What Causes Cherry Eye in Dogs, and How to Correct It

By Linda Cole

Cherry eye in dogs isn’t a life threatening condition, but if left untreated can cause your dog eye problems later on. If you’ve ever seen a red bulge in the corner of your dog’s eye, you’ve seen firsthand what cherry eye looks like. What causes cherry eye in dogs, and how is it treated?

A dog’s eye has three eyelids: an upper and lower lid, as well as a third eyelid we seldom see. The importance of the third eyelid is to give added protection to the dog’s eyes. It acts like a wipe to help keep the eye clear of dust and debris and has a tear gland that produces around 35% of the moisture to the dog’s eye. Sometimes the gland in the third eyelid, located in the corner of the eye next to the dog’s nose, slips out of place and bulges. We see it as a red or pinkish blob, and this bulge is what’s called cherry eye.

Why it slips out of place is not clear, but if it happens in one eye, more than likely it will happen in the other, although it can be months later. What you want to pay attention to in your dog’s eye is any watery or thick discharge, a red or pink blob in the corner of their eye, any redness in the lining of their eyelid or if your dog is pawing at his eye.

For unknown reasons, the connective tissue around the tear gland becomes weak and starts to move around. Movement irritates the gland which leads to swelling that can produce a mucous or clear discharge. It’s possible cherry eye will correct itself within a couple of weeks, but it’s best not to wait. If it doesn’t correct itself, the longer the gland is out of place, the more swelling there is. This makes it harder to reposition it, and there’s a greater chance it will happen again. Left untreated, cherry eye can lead to more serious eye problems later on. You need to have your dog examined by your vet as soon as you notice the out-of-place gland.

It’s not understood why some dogs get cherry eye, but it’s thought the cause could be from a parasite, some kind of bacterial infection, dermatitis, possible sun damage, cancer, fungal infection or it could be a result of a problem with the dog’s immune system. Whatever the case, cherry eye is hereditary, so it’s best not to breed a dog that has developed this condition.

Cherry eye is usually seen in younger dogs between 6 weeks to 2 years and is more commonly found in Newfoundlands, Bloodhounds, Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, Shar-Peis, Shih Tzu, Beagles, Pekingese, Lhasa apso, Miniature Poodles and Neapolitan Mastiffs. It’s also seen in some breeds of cats. The Persian and Burmese cats are more likely to develop cherry eye than other breeds.

Treatment for cherry eye is done under local anesthesia to push the gland back into place. Some vets will elect to remove the third eyelid, but it’s not recommended. There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion if it’s needed. Removing the eyelid can adversely affect proper tear production which keeps the eye from becoming dry. Dogs who have had the eyelid removed are at risk of developing a condition called “dry eye” later on. The third eyelid should only be removed as a last resort. If it’s removed, you are compromising your dog’s eye health as they age.

During surgery, a small part of the gland is removed. What’s left is carefully tucked into the inside of the third eyelid and tacked into place. Dogs who have had their cherry eye corrected using this type of surgery have an excellent chance for recovery. However, there is a 5 to 20% chance the gland could slip out of place a second time. It all depends on how long it was out, the condition of the cartilage in the third eyelid, how swollen the gland was and the type of surgical procedure that was done. That’s why quick medical treatment is important.

If your dog develops cherry eye, the other eye should be watched closely and you may want to consider having both eyes corrected surgically at the same time. After surgery, you will need to watch your dog’s eyes to make sure they don’t develop dry eye. Signs to watch for that would indicate dry eye are: redness to the lining of the eyelid, a thick pus-like discharge from the eye, and a cloudy cornea.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Dry Skin on Dogs - Know the 3 Main Causes and How To Prevent Them

Does your canine have dry skin? Dry skin on dogs is a warning sign. It is a warning sign that something is not right when your skin is dry and scratchy. So it is with your dog. Left untreated, dry skin can develop serious problems and get infections. To keep this from happening, you need to know what causes the dry skin.

