Have you noticed blood coming from your dog’s cherry eye? Then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together some information about cherry eye and what you should do if the eye is bleeding.
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What is Cherry Eye in Dogs?
Cherry eye is a condition in dogs where their third eyelid may bulge out during sleep. It may sometimes occur after the dog has had surgery, too. When the third eyelid thickens, it may slip out of place, giving way to a swollen red mass close to the lower lid. This is called “cherry eye.”
The condition is caused when the connective tissue (which holds the tear gland in place) weakens. Weakness or inflammation in the ocular mucus membranes can cause the gland to protrude.
Cherry eye is sometimes seen in dogs between the ages of six months and two years. Some dog breeds are also prone to cherry eye, including:
- Cocker spaniels
- Beagles
- Bulldogs
- Bloodhounds
- Lhasa apsos
- Mastiffs
- Shih Tzus
- And more
Symptoms of Cherry Eye in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has developed cherry eye:
- Swollen tear gland
- Swollen third eyelid
- An oval mass, usually near the nose
- A bulge that’s reddish
- The bulge may become irritated or painful when rubbed
- Squinting, as if in pain
- Eye can become dry due to lack of moisture
- Swelling around the eye
- Pus-filled discharge
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, or blood coming from the cherry eye, then it’s time to make an appointment with the vet.
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Ask a Vet Live NowTreatment of Cherry Eye in Dogs
At the vet’s, they’ll examine your dog’s eye very carefully, checking all parts of the eye. They’ll also check for foreign objects in the eye or the possibility of an infection.
Treatment of cherry eye usually brings about a full recovery. However, in some cases, your fur baby may require surgery to fix the problem. Once the cherry eye has been treated with surgery, inflammation tends to last for about two weeks. Over the next 7 to 10 days, the vet usually prescribes ointment to be applied, along with about 5 to 10 days of oral antibiotics. Plus, don’t be surprised if your fur baby has to wear an Elizabethan collar home. He may need to wear that for a week or two after the surgery.
You’ll need to check back with the vet about two weeks post-surgery. Keep in mind that many dogs with this condition may have a reoccurrence, even after a successful surgery.
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Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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