Vito’s Story: “Cherry Eyes”

Please, join Team SAFE today to help ensure we can continue to provide potentially life-saving veterinary care.

In early 2020, Vito, a British Bulldog, was found straying and was brought to us here at Stray Aid. It was clear that his eyes were causing him considerable pain. Both of his eyes were infected. His eyelids on the left side were turning inwards, causing his eyelashes and fur to rub against his eye. This caused his eye to go cloudy, making it hard from him to see out of it. Vito also had a condition called “Cherry Eye” in his right eye, meaning an eyelid had prolapsed , making it swollen and sore. Just imagine how uncomfortable this would have been.

Vito has been an excellent patient, letting us bathe and clean his eyes to help treat the infections. Once the infections had gone, he was ready for surgery to place and stitch his right eyelids back in the correct position. During the operation, Vito also needed 17 teeth removed, with the rest given a good clean. In all, Vito’s surgery took around 2 hours, which required specialist equipment.

Thankfully, after a few days, it was clear his eyes were healing nicely and could begin to look for his forever home. And Vito didn’t have to wait long. He has now found a lovely home where will get all the care and attention he needs (and deserves). His eyes are still recovering, with some cloudiness remaining. But, hopefully this will clear up with time and a bit of TLC, in his new, loving home.

Something which makes Stray Aid unique amongst many local rescues is our on-site vets facilitates. This allows us to ensure that every dog gets the medical attention they need, and our trained vet team are able to quickly identify any potential issues.

However, this comes at a significant financial cost at a time where we have seen a considerable drop in our funding. Please, if you are able, join Team SAFE today and donate just £5 per month to help ensure we can continue to help dogs like Vito.

What is ‘Cherry Eye’?

Vito’s story is sadly all too common. All dogs have an extra eyelid in the corner of their eyes. This thin piece of skin slides across the front of their eye to protect it when necessary. The condition “Cherry Eye” happens when the tear gland prolapses or ’pops out’, and becomes visible in the corner of the eye. It is a painful condition. The gland becomes red, swollen, and sore. “Cherry Eye” is most commonly seen in certain breeds, including: British Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Westies, Shih Tzus, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, and Bloodhounds.

There isn’t a specific cause of “Cherry Eye”, but ‘flatter-faced’ breeds seem to be predisposed to the problem, with it being more common in pups. The longer it goes untreated, the more uncomfortable it can be and harder to treat. The only treatment is surgery. The prolapsed gland needs to be stitched back in place. Left untreated, the dog can suffer permanent damage to their eye, so it is important you contact you vet as soon as possible if you notice any swelling, redness, or other irritation around their eye.

Dogs have more complex eyes than us humans, so if you notice any signs that something isn’t right, please contact your vet straight away. Left untreated, even minor issues can very quickly develop into serious problems, resulting in partial loss of vision or even the eye itself. Dogs don’t like to show they are suffering, so when you begin to notice the signs, you need to act quickly.

You can read more how we work to ensure the best possible outcome for every one of our animals in our Quarterly Magazine: Summer 2020 Edition.

Please, join Team SAFE today to help ensure we can continue to provide potentially life-saving veterinary care.