November 17, 2017 – Sumibu.com

If you’re anything like me, your dog is the apple of your eye, and one of the dearest creatures in the world. Your dog’s ocular health may not be the first thing you think of in the morning, but your dog relies on her eyes just as much as you do. Cherry eye in dogs is a condition that doesn’t affect all pups, but can affect any dog’s tear production and eye health.

The signs of a case of cherry eye in dogs are easy to spot; caught and treated quickly, it’s possible to reverse the deleterious effects. In severe cases, though, your veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmologist may have to perform surgery to prevent long-term eye problems. Let’s talk about cherry eye in dogs and see how to treat it!

What is cherry eye in dogs?

An example of cherry eye in dogs. Photography ©Flickr user Chris via Creative Commons License. Some size modifications have been made to fit this site.

All dogs have a third eyelid, which is also called a nictitating membrane, as well as two glands that produce tears to lubricate their eyes. The nictitating membrane, based in the lower eyelid, is a sort of secondary shield for the eyes. It protects dogs’ eyes from wind, dust, and other foreign objects as they play or work. The nictitating membrane has its own dedicated tear gland. This tear gland produces anywhere from 35 percent to 50 percent of the total moisture in a dog’s eye, and is thus an essential component to overall eye health in dogs.

Cherry eye in dogs occurs when the connective tissue that holds the gland in place is weak, faulty or otherwise damaged. The nictitating membrane’s tear gland comes loose and prolapses from its little pocket and out of the bottom or corner of the dog’s eye, usually closest to the nose. This bulbous, fleshy, red protrusion of the gland from the lower eye is the primary symptom of cherry eye in dogs, and gives the condition its colorful, fruited moniker. If your dog has, or has had, cherry eye, you should be especially watchful. Extended or recurring cases of cherry eye can lead to decreased tear production and other eye problems.

What causes cherry eye in dogs?

Cherry eye in dogs is a congenital disorder, passed on from generation to generation. Beyond genetic predisposition, it is still unknown what precisely causes cherry eye to manifest. We do know that the ligaments and connective tissues that hold the tear gland of the nictitating membrane fail to keep it in place, and that there are a number of dog breeds that are statistically more likely to suffer from cherry eye.

Owners and prospective owners of Basset Hounds, Beagles, Bloodhounds, Boxers, Bulldogs (English and French), Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Pekingese, Poodles (especially Miniature), Pugs, Saint Bernards, Shar-Peis, Shih Tzus, and terriers (including the Boston Terrier, Bull Terrier and West Highland White Terrier) should be aware of the increased risk for cherry eye in these breeds. Breeds with shorter muzzles, along with toy or teacup varieties in general, are at higher risk for cherry eye. However, cherry eye can happen to any dog, and at any age.

Treating cherry eye

Caught early enough, I’ve come across many online accounts of successful massage treatment of cherry eye in dogs. Using a combination of a warm, moist cloth and dog-safe eye drops, the home method of treatment involves calming the afflicted dog and gently massaging the prolapsed tear gland of the nictitating membrane until it sucks back into place. Even when this technique is successful, though, there is no guarantee that the cherry eye is gone for good. A dog with a resolved case of cherry eye may have it recur, and a dog who has had cherry eye in one eye is at higher risk of having it happen in the other as well.

The safest bet is a visit to the veterinarian, who can accurately determine the specific reason for your dog’s cherry eye. Since there is no fixed cause, an early consultation can help ensure your dog’s long-term eye health. There are three common surgical options for cherry eye. In the first case, the vet may be able to stitch the prolapsed tear gland back into place. In other cases, a veterinary surgeon may find the connective tissue too weak to cradle the gland properly. For situations like these, the surgeon will attempt to create a new pocket or envelope to hold it in place permanently.

The third option was, in past years, the most common, and involved complete removal of the cherry-eyed tear gland. Removal of the prolapsed gland is an option of absolutely last resort. Removal of the affected tear gland will require lifelong after-treatment with artificial tears to prevent chronic dry eye and secondary problems that can occur when there’s insufficient production of lubrication for a dog’s eyes.

Long-term effects of cherry eye in dogs

Left untreated, a dog with cherry eye is at greater risk for long-term health problems. The longer the gland is prolapsed, the greater the risk of associated problems. Proper blood flow to the gland is restricted. The gland may swell the longer it is exposed. Pawing, scratching or rubbing the affected eye may irritate it further, and create opportunities for secondary bacterial or viral infections to take hold.

In most cases, caught early enough, cherry eye in dogs is successfully treated or managed with minimal veterinary assistance, hopefully before your dog needs surgery.

Tell us: Have your dogs ever had an occurrence, or repeat instances, of cherry eye? Were you able to attend to the problem under your own auspices, or did a vet need to perform surgery? Share your experiences with cherry eye in dogs in the comments below!

