Help! My dog has cherry eye, Bowen Hills Vet!
This is an all too common story - you woke up one morning
and found a red mass projecting from the corner of your puppy's eye. This mass
is actually the tear gland of the third eyelid that has popped out of position.
It is called "cherry eye" or prolapsed gland of the third eyelid.
What breeds are commonly affected by cherry eye, Bowen Hills Vet?
Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Pekingese, Shih-Tzu,
Lhasa Apso and Poodles seem to be pre-disposed to this condition. Although this
problem is not painful, your pup may start pawing at the eye and cause
self-trauma. In addition, prolonged exposure of the gland may compromise the
function of tear production, resulting in soreness in the eye.
What are the treatments available, Bowen Hills Vet?
Surgical replacement of the gland back into the third eyelid
is the only permanent solution to this problem. Some vets may attempt to reduce
this swelling temporary by using local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory drugs.
However, cherry eye tends to relapse if not surgically corrected.
Don't DIY by pushing the gland back in, you may cause
permanent damage to your dog's eye!
