As there are no perfect humans, there are no perfect dogs. Each breed is subject to their own predisposed faults - some minor and some major. For instance most puppies of the short nosed breeds are prone to cherry eyes. If this should occur to your puppy there is no need to panic and rush to the emergency clinic during the night. The red (cherry like) gland showing in the corner of the eye is not the eye falling out. Puppies acquire these during stressful periods such as when teething. Through careful observation, frequently, you can catch them before they require surgery.
Normally the gland of
the third eyelid (nictitans gland) is located behind the third eyelid in the
inner corner of the eye. This gland is attached to the fascial covering of
the eye and eye socket by a fibrous band of tissue. Structural weakness of
this attachment can lead to prolapse of the gland. The result is "cherry
eye," so called because the prolapsed gland is exposed on the surface of
the eye and becomes red, inflamed and swollen.
Some breeds of dogs are predisposed to have prolapse of the nictitans gland.
These include cocker spaniels, bulldogs, beagles, bloodhounds, Lhasa apsos,
and Shih tzus. Typically, affected dogs are between six months to two years
of age when this occurs.
The gland is an important lacrimal, or tear-producing gland, and so it
should not be removed. In the past cherry eye was treated with surgical
excision of the gland; subsequently veterinarians found that this frequently
resulted in keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or "dry eye." Currently, recommended
treatment involves surgically returning the gland to its proper position.
Topical medications may help diminish inflammation and swelling, provide
moisture, and fight associated infection before surgery, but are not
recommended for long-term treatment.
Surgical repositioning of the gland is commonly performed for cherry eye.
Typically dogs do well after this surgery, but in five to 20 percent of
these cases the gland can re-prolapse. Additionally, it is common for cherry
eye to occur in the opposite eye as well.
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