American Cocker Spaniels are playful yet intelligent furry creatures. If you’re looking for a family dog to bring to your home, American Cocker Spaniels are just the amazing choice. They are good with children, lively, and very gentle. If you’re just looking for a dog to bring home, you might be concerned with their behavior, looks, and health. With any kind of dog breed, there are certain conditions inherent to them. One of which is a cherry eye.

A cherry eye is a common breed condition among American Cocker Spaniels as well as other beautiful head dogs. It is mainly the prolapse of the nictitating membrane or gland of dogs in one of their major eyelids. Typically, it is a result of inflammation of these glands. You will often see this is a red, fleshy mass on the eyelid.

Signs & Symptoms:

Some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with a cherry eye are the following:  protruding mass or swelling on the third eyelid, increased teariness, dry eyes, increased squinting or blinking. In some cases, there are no other symptoms seen or felt by your dog apart from the protruding cherry-like mass.

Don’t Panic:

While some dog owners might be alarmed and think it’s a cancerous or malignant growth or something harmful, it’s not. Cherry eyes are primarily a cosmetic or physical concern and are not painful for your dog. It doesn’t affect them too much in any way. However, there are certainly valid reasons why you would want to have it removed surgically.

Go See The Vet:

First, consult with your veterinarian to make sure if your Cocker Spaniel’s condition is indeed a cherry eye. Ruling out other conditions is essential to make the right diagnosis and proceed with the right management. Before deciding to proceed to a surgical approach, your vet will most likely prescribe antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops for your dog. He or she will also perform some tests to evaluate your Cocker Spaniel’s health.

A Cherry Eye Can Be Removed Surgically:

If your dog requires surgery to correct a cherry eye, there are a few things you should be aware of. In the past, the traditional method for treating a cherry eye was to surgically remove the gland. What scientists didn’t realize at the time was that this gland is important for tear generation, and many of the dogs who had their cherry eyes surgically removed developed dry eyes as a result of the procedure.

Unfortunately, some veterinarians still surgically remove the gland in an attempt to correct a cherry eye. This must not occur! 

The “pocket procedure” is the most popular approach for surgically replacing a cherry eye. The vet makes a pocket beneath the eyelid in which the tear gland may be tucked away, inserts the gland into the pocket, and sutures the pocket together. A stitch to the rear of the eye socket is another popular way for securing the gland in place. The gland remains intact and can continue to create tears in any of these ways, but it is secured in place by a stitch so that it does not pop out again. It has an extraordinarily high success rate if the veterinarian is skilled in the method and conducts the operation appropriately.

In most cases, cherry eyes are small enough to not cause any discomfort to your dog. Thus, most dog owners don’t opt to have it removed. Most cherry eyes are caught early on and are easier and more convenient to remove. For any concerns you might have, you can always consult with a licensed veterinarian.

All kinds of dog breeds come with special anatomic conditions that you might think are unusual or dangerous. For Cocker Spaniels, it is relatively common for them to have a cherry eye. This isn’t a fatal condition. Moreover, this doesn’t affect their life span, personality, and behavior. They are still the same lovely and fun creatures that would be great additions to our homes.