Breeds of Dogs Prone to Cherry Eye

If your dog develops a red swelling on his lower eyelid, he's probably suffering from a prolapse of his third eyelid tear gland. This prolapse is commonly called cherry eye because the mass resembles a cherry. Size ranges from small and sporadically visible to big and constantly present. Cherry eye can lead to dry eye and blindness, so take your dog to the vet as soon as you notice the condition.

  1. Cherry Eye

    • The nictitans gland, the tear production gland, is located under the third eyelid. In normal circumstances, you can see the third eyelid as a tiny pink area in the lower corner of your dog's eye. Prolapsing is the state of the gland popping out. Cherry eye isn't just a cosmetic issue, a funny-looking lump in your dog's eye. The nictitans gland produces the aqueous or watery part of tears. If it isn't functioning properly, the production of mucus in the eye increases, leading to a gooey discharge. Eventually, your dog's cornea turns black because of insufficient lubrication. He can't see out of that black area.

    Affected Breeds

    • While cherry eye can occur in any dog, it's more common in brachycephalic breeds. That term, meaning short head, refers to breeds with short muzzles. These include the bulldog, Lhasa apso, Shih Tzu, Boston terrier, Pekingese and pug. Non-brachycephalic breeds prone to the condition include the basset hound, beagle, bloodhound, Great Dane and cocker spaniel. In some of the smaller breeds, the third eyelid gland isn't held strongly in place, according to the California-based Mar Vista Animal Medical Center.

    Treatment

    • If caught early, cherry eye might respond to veterinary-prescribed topical ophthalmic medication. More often, your dog must have his third eyelid replaced surgically to correct the condition. At one time, the standard procedure was gland removal, but this resulted in minimal tear production and dry eye, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Today, veterinarians put the gland back where it belongs, either by stitching it into position or removing tissue from the gland. In severe cases, a vet might use both techniques.

    Prognosis

    • The nictitans gland returns to full use in the majority of dogs a few weeks after surgery. A small percentage of dogs might experience a second prolapse of the gland in the same eye, requiring another round of surgery. Far more common is third eye gland prolapse in the other eye. Dogs repeatedly suffering from cherry eye might require removal of the gland, especially if it can no longer serve its purpose for eye protection.