Finn’s ‘cherry eye,’ around since a puppy, got worse: what to expect from surgery?
Q: My “Finn” has what my vet calls a “cherry eye.” She is 6 now and has had it since she was a puppy. It never seemed to bother her, so we have just lived with it.
It has grown lately, and now my vet wants to fix it. Can you tell me what to expect from surgery, her recovery and any long-term issues we might face in years to come?
A.M., Farragut
A: All great questions!
First, “cherry eye” is the common name for a prolapsed third eyelid. Yes, dogs (and cats) actually have three eyelids. The third eyelid is at the medial canthus, which is the corner of the eye that is nearest to the nose. When it prolapses, it “pops out” of its normal location and secondarily swells. It appears as a pink bulge of the tissue.
And just like Finn, a cherry eye typically develops in dogs younger than 1 year of age. Certain breeds are predisposed to the condition, but it can also be related to trauma.
There are multiple surgical techniques for this condition, depending on the cherry eye being acute or chronic. Depending on the technique and the individual patient, your vet may prescribe antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatories.
Most dogs will wear an E-collar (“the cone of shame”) after surgery, so that self-trauma does not occur. Long term, your vet will likely recommend checking her tear production multiple times over the next six to eight months, as dogs with cherry eye can have decreased tear production.
Best of luck to Finn.