1 – Allergic reactions

Dogs can be allergic to a wide range of things just like humans. Probably the most ordinary things canines are allergic to are fleas and their food. If your canine is allergic to fleas, you will spot pink, swollen spots or patches.  All-around these patches will often be dry skin. Both the swollen areas and the dry patches are irritating to your pet and causes itching, scratching and biting.

If you assume your dog is allergic to fleas, buy a topical medicine from the store or get one from your vet. The medicine must have both an antibiotic or steroid. Brush him properly and trim the hair from the swollen and itchy spots. Trimming the hair lets the spot get air, which helps the spot heal faster. Using cotton balls, apply the medicine. This treatment ought to heal these spots. If it doesn’t, see your vet for stronger steroids and an antihistamine.

If fleas aren’t the problem, your dog’s food could also be causing an allergic reaction. Experiment with different brands of foods to see if you notice an increase or decrease in the dryness and different symptoms.

2 — Bathing and Grooming

Bathing your dog might be the cause of his dry skin. For those who’re bathing your dog more than a few times each week that is most likely the cause. The natural oil in your canine’s coat not only makes your dog’s coat shiny, it also protects your canine’s skin. If you bathe your canine too much, you’re bathing away this natural protection leaving his skin dry and itchy.

How often you must bathe your dog depends on his breed and dirty he gets. Ask your vet or knowledgeable dog groomer how often you need to bathe your specific dog.

Bathing your canine with the wrong shampoo can even trigger dry skin. Shampoo your canine’s coat with shampoo made particularly for dogs. If that is what you’ve been utilizing and your dog nonetheless has problems, your dog could also be allergic to the shampoo. Look around at your pet retailer for hypoallergenic dog shampoos and see if it offers him any relief. Additionally, try using a moisturizer made for dogs. These can greatly help with the dry, itchy skin problem.

In between baths, make sure and groom your canine at the least once per week with a mild brushing. Giving your canine a gentle brushing helps spread his pure oils throughout his coat and skin and protects it from dryness.

In the event you’re not bathing your canine too typically or using the wrong shampoo, this most likely is not the cause of his dry skin problem. It could possibly be a normal health problem.

3 – Health

Because of misleading advertising and lack of quality food, it’s difficult to feed your dog food that that gives him all of the nutrition he needs. Simply to be on the safe side, it’s best to consider giving him vitamins. Even if your canine appears healthy to you, it’s best to get the professional opinion of a vet. By telling your vet what and how much your dog eats, he can inform you if he’s getting sufficient nutrition.

To ensure your canine is getting correct diet from his food, ensure you feed him food made specifically for his age, measurement, breed and any special medical issues he could have. Additionally, ensure your dog food isn’t low-cost and made with too many kinds of filler. Dogs need plenty of protein and this needs to be the main ingredient.

Be careful for fillers. These are listed as ground corn, corn gluten meal, floor wheat, peanut hulls and plenty of more. Feeding your dog low-quality meals stuffed with fillers means your canine is not getting the vitamins he needs to be healthy and this can cause skin problems in dogs.

Guarding against flea and foods for allergic reactions, bathing and grooming your dog properly, and being certain he’s getting the correct vitamin along with his meals and canine supplements, is a good start to putting an end to dry skin and skin problems on dogs. Use this info to determine what’s causing problems for your dog’s dry skin problem and put an end to dry skin on dogs.

Causes And Treatments For Dog Skin Problems

There can be a variety of reasons for dog skin problems. It is best to take your pet to the veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause of the issue. The vet will take a look at the following possibilities before deciding on a treatment, they include the breed of the dog, their age, how long they have had the condition, their diet, the time of year and the location of the problem on their body.

Some breeds are prone to skin problems, a younger dog can have a genetic factor in play, a possible food allergy could be the cause, the problem could be seasonal and depending where the problem is on the dog could help the diagnosis. The shape and how widespread the problem is are important considerations in the diagnosis. If the issue is only in one spot it could be a bacterial or fungal problem.

