How to massage cherry eye bulldog

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There are some doggy health issues that can really freak out bully owners based on appearance alone. Bulldog cherry eye, otherwise a fairly common eye problem in dogs in general, is one of them.

Some breeds of bulldog are known to be fairly susceptible to the condition. It’s one of the better-known bulldog eye problems.

Cherry eye in bulldogs, especially French Bulldog cherry eye and English Bulldog cherry eye tends to occur in younger dogs up to two years of age.

In this post, you can learn about some handy tips and methods to treat bulldog cherry eye at home as well as common medical treatments.

But first, given how bulldog eye issues tend to be frequent, let’s understand the nature of the problem so have a fair idea of what you’re doing.

What Causes Bulldog Cherry Eye?

So the question is, what causes cherry eye in dogs?

To put it plainly, it’s a condition that involves prolapse or protrusion of a part of a dog’s third eyelid.

The third eyelid is a gland that provides nutrients and oxygen to a dog’s eyes through the production of tears.

This tear gland normally functions while it’s hidden away near the corner of the eye.

So what bulldog cherry eye basically refers to is the visible gland when it’s exposed due to stretching, detachment or other problems in the tissue that fixes it out of sight.

This can happen due to a variety of reasons – from plain genetic susceptibility to infections, and even stress or trauma.

It can be really unpleasant to look at as a reddish-pink mass protruding from the corner of your puppy’s eyes.

Usually, cherry eyes aren’t painful for your dog.

However, it can easily lead to eye infection in dogs, and those can be quite uncomfortable for your pooch.

And when the condition affects one eye, you may expect the other eye to get it as well within a few months.

Apart from the unsightliness, other symptoms of bulldog cherry eye may include:

• Dog eye infection due to poor tear production that protects the eyes from foreign matter
• Swelling
• Dog eye discharge
• Irritation of the eyes and discomfort
• Dog eye “boogers” from the collecting dirt and grime
• Dry eyes

How to Get Rid of and Fix Dog Cherry Eye

1. Home Remedies for Treatment and Prevention for Clear Bulldog Eyes

Although home cures seem like the most ideal way to go about fixing your bulldog’s cherry eye, do get a consult from your vet before diving in.

While home treatments may not always be as effective as having your bully operated upon, they’re safe and ideal as precautionary methods.

And to say the least, they’re simple and cost-effective too:

1. Simply get your dog into his calmest, most relaxed state by petting him, rubbing him down or using any other method that works for him. Get him to lie down, close his eyes and totally relax for several minutes.
2. Use a warm, damp cloth to very gently massage his eye where the protrusion is to stimulate tear production. You can also use tear drops to help the process along.
3. After using the warm cloth for a bit, again very lightly massage his eye towards the inner corner to help the gland ease back into place.

Note that for some dogs, a cold cloth, wrapped around ice works better. Just make sure the ice is smooth and doesn’t hurt the eye or come in contact with it.

Also, this method often isn’t a permanent solution. And if the gland is detached and not merely out of place, it will need corrective surgery as a solution.

2. When to Decide on Cherry Eye Surgery for Your Bulldog

As mentioned earlier, the best advice is to consult your vet to get your bulldog’s cherry eye treated in the safest manner possible.

Dog cherry eye surgery is a fairly routine, and isn’t a major surgical procedure.

Cherry eye treatment without surgery may also be recommended by your vet, if they think your pup doesn’t need it.

These include using ointment or other medication to induce the gland back into its original position.

The Vet may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to deal with swelling and infection to reduce discomfort.

Cherry eye surgery usually involves one of two procedures which your vet may decide upon after diagnosis:

1. Pushing or stitching the gland back into place
2. Removing it altogether

The second option is not recommended nowadays due to the long-term problems it leads to.

As we mentioned before, the tears from the gland are essential for lubricating and protecting the eye.

So removing it altogether can lead to frequent conditions of “dry eye” and infections later on.

Besides, cherry eye dog surgery cost is probably no joke. Although they generally average around $600, they could easily swing up to $2,000 or more depending on various circumstances.

So best get all the details from a trusted vet and have a thorough diagnosis before deciding.

Hope you found these tips and suggestions for treating bulldog cherry eye useful. Looking for more bulldog tips? If you have any of your own that you found to be useful in treating your own pup, do let us know in the comments section below!

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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 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 how to treat it!

What is cherry eye in dogs?

All dogs have a third eyelid,  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, 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 in dogs can lead to decreased tear production and other eye problems.

What causes it?

Cherry eye in dogs is a congenital disorder, passed on from generation to generation. Beyond genetic predisposition, it is still unknown what precisely causes it. 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 cherry eye in dogs is more common in certain breeds.

What breeds are more prone to cherry eye in dogs?

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 in dogs. However, it can happen to any dog, and at any age.

Home treatment for cherry eye in dogs

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. It may 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.

When to see a vet about cherry eye in dogs

The safest bet with cherry eye in dogs 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. 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.

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

This piece was originally published in 2014.

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