Humans have an upper and lower eyelid, but dogs have an additional lid that comes up from the inner corner of their eye for extra protection when needed. This third eyelid also contains a gland that plays a large role in your dog’s tear production.

Under normal circumstances, only a small amount of the third eyelid can be seen. But if you notice a red bump or mass on the inner corner of your dog’s eye, it could mean that the gland has popped out of place, or prolapsed, resulting in cherry eye. 

What is Cherry Eye?

Cherry eye is a condition that occurs due to a prolapse of the third eyelid in dogs. The third eyelid is more exposed. This is usually seen as a red, mass-like bump in the corner of a dog’s eye.

In some dogs, this red bump will be small and only appear occasionally. But in other dogs, it could take over a large portion of the eye.

Certain dog breeds are predisposed to this condition including: 

• Cocker Spaniels
• Beagles
• Boston Terriers
• English Bulldog 
• French Bulldogs 

What Causes Cherry Eye in Dogs?

Cherry eye occurs in dogs because of a laxity in the tissues that hold the third eyelid in place. The muscle doesn’t keep the eyelid retracted and it pops out (becomes prolapsed). 

Under normal circumstances, the third eyelid will prolapse as a protective measure to the cornea or outermost layer of the eye. This happens when there is any sort of threat of trauma or another irritant. 

However, for a permanent cherry eye, there is no known cause. But in some dog breeds, it’s thought that their facial structures cause a weakness in how the third eyelid is attached, making it more possible to prolapse. 

Symptoms of Cherry Eye in Dogs

Cherry eye in dogs is pretty obvious to most pet parents since it appears as a red mass in the corner of the eye. This mass is often swollen and has the appearance of a “cherry” which is where the name of the condition comes from. 

Other symptoms that may accompany cherry eye in dogs include:

• An irritated or red area in the corner of the eye
• Blinking or squinting
• Diminished glossy appearance of the eye 

Diagnosing Cherry Eye in Dogs

If you believe your dog has cherry eye, your pup should be seen by a veterinarian as quickly as possible to rule out other serious eye issues or complications.  

The veterinarian may want to perform a full eye work up. This includes a thorough eye exam, staining the cornea with a fluorescent stain to check for scratches, checking the pressure of the eyes (which will rule out conditions including glaucoma or uveitis), and checking your dog’s tear production capabilities. 

These different tests will often rule out other causes of eye inflammation or irritation. Diagnosis of cherry eye is typically based on the appearance of the protruded eyelid or tissue.

How to Treat Cherry Eye in Dogs

Treatment of your dog’s cherry eye will depend on the findings of your dog’s eye exam. 

If there is no ulcer present on the cornea, an eye drop with a steroid can be administered. This will bring down inflammation of the third eyelid. However, this is oftentimes only a bandaid for what is actually going on. 

If a reduction in tear production is noted on the eye exam, your veterinarian might prescribe artificial tears. Applying artificial tears can substitute or attempt to replace the shortage of tear production caused by cherry eye in dogs. 

Surgery for Cherry Eye

There are several different surgical options that can be completed to reattach the third eyelid to its proper location. Some veterinarians have experience and are comfortable doing these surgeries in their own clinics. Others may refer you to a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. 

In one surgical procedure the third eyelid is completely removed. This procedure is no longer recommended because of the harmful effects that can occur after surgery. Removing the third eyelid removes one of the major sources of tear production and can increase the chances of other complications with your dog’s eyes—like dry eye. 

The other option is a surgery where the opthamologist will pull or tack the third eyelid back into place. This will be done without affecting the gland in the third eyelid and allow the gland to still properly produce tears. 

Replacement of the third eyelid should be done as close as possible to the time of the first diagnosis. This will help prevent other complications or related conditions from occurring. 

Cost to Treat Dog Cherry Eye

A full eye exam can run anywhere from $100-$200 depending on your geographic location and the diagnostic tests that are recommended. 

A cherry eye surgery can run anywhere from $2,500-$3,500. This price can also fluctuate depending on the need for surgery in one or both eyes.

How to Prevent Cherry Eye in Dogs

There is no effective prevention for cherry eye in dogs. Unfortunately, certain breeds are predisposed to this condition and there is not much you can do to influence whether your dog will develop cherry eye. 

Related Conditions

• Dry Eye in Dogs
• Red Eyes in Dogs
• Secondary Bacterial Infections of the Eyes

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While mild dehydration is usually easy to treat, severe dehydration can decrease normal organ function and be life threatening to our canine companions.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the causes of dehydration in dogs, the symptoms, and how to get your dog help if dehydration occurs. 

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration is defined as not adequately retaining fluids or replacing fluids that are lost. Most commonly, fluids are lost via diarrhea and/or vomiting. In this case, a dog’s body can’t keep up with how much fluid is being lost by normal intake and becomes dehydrated. 

