Cherry eye in dogs | What is it and how to treat it

Is there a strange pink bump in your dog's eye? It might be something called cherry eye, a condition that can catch a lot of dog owners off guard. It looks concerning, but don't worry. Cherry eye happens when the tear gland in a dog's third eyelid slips out of place. Yes, dogs have three eyelids. This third eyelid helps protect the eye from sharp and spiky things your dog encounters on walks. Cherry eye mostly affects young dogs under two, with about 75% of cases in dogs under one. Bulldog breeds are overrepresented. Cherry eye isn't always painful at first, but if it's untreated, it can become inflamed and irritated. Early treatment stops it from becoming more uncomfortable or causing long-term problems. It can affect one or both eyes, so keep an eye on both. Some dogs, especially flat-faced breeds like bulldogs, pugs, and French bulldogs, are more likely to get cherry eye. Their shallow eye sockets make the tear gland more likely to slip out of place. If your dog gets cherry eye, don't worry. It's treatable. Surgery fixes the issue by repositioning the gland, removing the gland, which used to be common, isn't recommended anymore because it can affect tear production, causing dry eyes. The sooner it's treated, the better, although sometimes multiple surgeries are needed to correct it fully. Follow us for more vet advice.