Cherry Eye Remedies
"Cherry eye is the term used to refer to canine nictitans gland prolapse, a common eye condition in various dog breeds where the gland of the third eyelid known as the nictitating membrane prolapses and becomes visible. Commonly affected breeds include the Bulldog, chihuahua, Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, Pekingese, Neapolitan Mastiff, and Basset Hound. Cherry eye may be caused by a hereditary weakness in the connective tissue surrounding the gland. It is most common in puppies.
It appears as a red mass in the inner corner of the eye, and is sometimes mistaken for a tumor. After gland prolapse, the eye becomes chronically inflamed and there is often a discharge. Because the gland is responsible for about 30% of the eye's tear production, the eye can eventually suffer from dryness (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). Dry eye may eventually occur in 30 to 40 percent of dogs that have the gland removed, yet it may affect about 20 percent of dogs that have the gland surgically replaced."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_eye
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
LUBRICATING EYE DROPS, MASSAGE
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[YEA] 01/26/2011: Beagle-dashound Mix from Atlanta, Ga writes: "My dog had cherry eye yesterday - I put in lubricating tear drops, held an ice cube in a baggy on it for about 5 minutes at most and then my husband massaged it for about 3 minutes tops using moderate pressure, pushing in towards the nose - AND IT WORKED! All of the sudden it was just gone!!!! This happened last night and her eye looks totally normal today!!!"
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[YEA] 09/15/2009: Violet from St. Pete, Fl writes: "Cherry eye is an unsightly swelling and protruding of the tear duct gland in dogs (prolapsed gland). It is most commonly seen in Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Boxers.
Vets will usually recommend expensive surgery to correct this, but I was able to correct it at home on my own dog.
When my male Boston Terrier got cherry eye I started doing research and was dismayed to find that the surgery has a poor success rate. Even after surgery the cherry eye can come back, and I read so many messages from people who had shelled out hundreds of dollars for more than one surgery. But I came across a non surgucal fix on a bulldog website and I tried it for myself. It was super simple, it was cheap, it look less than 15 minutes, and it worked!
Here are the instructions I somewhat followed from Bullwrinkle.com:
"There are old timers with extensive experience with "Cherry Eye Condition" that recommend an alternative to surgery, especially those breeds that have high surgical risks. The first thing that is done to "treat" this condition is to prescribe an antibiotic ointment, second use warm compresses to the corner of the eye, third is to massage the gland lightly with the index finger applying even gentle pressure in a circular motion. Once the tear duct becomes "unblocked" even if it is out of its normal place it is now of a size that usually can be returned by pulling very gently the outer tissue and "popping" the tear duct back into place. You may have to replace the tear duct several times over a two week period, sometimes I have heard for even a month, but then it does not require surgery, and the dog as a general rule has no more problems with the condition whatsoever. We urge new pet owners to be very careful when attempting to use this technique because you can cause injury to the eyeball if you scratch it when trying to massage the tear duct. Try to find another owner of a bulldog or similar breed to walk you through it the first time to make sure you are doing it correctly. We do urge you to seek veterinarian assistance if the condition worsens or if this technique fails to make an improvement. There are some bulldogs that have an inflamatory disease as well and you may see a worsening of the condition. Inflamatory conditions must be treated with an anti-inflamatory antibiotic drop or ointment."
I made a few changes to the above instructions. I used OTC lubricating eye drops I bought at a pharmacy. They were called Gen Teal. I trimmed my fingernail all the way down. I did the massage and popped the gland back in keeping light pressure on it for about 5 minutes. I repeated the process for the next 2 days but I saw immediate results after the first day. It has been 3 months and we have not had another occurence of cherry eye!"
12/27/2009: Sam from Alpharetta, Georgia, United States replies: "Hello,I read your article about cherry eye. My shichon puppy has it and I was really worried. I went to Banfield at Petsmart (a veterinary clinic) and they said the only way to correct this is surgery. I started doing some research and found your website. I am going to try to massage it and use eye drops first. Can you tell me where you got the OTC eye drops and what exact brand you used and the technique that you used for massaging.
Thanks so much,
Sam
(PLEASE HELP MY PUPPY)"
03/09/2010: Theresa from Glendale, Az replies: "I have 7 SHIH TZUS between me and my fiancee. I wish I read this earlier on Cherry Eye. Laverne is going to be 12 years old, have one on her left eye, Grimlin is going to be 11 yers old and has one her left eye.
And Amos who is going to be 11 years old has one on each eye.
Is it 2 late to do this corrections?
Laverne is the one who had intervertabal disc disease, could not walk (legs dragged in back) and thanks to this web page and a poster I had chinese herbs made for her.
In 2 weeks she was running and dancing on her back.
Hope you can help on the cherry eye problem.