If the hair is dull it could be a hormonal disease. If the hair or skin changes color it could be an abnormal growth. It could be a tumor if there is a lump. Some dogs are allergic to fleas and will develop a rash when bitten.

Antibiotics are used when there is a bacterial infection. They are often caused by another condition such as an allergy or a hormonal problem. Testing will determine the type of infection that is present for an accurate treatment plan.

Antibiotics are usually administered for 3 to 12 weeks depending on the condition. An allergy reaction can cause itchy skin, allergy shots can be used in this case. Some dogs are allergic to pollen. Antihistamines may also be needed, but they can cause drowsiness.

Seborrhea is a condition that refers to the accumulation of keratin that blocks the sebaceous glands and causes the hair to become greasy and the skin to become dry. Certain breeds are prone to this disorder, but it could be due to allergies, parasites or hormonal problems. Treatment involves elimination of the underlying cause, natural remedies can boost the immune system and strengthen the coat and skin. The use of cleansing lotions can help.

Fatty acids are a common supplement for helping with these types of disorders and itchy skin. Linoleic acids are great and can be found in primrose oil, safflower oil an sunflower oil. Fish oil is a good supplement to clear up itchiness. Glucocorticoids are also used, the treatment lasts for 1 to 2 months and is usually only required in the season the dog has problems with specific allergens. Homeopathic remedies can ease the discomfort as well.

If a food allergy is suspected, the best approach is to try a hypoallergenic diet. This should be tested for 10 weeks to see if there is improvement. Some dog foods have hypoallergenic diets and could be a simple method to tell if this is the problem. This type of dog food usually contains only one simple protein, usually fish, and one simple carbohydrate, usually potatoes, and nothing artificial in the ingredients, coloring or flavors. This will determine if proteins are the problem.

Dog Skin Problems Causes, Symptoms | Dog Skin Diseases, Allergies

Skin problems don’t limit themselves to affecting just humans; they can affect your pet canine too. In-fact they can be considered to be one of the most common health ailments among dogs. Fur loss, extremely dry skin, skin rashes, irritation, dull or dry coat, bumps or lumps under or on the skin, excessive scratching, scabby, scaly or red patches and itching are some of the signs that indicate your pet is suffering from a skin disorder. All in all, the condition and texture of a dogs coat and skin, can tell a lot about its general health. Conditions of this sort could range from being acute to being chronic. Diagnosing skin problems among dogs can be quite a challenge, simply because a large number of diseases tend to display similar symptoms. Thus, it is crucial to determine what the problem is exactly, so that the right kind of treatment can be administered.

Skin problems in dogs can be brought about by fungal or bacterial infections, allergies and parasites. Just like humans, dogs too can develop allergies to several things. Powder deodorizers, carpet cleaners, shampoos, food, grass, mold, dust and pollen are some of the more commonly known causes of skin allergies in dogs. A dog suffering from a skin allergy, may display one or more of the following symptoms; rashes, extremely itchy skin, constant scratching, rubbing of the face and chewing of paws. When it comes to allergies, the key lies in identify what the allergen is, so that it can be avoided altogether. Parasites such as mites, ticks and fleas also contribute to a large number of skin problems among dogs. These pests can cause severe irritation, and in order to gain relief, the dog begins to scratch itself constantly, which then leads to some other secondary infection. While fleas and ticks are easy to detect, mites on the other hand, being microscopic in nature, are a little more difficult to diagnose. Sarcoptic mange and demodex mange are two types of conditions that are caused by mites.

A bacterial infection is generally a secondary infection to some other condition while a fungal infection, such as ringworm, is caused by the fungi that reside in the nails, hair and dead skin tissue. To conclude, whatever the skin condition is, and however mild or serious it may be, it is important that medical care is sought immediately, so as to avoid any further complications.

Causes of Dog Skin Problems

Most of the skin diseases are treatable and not fatal, but can be quite serious and uncomfortable for your dog. Fast and effective action is required so you can give your dog the comfort it deserves.

The diseases that cause the dog skin problems are grouped broadly into three namely, bacterial infections, fungal infections and allergens.