If left untreated, profuse vomiting and diarrhea can be very dangerous to our dogs. Becoming familiar with signs to watch for and how much water your pet is taking in will benefit their overall wellbeing.  

What Causes Dehydration in Dogs?

Several different conditions and situations can cause dehydration in dogs. Most commonly, they include the following: 

Hemorrhage

Hemorrhage can occur as both profuse bleeding outside of the body or bleeding inside the body.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Gastrointestinal fluid loss occurs when a dog’s gut doesn’t retain or reabsorb water as food is being processed. This commonly occurs as vomiting and diarrhea. 

Urinary Tract Issues

Urinary tract fluid loss occurs from a dog urinating excessively. This could be a sign of kidney dysfunction or other metabolic or endocrine dysfunction.

Certain Diseases

Some common diseases that cause dehydration in dogs include: kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing’s Disease (hyperadrenocorticism), Addison’s Disease (hypoadrenocorticism), liver disease, gastrointestinal disorders or diseases, certain cancers and more. 

Lack of Water Intake

A dog with limited access to fresh and clean water may also become dehydrated. Additionally, extreme lethargy or sickness that causes a dog not to drink or eat can result in dehydration. 

Heat or High Temperatures

Dehydration could be caused by simply being out on a hot summer day and not providing proper shade or access to fresh cool water. This could lead to heat stroke, which is an emergency that requires immediate care. 

Signs of Dehydration in Dogs

Lethargy, inappetence, not consuming normal amounts of water, or increased thirst and urination are some at-home signs that could be related to dehydration in dogs. 

Some other signs of dehydration in dogs include: 

• Sunken eyes
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
• Weak pulse 
• Skin tenting (delay in skin retracting to normal)

Pet parents can easily assess hydration status by conducting a skin-tent test. Gently grab your dog’s skin and pull it into a tent shape. If the skin bounces back into place quickly, your dog is properly hydrated. But if the skin is slow to move back into place, your pup may be dehydrated. 

If your pet has skipped a meal or two or if they are vomiting or having diarrhea, the dog should be taken in for further evaluation by a veterinarian.  

Diagnosing Dog Dehydration

A physical exam is necessary to assess hydration status in dogs, which can be challenging. A couple of key factors veterinarians look for during a physical exam include: 

• Skin tent (delay in retractability of skin)
• Mucous membrane color and moisture
• Pulse rate and character
• Capillary refill time (usually assessed by pressing on a dog’s gums and seeing if the color returns in less than 2 seconds)
• Urinary bladder 
• Weight

For severely dehydrated pets, a veterinarian may need to run bloodwork and take radiographs (X-rays) in addition to a good physical exam to evaluate for metabolic or endocrine related causes. X-rays can show fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen. They can also be used to evaluate the size and shape of the internal organs while looking for abnormalities. 

How to Treat Dehydration in Dogs

Dehydration can be corrected by providing oral, subcutaneous (under the skin), or intravenous (IV) fluids. 

Oral fluids are the least expensive and easiest option, but they unfortunately may not replace fluids as quickly and effectively as intravenous fluids do. For mild cases of dehydration and when other causes have been eliminated, subcutaneous fluids may be a good option. A needle is inserted under the pet’s skin to administer fluids under the skin. IV  fluids require a catheter to be placed in the dog’s vein. IV fluids often require hospitalization with hourly monitoring to ensure the catheter stays in place and is functioning correctly. 

A pet who is hospitalized will also require once or twice daily physical exams to ensure overhydration isn’t occurring. 

What to Do if a Pet Won’t Drink Water

Knowing what is normal for your pet can help you care for them properly. Some options for increasing water intake include:

• Softening dry kibble with water
• Adding no sodium chicken broth to dry kibble
• Offering wet or canned food that is the same formulation of their normal diet

Anytime there is a change in a dog’s diet there should be a slow transition from the old diet to the new diet. Drastic changes can cause gastrointestinal upset and potentially lead to vomiting and/or diarrhea. And while it may be tempting to grab something like pedialyte to increase your dog’s water intake, it’s best to consult your veterinarian first. 

How to Prevent Dehydration in Dogs

There are many strategies pet parents can attempt in preventing dog dehydration. The most obvious way is to always provide your dog access to fresh and clean drinking water. You can also encourage water intake with either fresh running water or water fountains. 

On days with extreme heat or elevated temperatures, make sure to provide areas of shade and access to fresh clean water. 

If you notice that your dog skips a meal or two, this is a good sign your pet is not feeling well and should be seen by a veterinarian. Profuse vomiting, profuse diarrhea, increased thirst and urination are also signs of a pet’s body functioning incorrectly and requires further evaluation. 

The best a pet parent can do to prevent dehydration in dogs is to closely monitor them for abnormal behavior and contact their veterinarian if these behaviors occur.

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