How to Treat Canine Cherry Eye

Many dog owners haven’t heard about canine cherry eye until their pet is affected. This condition is the prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. The majority of dogs affected are young; between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old. Research indicates the condition may be genetic. Here’s how to treat canine cherry eye.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Get your dog to the vet immediately. Signs of cherry eye include redness of eye, discharge secreting from the eye and pawing at the eye. If you suspect your dog may have cherry eye, it’s important to seek medical attention. The sooner you treat the condition, the higher the success rate.

2. Ask about topical anti-inflammatory medications. Your vet may prescribe a topical medication to decrease inflammation of the prolapse gland.

3. Consider surgery. Many veterinarians will recommend surgery to replace the gland. Depending on the procedure used, the recurrence rate is between 5-20 percent. This is a good option for treating canine cherry eye.

4. Watch the other eye closely. If your dog has cherry eye, you’ll want to watch the unaffected eye closely. Ask your vet about procedures to minimize the chance of the remaining eye being affected.

5. Follow up with the vet regularly. After your dog is treated for cherry eye, you’ll want to schedule routine visits. This will allow the vet to monitor the surgery’s success and catch any possible complications quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch out for dry eye. Dogs treated for canine cherry eye are more susceptible to dry eye. Look for pus in the discharge and redness and cloudiness in the eye.

• Consider not breeding your dog. Since cherry eye may be genetic, many vets advise refraining from breeding your canine. This will ensure the condition isn’t passed on to any more dogs.

Resources

• Pet Place
• Pet Education