers additional protection for a dog’s eyes, as well as promoting oxygen supply and tear production to the eye.

Basically, cherry eye in dogs is a prolapsed gland of the nictitans. It’s more likely to occur in dogs under one year old, and veterinarians aren’t quite sure what leads to the prolapse.

Prolapsed gland of the nictitans? Huh!?

Unless you’ve a doctor’s degree behind your name, that’s a bunch of words that might as well be ancient Egyptian. So what does it mean? 

Let’s break it down. A prolapse is when an organ or part of the body is displaced from its normal position. So the gland of the nictitans, which is the gland of the third eyelid, is displaced. 

Usually, the gland of the third eyelid is attached to the inner rim of the eye by a little fibre. The issue is that, in the breeds mentioned above, it’s believed this attachment is weak. Because of this, the gland is prone to prolapse quite easily.

PS: Know if your dog may be at risk of any hereditary and congenital conditions, here.

Treatment of cherry eye in dogs

The treatment involved in correcting cherry eye in dogs will normally be a minor surgery to reposition the gland to its normal location.  

If you notice cherry eye we recommend you get your furball to your vet right away. It’s really important to treat the condition as soon as possible.

This is because the third eyelid gland produces a lot of water to keep your pooch’s eyes from drying out. In fact, up to 50%! Without this additional water production, your dog’s prone to “dry eye“. Dry eye is a serious condition that can permanently impair their vision.

Regardless, if this condition is left untreated it can cause further problems such as infections like conjunctivitis. The other reason to treat cherry eye in dogs quickly is that your poor pooch may try and scratch or paw at it. This could lead to other infections and possibly more damage to the eye. 

Luckily for our furbabulous fur kids, the gland returns to normal function within a few weeks. Just bear in mind that with cherry eye in dogs there’s always the chance of a re-prolapse that might require additional surgery. 

Something to keep in mind is that if an animal has a prolapse in one eye, they’ll eventually get it in the other eye.

Sadly, there’s nothing that can be done besides being aware of this and prepared for surgical replacement of the third eyelid gland. This minor surgery is always the first choice of treatment due to the risk of developing “dry eye” if the gland is surgically removed.

Can cherry eye go away by itself?

You may be wondering whether cherry in dogs could resolve itself without surgery. If the cherry eye is just starting, you could try carefully massaging the affected eye to reposition the prolapsed gland.

Sometimes, the gland will correct itself on its own. Your vet may also prescribe a course of medication and steroids. But usually, cherry eye in dogs will need surgery to correct.

While we’re talking about eye health, read about dry eye in dogs.

Dog insurance for a soft landing

At PD Insurance we believe in the power of peace of mind. The peace of mind in knowing that your pooch (or puss) is in good hands in case of accident or illness. And that in the event of emergency medical treatment like tests, surgery or medication, your pocket’s protected for a wide range of covered health situations. That way you can focus on the important things like being a great pet parent. 

Have a look at our dog insurance plans and find the right one for you and your furbaby. Plus, with us you’ll receive one or more months of free insurance when you sign up online.