Did you know that each canine eye has three eyelids, for a total of six? When one of their dog’s third eyelids develops a problem, most dog owners are unaware of this basic knowledge about canine anatomy, known as cherry eye. Countless dog owners have had the scary- but not unprecedented- the experience of finding a red bump in their pet’s eye.
What is a cherry eye in dogs?
Cherry eyes develop when the nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, folds backward. This membrane surrounds your dog’s eye and houses its tear gland, safeguarding its vision. Ligaments usually hold the tear gland in position, but when they weaken, they can prolapse and “pop out,” giving your dog’s eye a cherry-red growth.
Some dog breeds are much more at risk of establishing cherry eye than others. These canine species include the Beagle, American Cocker Spaniel, English Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, and others. Pet owners with one of these breeds need to take their animal to a vet diagnostics lab or a veterinary pharmacy to diagnose and treat the problem correctly.
Symptoms of Cherry Eye in Dogs
Your pet has a cherry eye if a lump appears in the pink or red location in the outer corner of its eye. In most cases, cherry eye can also be acknowledged without other symptoms. But the cherry eye can still create discomfort for your dog, and the pain level can suggest the mass’s development.
Pink or Red Bulge in Eye
A noticeable lump can easily see as a prolapsed tear gland in the canine eye corner. Visit your veterinarian to check out treatment alternatives, even if the mass seems to be separated from obvious pain.
Dry Eye
Your dog’s irritated third eyelid hinders natural tear production, leading to dry eye. A dry eye is a common issue of a prolapsed tear gland due to decreased tear production. Your dog’s vision may be permanently harmed if the dry eye condition is not treated.
Incapable to Close the Eye
Your dog might be unable to completely close its eye due to the growth in its eye. Your dog will likely experience discomfort and may even develop or worsen dry eye. A trip to the veterinarian has required if your pet shows any of these indicators. Since cold laser therapy lessens swelling and its accompanying pain, numerous vets may recommend it. If you want more info regarding this therapy, visiting vets who offer cold laser therapy is best.
What happens if it is not treated?
What happens if a pet owner chooses to do nothing about their pet’s cherry eye if surgical removal is dreadful? For the time being, the cherry eye is merely a visual concern. But when the nictitans gland is open to the air, it dries out and becomes a cause of pain, irritability, and swelling. The dog may start rubbing its face against things, which can cause corneal damage and ulcers.
Instead of disregarding the complication, surgery can fix the cherry eye. Surgeons have created numerous techniques through the years. These approaches use fine-gauge suture material to repair the nictitans gland in place, although they differ slightly in how they do it. So, selecting a trusted animal hospital with exceptional dog and cat surgery services is vital.
The Takeaway
Anyone with a vulnerable breed dog needs extra care. Cherry Eye is not preventable, although it is operatively correctable, and early detection boosts outcomes. If your dog develops this ailment, try not to freak out. Instead, talk with your vet about the alternatives available to your pet.
