Have dog owners ever noticed if there is anything wrong with their dog's eyes? There are many eye diseases in dogs, but this time we want everyone to know about "Cherry Eye" or "Third Eyelid Gland Protrusion in Dogs", a disease in which dogs will have a swollen, red lump at the corner of the eye, and must be treated by a veterinarian only. If left untreated, this lump will not heal on its own, and it will greatly disrupt the dog's life. Let's get to know this disease.
What is the third eyelid?
Protruding Third Eyelid Gland Disease in Dogs Dogs with this disease will have a round, pink, protruding ball near the corner of their eyes, resembling a cherry, hence the name cherry eye. This round ball that protrudes is located on the third eyelid near the corner of the eye. Normally, it is located at the base of the cartilage and is held in place by tissue behind the third eyelid near the eye socket bone. Cherry eye can occur in one or both eyes. Sometimes, inflammation and irritation are also present.
Causes of cherry eye
This disease is caused by poor tissue adhesion, which may be present at birth. However, it is currently not known for certain whether it is a genetic disease or not, because it is a characteristic related to the external structure. However, accidents and inflammation are also factors that predispose to this disease.
Cherry eye can affect dogs of all breeds and ages, but is most common in puppies up to 2 years of age. It is also more common in Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, Beagles, Bloodhounds, Lhasa Apsos, ShihTzu, Mastiffs, Shar-peis, Pekingese, Boston terriers, and St.Bernards.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will examine you and determine the cause of the disease. This protrusion of the third eyelid gland may be due to rolling of the third eyelid cartilage, abnormalities of the third eyelid tissue cells, or bulging of the third eyelid fat.
Treatment
Cherry eye can be treated medically with eye drops or ointments to reduce inflammation, along with massaging the gland to push it back in. This usually works temporarily. If the gland cannot be pushed back in, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to push the gland back in and suture it. However, this surgery has the disadvantage of causing dry eye. Reports indicate that 85% of dogs in the United States who have undergone cherry eye surgery will develop permanent dry eye, as the gland is the primary source of tears, producing 30-57% of the total amount of liquid tears. In particular, breeds that are at risk for dry eye syndrome (KCS) such as Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Shih Tzus, surgery is not recommended. It is only considered in cases where the condition is severe and cannot be pushed back in.
Care and prevention
This disease cannot be prevented 100%, but taking care not to cause eye inflammation or irritation may help reduce the chances of developing the disease.
When a dog has cherry eye disease and is left untreated, it will cause more inflammation of the glands, irritation, eye mucus, dry eyes, and if the dog scratches its eyes, it will cause corneal ulcers. Therefore, owners should observe their pets' symptoms.
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