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Non Surgical method for
fixing Cherry Eyes
Many people have asked about the technique for
putting Cherry Eyes back, without surgery. So here is how we
do it, its not hard, but it does work in many cases and
prevents any surgery. You may have to do it several times to
get the gland to stay in permanently.
Let me also express my opinions about why we
get Cherry Eyes and what causes it. Obviously there is a
genetic tendency towards dogs getting Cherry Eyes, but it is
obviously not a simple inheritance, as I did one breed a dog
and bitch, who had both had Cherry Eyes, and none of the 5
puppies got Cherry Eyes!
I find that the popping of Cherry Eyes occurs
when the dog is stressed. Now this stress can be caused by
many things, some of which we do not even perceive as stress,
but their body does. Some of the most usual stresses are:
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Immunization
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Car Trips (especially if they get car sick)
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Changing or going to a new home
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Teething
And I have even had an adult “pop” a Cherry
Eye” when whelping.
OK, so now lets move on to the technique……
What we are trying to do is to push the gland
back behind and under the eyeball, so that the eyeball can
hold it in place.
Before you start be prepared with an ice cube
wrapped in a cloth, to hold over the eye, when you get the
gland back in place (to take swelling down)
Imagine that the Cherry Eye is a pea, what you
are going to do is use your thumb to roll it up and over the
bony orbital rim of the eye socket, when you get it there, you
will try to roll it down the other (inner) side, and as you do
this the eyeball will be gently pushed back and will hold the
gland in place.
This may take you a couple of attempts, until
you have mastered the technique (and some people never do
master it!)
Now you need to put the ice pack on the eye and
hold it there as long as possible (or the dog will allow you
to.)
Also if you have some cortisone drops or
ointment put this in the eye 3 times a day for 3 days (to help
the inflammation go down.
Now you may have to do this several times a
day, with greater increasing times between putting it back, if
things are going well.
I have found that if it has been out for a
while, its harder to be successful with this – attending to it
as soon as possible definitely help. If it has been out a
while, try lubricating the eye with some artificial tears,
before attempting putting it back, dry eyes do not work as
well.
If this is unsuccessful, then you will have to
get a vet to tack the gland back, be warned though, sometimes
the stress of having this done, can be enough to make the
other eye pop – so have them check the other eye, when the dog
is out!
Good Luck -
David and Lesley Hiltz
Another
reference which describes this
technique
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DNA
samples needed
Treatment may consist of simple
application of an appropriate ophthalmic ointment and
reduction of the prolapse by your veterinarian. However once
placed back in its proper position, typically they will pop back out and then you
must surgically treat them. Since 30% of the dog's tear
production can come from the involved gland-you must discuss
each option with your veterinarian carefully. DRY EYE or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) can result from its removal.
Since beagles are prone to develop DRY EYE - this is a major
reason to not surgically remove the gland. Although this is a
method used widely in the USA.
