Other conditions can also cause these symptoms, and some are serious, like trauma to the eye or a foreign body, which can lead to loss of vision or even loss of the eye itself. The sooner you get your dog in for a visit, the better the prognosis. 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. Cherry eye can affect one or both eyes. If you own a young dog from this list or plan to breed a predisposed breed, make sure you are familiar with the symptoms of cherry eye. Diagnosis is based on the clinical appearance of cherry eye, especially in young dogs and certain breeds.
Your veterinarian may also perform a series of diagnostics to establish the overall health of the eye. He or she may also recommend a fluorescein stain test to check for scratches on the cornea. Corneal scratches are not only painful, but can lead to ulceration, infection, and perforation if left untreated. In most cases, surgery will treat cherry eye. There are several surgical techniques for replacing the third eyelid gland behind the third eyelid.
Your veterinarian will discuss their plan for treatment with you at your visit. In some cases, you may be referred to a veterinary ophthalmology specialist. These specialists see various types of cherry eye and will also be able to treat any other ophthalmic conditions your dog may develop.
Left untreated, and the longer the gland is prolapsed, the greater the risk of associated problems such as conjunctivitis. A dog pawing, scratching, or rubbing the affected eye may irritate it further. Cherry eye in dogs is easy to spot and can be treated quickly. Photo credit: Dr. Ophthalmic Veterinary Treatment. She'll also need to wear an e-collar aka the cone of shame during recovery to keep her eye safe from scratching, pawing, and infection.
Cherry eye is not life-threatening, and the vast majority of dogs go on to live full lives with healthy eyes. If you're wondering if you should get a dog who has cherry eye—either from a rescue or a breeder—there are a few considerations to keep in mind. First, it's important to remember cherry eye is not contagious, so it poses no risk to you or other pets.
However, surgical treatment of cherry eye can be expensive. Costs range from several hundred to thousands of dollars depending on the breed, your location, and your veterinarian's rates for surgical procedures.
And, since as many as 40 percent of dogs that experience cherry eye in one eye will eventually have it in the other, you could very well end up doubling your expenses. The good news is, the simple cherry eye surgery should solve the problem for good. The most common complication of this surgery is the breakdown of the suture line and subsequent re-prolapse of the gland," Vygantas explains. If the suture does fail, another surgery is likely necessary.
Still, Vygantas stresses that the condition is not an indicator of poor health or of other underlying conditions. If your pup has cherry eye, there's no reason she can't enjoy a long, happy, healthy life post-treatment. Unfortunately, there's no way to keep your dog from developing cherry eye. But there are ways to give your pup the best chance at good health. Feed her a good diet and provide lots of exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
Schedule an appointment with your vet to make sure she stays up-to-date on all preventative care and vaccinations , and reach out to your vet if you have any concerns about your pup's eye health. Contents Overview What is cherry eye? Check your pet's symptoms. Print this page. Overview Cherry eye prolapse of the nictitans gland is when the gland inside the third eyelid prolapses pops out.
Cherry eye is uncomfortable, and can lead to other problems, such as conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers. Cherry eye can affect any breed of dog, but is especially common in certain pedigrees such as French Bulldogs, Pugs, Great Danes, and Beagles. Most dogs with cherry eye need surgery to put the gland back to where it came from. Always contact your vet if you think your dog has cherry eye.
What is cherry eye? Cherry eye is especially common in the following breeds: British Bulldogs French Bulldogs Beagle Great Dane Cocker Spaniel Shih Tzu Pug Bullmastiff We strongly recommend avoiding breeding from any dog that has suffered with cherry eye even if they have had it corrected. A dog's third eyelid. A dog with cherry eye. Symptoms Cherry eye is often very easy to spot because it causes a red swelling in the corner of the eye see pictures above.
Eye drops Your vet may prescribe eye drops to keep your dog comfortable before, during, and after surgery. Video found at youtu.
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