What is a cherry eye?

Cherry eye occurs when the nictitating membrane (third eyelid), located in the eye's inner side, between the lower eyelid and the cornea, prolapses. It's mostly common to young dogs under two years. The good news is that cherry eye is treatable and manageable.

What causes cherry eye?

Cherry eye usually occurs in dogs under one year old. The condition arises when the small ligament that holds the third eyelid gland in place either stretches or breaks. Veterinarians are not entirely sure why this happens, treatment almost always requires surgery.

How do you treat cherry eye in dogs?

How is a cherry eye treated? Treatment involves surgical replacement of the third eyelid gland. It is essential to treat the condition as soon as possible to minimize permanent damage to the eye or third eyelid gland.

Can cherry eye go away on its own?

Will Cherry Eye Go Away on Its Own or Without Treatment? No. Surgery is almost always necessary. However, in certain cases and when caught early, your veterinarian may prescribe a treatment plan first targeting the inflammation.

Is cherry eye painful for a dog?

Is cherry eye painful for my dog or cat? Although unsightly, cherry eye doesn't normally cause any discomfort to dogs or cats unless it is left untreated and complications occur.

Cherry Eye Surgery Movie

How much does a vet charge to fix cherry eye?

In general, pet owners can expect the cost of cherry eye surgery to average $300 to $800 depending on whether one or both eyes are affected, the severity of the condition and the breed of dog. In some cases, you may expect to pay $1,000 or more.

How long can a dog live with cherry eye?

Is cherry eye life-threatening? Cherry eye in dogs is not life-threatening, and it's not a medical emergency. However, you should take your pet to the vet as soon as possible to discuss your treatment options and schedule surgery. Most dogs with cherry eye go on to live full, healthy lives.

What happens if I don't fix my dogs cherry eye?

An untreated “cherry eye” will have decreased tear production and possibly incomplete closure of the eye. This can cause eye infections and dry eye. The dry eye can be severe enough to cause a lot of pain, pigmentation of the eye and blindness. The treatment for a prolapsed nictitans gland is often surgical.

Is cherry eye contagious in dogs?

Most affected dogs will have their first cherry eye appear under two years old, although the condition can occur in one or both eyes at any age. The condition is not contagious to people or other animals.

Does cherry eye happen suddenly?

Cherry Eye is a condition that can manifest and progress very quickly, and symptoms are strongly tied to what stage it is in. The nictitating membrane and attached tear glands do not move out of place slowly. They tend to do so quickly, often suddenly, which is what causes the tear gland to protrude in the first place.

What does the vet do for cherry eye?

A veterinary surgeon may use imbrication. With this method, the veterinarian will remove a small bit of tissue directly over the gland. Sometimes, the entire gland must be removed to prevent future cherry eye infections.

What age do dogs get cherry eye?

Cherry eye is seen in young dogs, six months to two years of age. The most common breeds affected are cocker spaniels, bulldogs, beagles, bloodhounds, Lhasa apsos, mastiffs, Shih Tzus, and other brachycephalic breeds. Cats are rarely affected, but it has been reported in Burmese and Persian breeds.

What are the first signs of cherry eye?

How do you fix cherry eye without surgery?

While it might be tempting to try and avoid surgery, when it comes to cherry eye, ointment and topical treatments won't address the root problem and your pup will likely need surgery later anyway. According to Vygantas, once the gland is out of position, it's unlikely to resolve itself without surgery.

Is cherry eye a birth defect?

Cherry eye refers to a slipped, protruding eye gland, caused by a birth defect. It's aptly named because the protrusion is pinkish-red, like a cherry. Some breeds are more predisposed to the condition, such as Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, Beagles, Bloodhounds, Lhasa Apsos, and Shih Tzus.

What dogs are prone to cherry eye?

In the new analysis, vets discovered that English Bulldogs, Neapolitan mastiffs and American Cocker Spaniels are most at risk of developing cherry eye, while German Shepherds, West Highland White Terriers, and English Springer Spaniels are least at risk.

Should I massage my dogs cherry eye?

To manage these quite simply, gently massage the cherry eye and many will pop back in. Ask your vet clinic to show you (our nurses offer this for no charge), or look at Youtube examples. If in itself this does not work, then steroid drops often help facilitate this by reducing the swelling.

Does a warm compress help cherry eye in dogs?

Treatment of Cherry Eye in Canines

For some dogs, conservative treatment such as warm compresses and gentle massage can help the membrane return to its normal position on the eye. However, more severe cases may require surgical intervention.

How successful is cherry eye surgery for dogs?

The preferred method of treating a cherry eye is to surgically reposition the gland into its normal location. The success rate of this procedure is approximately 90%. The remaining 10% of cases, run the risk that gland may reprolapse and require a second surgery. How will my pet look after surgery?

Can a regular vet fix cherry eye?

Definitive treatment often requires surgery. Visiting a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist is strongly recommended in this case. The surgical approach to cherry eye requires a careful incision into the eyelid margin over the gland, replacing the gland deeper into the orbit, then suturing the incision closed.

Is cherry eye caused by bad breeding?

There is likely a genetic predisposition, but it can happen in any breed. It is generally seen in young animals and is uncommon after the age of two.

Is cherry eye caused by stress?

~ I have found that at times stressful situations can trigger a cherry eye to appear. Examples would be first groomings when pups seem to get highly stressed out with the clippers and a new grooming environment. Some dogs are more stressy than others and will be more prone to "blowing a cherry eye" as I say.

How long is cherry eye surgery?

Generally, we anticipate the surgery will take approximately 20 – 30 minutes. How will my pet look after surgery? After surgery, the third eyelid may appear red and swollen for several days – this is normal.

How long is recovery from cherry eye surgery?

Healing time from surgery is approximately 2 weeks. An e-collar or cone will be required during this time to protect the surgery site. Activity should be kept to a minimum. Oral and topical medications will be prescribed to decrease inflammation and prevent infection.