Trying To Cure Cherry Eye In 9 Week Old Puppy
This morning I woke up to find my 9 week old boston terrier with her right eye inner corner swollen. I did some research and found out it was cherry eye. I was a tad scared to do the massage but finally got to it and massaged her eye gently towards her nose and surely the "cherry" would go away... for a few seconds, and it will pop back out. The good thing is that its is pretty small and it actually goes in when she lays on her back. I'm not sure what else to do because it keeps popping out. I was thinking of getting her some supplements since I understand that it could be a deficiency in the connective tissue. I'll probably try to use a cold compress and keep trying. I'm a college student and surgery sounds a little bit too much for her since she is still a very young puppy. Any other suggestions? thanks!
Mpls., Mn
11/27/2014
Hey Alex!
Keep on the cherry eye - keep massaging it back in as often as you need to. If the tissue will pop out during a time you cannot massage it back in, ie while you are away at work for a few hours, I would apply a topical antibiotic safe for the eyes on the tissue. You want to at all costs keep the tissue moist and free from infection. If the cherry eye stays out all the time, defying your attempts at massaging it to stay in, a trip to the vet may be in order to discuss your options. Getting veterinary prescribed eye appropriate antibiotics in conjunction with continuing the massaging is an option for another week or two. The main concern is to keep the exposed tissue healthy, happy and free from infection.
One other note: if you bought your puppy from a breeder, the breeder should be contacted. While your vet is a generalist on various conditions seen in Boston's, your breeder is a specialist and may have a few more tricks to offer. Also reputable breeders wish to be informed of any possible genetic conditions found in their puppies, so inform your breeder about this as they may wish to eliminate the sire and dam of your puppy from their breeding program.
Connecticut
06/09/2018
Theresa,
Thank you so much for the info on cherry eye ( re Alex 11/22/14)
Can yu help me, think I have made a big mistake due to finances! My puppy is now 7 months old and found out last month( May) that she had cherry eye in 1 eye 1 week later she got one in the other eye. The vet said surgery, not knowing there was another choice for this I called a Vet's office Specialist ophthalmologist they told me I would have to come in for a $170.00 consultation fee. Have I waited too long to help her myself should I try eye drops and the warm cloth & massage? I know I will have to call my vet but can you answer my questions. Thank you!
Mpls., Mn
06/12/2018
Hey Alice,
If this were my pet I would try the drops and to massage the gland back into place. I might ask the vet if they had an antibiotic to treat the gland if it was inflamed or infected, but I would try to gently press it back into place -that would be my first plan of attack so to speak. For MY dog it popped out twice - the first time after he really strained himself, and then 2-3 days later, and then it stayed put and never popped out again. Each case is different, and in the end maybe you will determine that a surgical option is the best for your particular pup! But this is NOT an emergency, and if you can treat it with a topical antibiotic specially for eyes from the vet so it does not get infected, it usually is simply unsightly for the time being until you decide how you will go about resolving it.
Please report back!