Thank You,
Terry"
[YEA] 04/01/2010: Monica from St. George, Utah replies: "Thank you for this site and the information of what to do with cherry eye. I tried it on my puppy and it worked. It popped out a few hours later. I did the warm compress and then massaged again, and there hasn't been another problem with it. Everyone else is saying surgery. Thank you for the real remedy! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
[YEA] 01/16/2012: Lily from Baton Rouge, La replies: "Thanks so much for this feedback! About a month ago, I was bathing my Shinese puppy and shampoo got in her eye. The result was a inflammation to her tear duct. I took her to the vet, and she was prescribed eye drops. For several weeks, I saw no improvements and eventually took her back to the vet, where I was told she might need eye surgery in the future.Yesterday, I stumbled upon this website and followed the instructions, hoping to pop the gland back into place. After applying a warm compress and massaging the area for a little while, the cherry eye disappeared -- only to come back immediately. I repeated the process today, and it worked!! She has been playing with other puppies and going about her normal activities, and her eye is completely back to normal. This is absolutely incredible! Thanks for the advice!"
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REMEDIES NEEDED
04/13/2011: Theresa from Glendale, Az writes: "In reference to Shirley with the Cherry Eye which in pervious post I want to know if I could place the Cherry Eye back in place if she is going to be 14 years young and I don't want to damage her eye. Many indiduals as I read here have done it.
I've been reading this website for about 5 years and wish I came across it sooner. My question is should I take her to the veternerian to see if he can do this rather then an operation as I beleive in natural healing
Laverne's sister Gremlin has a cherry eye and it is lite pink no problem and small. Amos had one in each eye never a problem. Like to mention it was this web page that I found out only to late I could have saved my AMos who passed on last year in March.
My retired vet friend said he had swollen glands , then I took him to my vet of 15 years, as I like to say their are 5 veternerians. They took blood and also x rays and really didn't see anything. Gave him medication to help him eat and also to stop having soft bowel movement.
I went to my favorite web page pawhealer.com and Holly made herb for him which did help as when I goggle found out before he passed on that from swolen glands you get lymphoma cancer and he had all the signs.
My vet of 15 years as I had a another veternerian not him didn't really know what was wrong. Even with the mom Gidget as she couldn't walk and was in pain.. I think she had Cancer and mayby Valley Fever.. as I got it 6 years ago n my joints and had the same systoms.
Always goggle on your own to find information. My vet of 15 years is great for operations and one of the holistic vet that was their. Found out that they have 15 arrowhead hospitals out here and one is holistic.
I then went to a retired vet back in practic and he knew that Amos had cancer. If only I looked sooner here I might jave beeen able to save him with the remendy and the herbs.. Even found another web page that delt with cancer. I receive everything and he passed on at home with his brother and sisters in peace. The day before he was sitting in my arms and licking me. He is in a better place now.
Getting back to Laverne I would appreciate if someone can tell me their opinion and if I can do this on my own or go to the veternerian and tell him so he can assist me especially that she is going to be 14 years young.
on another note if you go to pawhealer.com you can see her picture and some of her sisters and brother and dad. You have to go back to the older pictures.
I also give them chinese herbs for cateracts, organic pumpkin for their digestive system and braggs organic apple cider vinegar for the immune system.. been doing this for 7 years the cider..
Thank you for your reply and concern.. good health to all the pets out their.
Terry"
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SIMILASAN AND ICE PACKS
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[YEA] 01/12/2010: Vicki from Mesquite, Tx writes: "Hand Manipulation, Ice Packs & Similasan for Cherry Eye
I have a little male Chihuahua/JRT mix dog that looks like a puggle (blocky head, slightly bug eyes). About 3 years ago, when he was around a year old, I went on a trip and he cried the whole 3 days I was gone. He had a cherry eye when I got back. He also suffers from some sort of allergies and they'd been bothering him also.
I couldn't afford a vet & didn't believe it was necessary anyway, so I thought I'd try to work it back in myself. I had some Simalisan redness relief eye drops, so I put a few drops in his eye, then an ice compress for a few minutes. This shrank it down a bit, so I closed his eye and began working the lid around in a tiny circle, pressing in toward the corner where the "cherry" was. I keep my fingernails really, really short, by the way, not even out to the ends of my fingers. If you have long fingernails, they'd need to clipped off to do this because you have to form a little compress "tool" with your thumb and either your first two or first three fingers held all together, depending on the size of the dog's eye or what will contain the "cherry" in the little space between the ends of your fingers.
After a few minutes I could feel it slightly "pop" back in. I pressed on it for a couple of minutes with my thumb, then I put the ice compress back on for a few more minutes, gave him a weight appropriate dose of benedryl liquid and let him go. I put the drops in again a few more times the next couple of days, and an ice pack on whenever it looked like the eye was getting irritated the rest of his allergy season. It's been 3 years and it hasn't popped out again.
I also changed my dogs' food to one that doesn't have any grains in it, because his granny dog has really bad corn allergies and I figured that might be part of the cause of cherry eye in his case (she itches and looses hair)."
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