Dog with possible Cherry Eye?

Hi Melissa,

Dr. Tillman has a family emergency and asked me to respond on her behalf. She will provide a more detailed response as soon as she is able.

She asked me to let you know that your dog appears to only have a raised third eyelid. It is not cherry eye, but may be Horner’s Syndrome. She cannot tell without a photo of the entire face. If you’d like her to take a look, please send the photo to advice[at]organic-pet-digest.com.

Either way, she asked me to let you know that seeking a holistic veterinarian would be the best option.

Take care,
Jeff

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Melissa,
The photo of Nellie shows that her third eyelid is raised. That is NOT a cherry eye (which is a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid).

A raised third eyelid can occur with Horner’s syndrome or can even be due to damage to the facial nerve. But after a closer look at Nellie’s photo and the copious amount of discharge, I am concerned that she may have an inflammation or infection of the third eyelid. Keeping her eye flushed with saline should make her more comfortable and should prevent ‘scalding’ of her face where the discharge is draining down.

You did not include a photo of her entire face, so I cannot give you much more information. I would suggest that you seek the help of a holistic veterinarian.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

I ended up taking her to her vet, not a holistic one, but perhaps next time. They squeezed her in early Sat. morning.

Stained her eyes – found an “ulcer” on her cornea. She currently has 3 eye drops for her eye….

tobramycin, flurbiprofen,and Remend. 4 x/day, each 5 min. apart……..

The eye seems better and not oozing. But there is still considerable redness inside the eye around the 3rd eyelid. I took a photo of her whole face and will send it to you.

Hi Melissa,
Thank you for submitting more photos of Nellie! From the pictures, it looks like she is on the road to recovery. I do not see any symptoms that would indicate Horner’s Syndrome or Facial Nerve paralysis at all.

The drops she is on are not holistic (although the Remend for corneal wounds is more natural), but the corneal ulcer should heal nicely. It does look like there is less discharge and the third eyelid is less raised.

The residual redness may take another 3-5 days to resolve. It may help to flush her eye with saline once or twice a day prior to applying the eyedrops to remove any debris, mucous or dirt. Basset hounds tend to have ‘droopy’ eyes that can accumulate extraneous material and aggravate the conjunctiva/mucous membranes of the eye.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr. Tillman,
The remend and other drops did not work. I finally took her to a doggie eye doctor, as my vet was talking a surgery of the 3rd eyelid (sew it shut so that it would help heal) for about $900! SO, I opted for a 2nd opinion and I’m glad I did.

I took her to a doggie eye doctor and that very night they gave her some Novocain and ground the corneal ulcer, or the dead tissue out so that new tissue could grow. They then placed a temporary contact lens over her eye. About 4 days later she was good as new! And surprisingly the eye doctor was much less expensive than my vet. So I’m glad I did it!

Now, my boy basset – he stinks and he’s shedding tremendously. Like at the vet his shedding covered the entire floor of the exam room.

Is there something I can give him to stop this? His fur is not dry, as it would be with thyroid issues it’s very shiny. I heard an ad for Dino Vite but reviews are 50/50 on that……..fish oil? Something? anything?

Thanks so much! Melissa

Related Pages:
– Dog Eye Problems,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Eye Problems Section

Hi Melissa,
Thank you for the update on Nellie. I am glad that her eye is healed and she is back to normal.

About your male Bassett…

I don’t know his age, but if he is an adult and his skin is this bad, here are my suggestions:

1. Take him to a holistic vet for a check up and total blood panel that includes thyroid (and a heartworm test, if there are heartworm in the area), and also a fecal.

2. Do not feed him DRY DOG FOOD. See our page on 10 Best Dog Food Options and consider a RAW diet.

3. Immune Supplements–I have not seen much of a response from the Dino-Vite product. I recommend either one or ALL of the following:

1. Missing Link Canine Formula
2. Immuplex from Standard Process
3. OrthoMolecular Specialties, Mega C Powder

After feeding a RAW diet for 3-6 weeks, plus some immune support, if he is not showing improvement he may need homeopathic remedies for ‘Vaccinosis’ or addressing deep ‘chronic’ disease.

Under NO circumstances, give him any vaccinations at all this year, or until he is completely well. Even though I would be very concerned once you have restored his health, that a booster vaccination may trigger a relapse.

Please continue to keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
– Dog Skin Conditions,
– Dog Itchy Skin,
– Dog Skin Rash,
– Dog Skin Allergies,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Skin Rashes, Marks, Spots, Lesions & Patches (including itchy skin and mange) Section,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Hair Loss Section

Hi
the same thing is happening to my beagle, Kobe who is 11 years old. I took him to the vet and she gave me an eyedrop that has antibiotics. we are on day 2 and he has not got better yet. if by Monday he does not get better, I will take him back to the vet. Seems like he is suffeing and I am with him.

January 31, 2014

Hi Sylvia,
You should consider going to a Veterinary Ophthalmologist to get the best care possible for your dog.

The previous subscriber found that the veterinary ophthalmologist was actually less expensive than the ‘regular’ veterinarian!

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Dr. Tillman

Thanks for your response. I have made an appointment for my beagle with an ophthalmologist. His eye is not as red as two days ago but it still bothers him a lot.
Thanks for your advice. I will keep you posted. I wash his eye twice daily with saline and apply that eye drop. Hopefully after seeing the eye specialist, Kobe will feel better.

Thanks for your support and advice
Sylvia

Hi Dr. Tillman
I took Kobe to a vet ophthalmologist and he is so much better. However Kobe is diagnosed with Horner’s syndrome. He gave Kobe a drop and he immediately got better. I have to take him back to this doctor in a week. I am glad I took your advice.
Sylvia

February 8, 2014

Hi Sylvia,
Thank you for the update. I am glad to hear that your dog Kobe is responding to treatment from the ophthalmologist.

Even though it was not a holistic solution, the bottom line is that Kobe is doing well!

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

As advised by my vet we are adding Fish/Omega Oil to my puppies diet in addition to gel eye drops. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory qualities and ease alot of allergies with many breeds. This is seeming to work!!!!

His eyes look more lubricated and swelling has gone away. Occasionally a hint of tissue is seen in the eye but this goes down.

July 25, 2014

Dear Frenchie Mom,
Thanks for the tip about using Omega 3 fish oils for your puppy’s eyes. I advise using some caution, as too much oil in the diet may cause loose stool.

A raw diet will sometimes be just as beneficial, but if you are already feeding a raw diet, and there are still eye problems such as Cherry Eye, then adding some fish oil may help.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.