Cherry Eye
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- Published on Monday, 25 April 2011 15:54
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Dogs have a third eyelid, unlike you and I. A condition called “cherry eye” is the herniation of the gland behind this third eyelid. This herniated gland will hang out of the corner of the eye looking like a large cherry.
Bulldogs have a genetic weakness sometimes preventing strong attachments of this gland. Usually this condition occurs in puppies from 8-16 weeks of age. If one eye is affected, often times within a few months, the second eye will become affected.
Recent studies show that this gland is responsible for producing 20-30% of the tear volume to the eye, making removal of the gland a poor option. Many vets argue that Bulldogs have dry eyes by nature and they will remove the gland in its entirety believing this will not cause future problems. www.BigBulldogs.com believes the gland serves a function and should not be removed, but rather repositioned to its original location. It is a very simple procedure and can be done very quickly. Cherry eye has a recurrence rate of less than 10% when done by an experienced vet.
It looks much worse than it is and contrary to what you might think, your dog is not in pain. Cherry eye can develop without warning. You may be able to push the eyelid back in temporarily if you see this condition, however, normally it will reappear within a short period of time, so we usually recommend having the lid repaired surgically. It is not an emergency procedure, so you do not need to rush him in and pay emergency bills. However, we recommend getting him in to a doctor within a week so no further damage occurs.
If your vet chooses to snip instead of tuck, don’t get too worried. Many Bulldogs, who have both of these glands in tact and never had a cherry eye, can develop a blockage resulting in dry eye. I guess it's just a Bully Thang.
For more information about available Bulldog puppies, visit www.BigBulldogs.com