Allergens such as pollens, house dust mites, mould spores or insecticides can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and cause the skin to itch and the animal to scratch excessively.

Bacterial infections cause the majority of skin infections and is due to the Staphylococcus (staph) species. It causes skin lesions such as scabs or sores. In horses, it results in Mud fever on the lower limb and rain scald on the body and in cats, results in wet eczema.

Fungal infections is most often contracted by contact with fungal spores found in soil. Most common are:

• Ringworm


• 
  Fleas, Ticks and Lice


• Mites that cause Mange (scabies) in dogs, cats and horses

Identifying the cause of the dog skin problem correctly is an essential first step in treating the condition effectively.  If left untreated, some skin diseases become long-standing, and result in the dog requiring a lot of veterinary care and treatment. Take swift action to avoid long term problems.

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Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Top 5 Causes Of Itching In Dogs

by Lorie Huston, DVM  

Dogs can become itchy and begin to scratch for many different reasons. However, allergies of various types are among the most common causes.

Canine Flea Allergy Dermatitis

An allergy to fleas is one of the most common reasons dogs become itchy. When a flea bites a dog, it injects a substance into the dog’s skin which causes the allergic response.

For a sensitive dog, one flea bite can make the dog extremely itchy. 

One of the most difficult things to understand is that often no overt evidence of fleas is present even though a flea allergy is the reason for the dog’s discomfort. This inability to find evidence of fleas stems from the fact that only one flea need be present and bite the dog in order for the allergic reaction to occur.

In addition, dogs frequently groom themselves and remove the evidence of the fleas through their grooming behavior. Therefore, not being able to find fleas does not rule out a flea allergy as a cause of itching in a dog.

Canine Atopy

Canine atopy is a type of allergy that causes a hypersensitivity reaction to environmental stimuli, such as dust mites or pollens. It is a common disorder in dogs and typically causes scratching and itching. Finding the source of the allergy in these cases can be challenging.

Food Allergies in Dogs

Food allergies are another common cause of itching in the dog. Food allergies can result from reactions to any ingredient within the food but beef, chicken and wheat are some of the most common culprits.

Bacterial Skin Infections in Dogs

Bacterial infections in the skin, commonly called bacterial dermatitis, are another common cause of itchiness in dogs. Bacterial skin infections frequently occur as complications to canine allergic skin disease and are usually a secondary disease.

Bacterial dermatitis must be successfully treated with antibiotics in order to evaluate and control the underlying allergic skin condition.

Canine Yeast (Malassezia) Skin Infections

Yeast skin infections most commonly involve a specific type of yeast known as Malassezia. Like bacterial skin infections, yeast infections are generally secondary to another underlying disease, often allergic in origin. Antifungal medications, such as ketoconazole, are needed to treat canine yeast infections.

Most Common Causes of Itching in Dogs

The three most common causes of itching in dogs are flea dermatitis, atopy and food allergies.

Any of these three types of allergies can be complicated with secondary bacterial or yeast invaders resulting in bacterial and/or yeast skin infections in affected dogs. These skin infections can become quite itchy in their own right and cause extreme discomfort and distress for the infected dog.

Less commonly, other causes, such as canine ringworm (dermatophytosis) or sarcoptic mange may cause itchiness and discomfort as well.

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Lorie Huston has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 20 years. Besides a successful career in a busy small animal hospital in Providence, RI, Lorie is also a successful freelance writer specializing in pet care and pet health topics. 

Currently, she is the feature writer for the Pet Care section at Suite101.com and the National Pet Health Examiner at Examiner.com. Lorie also publishes her own blog, The Pet Health Care Gazette and manages an increasingly popular facebook page, The Voice of Pet Care. 

Articles by Dr. Huston:
Lyme Is Lame (Pun Intended)
The Ticking Bomb
Don’t Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak!
Summer Perils: Blue-green Algae
Your Dog And Leptospirosis
Canine Parvovirus
Canine Distemper Virus