Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
What is the cherry eye and why Cane Corso breed has it?
Cane Corso cherry eye is a common term for prolapse of the third eyelid gland. All dogs have an “extra” or third eyelid located inside the lower eyelid. The third eyelid serves as an additional protective layer for the eye, especially during hunting or fighting. But playing with another dogs, too.
The third eyelid also contains a special gland that produces a significant portion of the eye’s protective tear film. This is very important for Cane Corso’s health. When this gland “pops out” or technically tell – prolapse, the condition is known as cherry eye.
What are the clinical signs of cherry eye?
A prolapse of the third eyelid gland presents as a red, swollen mass on the lower eyelid near the nose or muzzle. The name derives from its resemblance to a cherry and its color. The Cane Corso cherry eye may be large and cover a significant portion of the cornea, or it may be small and occur only periodically.
The most important to know is that “cherry eye” is not dangerous and Cane Corso can live with it, but a sign of a cherry eye after a while should be reported to your veterinarian.
What causes the cherry eye?
The gland of the third eyelid is usually attached by a fibrous process to the lower inner edge of the eye. In certain breeds, this anchorage is thought to be weak, allowing the gland to prolapse easily. Cane Corso belongs to these breeds together with other Molossian and brachycephalic dog breeds prone to prolapse of the third eyelid.
Do Cane Corso puppies will have a cherry eye, it’s also about genetics and the selected bloodline. Some Cane Corso bloodlines are more susceptible while some are less susceptible
How is the cherry eye treated?
The treatment consists of surgery of the third eyelid gland. It is important to treat the condition to avoid permanent damage to the eye or third eyelid gland. The third eyelid gland produces up to fifty percent of the aqueous (watery) portion of the tear film. Without adequate tear production, your Cane Corso is very likely to develop “dry eye,” which can seriously affect vision. Your veterinarian will discuss with you the appropriate surgical technique that best suits your pet’s condition.
What is the prognosis?
In most cases, the gland returns to normal function within a few weeks after surgery. In a small percentage of dogs, the third eyelid may prolapse again sometime after surgery, requiring further surgery.
Many Cane Corsos that have prolapse in one eye will eventually have prolapse in the other eye. To avoid doing two separate surgeries, on both eyes, wait a month after the first prolapse to see if the other third eyelid also prolapses. Then go and consult a veterinary, either for prolapse in one or both eyes. If it is both eyes, then the surgery of both eyes can be done once, instead of two separate surgeries.
Surgical replacement of the gland of the third eyelid is always the first choice of treatment because surgical removal of the gland carries the risk of developing “dry eye”. In severe or chronic cases, there may be no option but to remove the gland, especially if the function is severely limited or completely absent.
Adapted for Cane Corso breed by Slobodan Grujic
Contributors: Ernest Ward, DVM