Incidence and clinical signs associated with cherry eye in dogs

Abstract

Cherry eye is a disorder of the nictitating membrane, also called the third eyelid, present in the eyes of dogs. Out of 368 cases 24 cases (6.65%) were presented with a history of cherry eye. The dogs ranged in age from below 6 months to above 3 years, comprising 14 males and 10 females. The highest prevalence was observed in Shih Tzus followed by Beagles, Labradors, French Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, mixed breeds, and nondescript breeds. Highest occurrence of cherry eye was recorded as unilateral (20 out of 24 cases) compared to bilateral (4 out of 24 cases). The observed symptoms in the affected dogs included a cherry-like red mass protruding from the medial canthus of the eye, conjunctivitis, epiphora, mucopurulent discharge, blepharospasm, corneal opacity, corneal ulcers, and hypertrophy of the prolapsed mass.