Thumbnail: Photography ©Flickr user Litherland via Creative Commons License. Some size modifications have been made to fit this site.

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Sadie, my chocolate Labrador Retriever, came into our lives when she was 5 years old. Her elderly owner had passed away, and she had nowhere to go, so we took her in and fell in love with her immediately. Sadie loved everyone and, in typical Lab style, enthusiastically invaded the personal space of anyone who met her, saying hello by sticking her nose straight into their crotch area. While this made perfect sense to Sadie — she was simply gathering information about them through their unique scent signatures — it caused untold amounts of embarrassment for our guests and drew numerous apologies from us. We love our dogs, but sometimes their behavior is not socially acceptable and can be downright embarrassing, especially when guests come into the home. Is your dog embarrassing in front of guests? There are ways you can prevent and change these behaviors.

Make a plan before guests come over

Use a baby gate to keep your dog contained, preferably one that lets your dog see your visitors. Photography courtesy Melissa Kauffman.

The best way to deal with any faux pas is to put a management plan in place before you do any training. Think about how you can change your environment to prevent the behavior from happening in the first place. The less your dog can practice the behavior, the easier it will be to change it.

Some management tips include:

Keep your dog on leash when visitors arrive, using two people (Mom greets visitors while Dad holds the dog’s leash a few feet back). Wait until the visitor has settled and your dog is less excitable before you allow him to greet.
Use doors, crates and baby gates to keep your dog contained. To avoid frustration you can use visual barriers such as covered gates/crates and doors, but it’s preferable to let your dog see the visitor coming into the home, so he knows what to expect when he is finally allowed to greet.
If your dog is particularly rambunctious or fearful of visitors, put him in the backyard, upstairs or in another room (preferably supervised or with appropriate toys to stay busy) when guests arrive.

Distract your dog from sniffing your guests’ private areas

For dogs who like to sniff certain delicate areas, hang a bag with an even more enticing smell outside the door, such as liver or a hot dog, and have the person hand feed or toss treats toward the dog on the ground as they enter. This is sometimes called the Go Find It game and is a great way to put a dog’s energy into searching for something else than saying an embarrassing hello.

If your guests do not want to handle food, you can play the game with your dog as your guest comes in. You can also teach your dog a “leave it” cue and then redirect him to something else such as a toy or treat, or you can teach him to target a person’s hands for a treat/petting as an alternative.

I taught Sadie to grab one of her toys and show it proudly to my guests instead of sniffing their “regions of interest.” Any other incompatible behavior like rolling over for a belly rub or running and sitting on a mat can be put on cue. Practice makes perfect!

Prevent dog humping

Humping is another embarrassing dog behavior and occurs when dogs get overexcited or anxious, so try to limit your dog’s arousal levels by teaching calming behaviors including “settle.”

Learn more about dog body language that can help predict when your dog is getting excited, and teach him an alternative behavior before the humping occurs. You can also advise visitors on how to be calm in your home to set your dog up for success and not raise the level of his excitement, frustration or anxiety.

Small children tend to get humped first. If you know you have young ones coming over, have a special toy at the door they can give your dog when entering. If your dog is kid friendly, have two toys so that older children can toss one after the other (while avoiding taking the toy from the dog).

Show younger children how to stand still and “be a tree” to help set the dog up for success and limit his exuberance around greetings. You can show kids how smart your dog is by teaching him another behavior such as walking away and lying on a bed, doing a play bow or some other kind of activity that encourages your dog’s energy to go elsewhere.

Stop inappropriate peeing and pooping issues

One of the biggest faux pas dogs make is when they toilet in a home they are visiting. Be sure your dog has eliminated before arriving at a friend’s home, or ask that the same thing be done before a friend’s dog comes over to yours. Keep your dog in a smaller space, such as a tiled kitchen until he is relaxed.

Avoid vertical surfaces or expensive rugs, and keep your dog tethered to you until he is calm in the new environment, and you are sure he will not eliminate. Explore new environments together to prevent marking in new places. If you know your dog is likely to mark, allow him some playtime in the backyard first before coming inside.

Following these few simple guidelines will set your dog up for success and save you from having to endure embarrassing situations.

Tell us: Is your dog embarrassing in front of guests? Does your dog hump, jump or sniff your company? How do you handle it?

Plus, what if your dog snaps at a guest? Whole Dog Journal tells you how to handle the situation>>

Victoria Stilwell, renowned dog trainer, TV personality, author and public speaker, is best known as the star of the hit TV series It’s Me or the Dog, through which she reaches audiences in more than 100 countries. Appearing frequently in the media, she’s widely recognized as a leader in the field of animal behavior, is editor-in-chief of positively.com, CEO of the VSPDT network of licensed trainers and the founder of the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior — the leader in dog trainer education. Connect with her on Facebook and on Twitter at @VictoriaS.

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!

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