When do you take action to correct cherry eye?

[sheshistory]

I am not sure if Truman has cherry eye or not.

I have read all the threads on EBN about people's cherry eye experiences but I can't tell if I should act now or wait to see how things go:

Last night, after he was playing all day, Truman's gland popped out of his eye about half way. I watched the video on how to put it back in myself and did so and he was fine until later this evening, when it popped out again. I popped it back in and he's fine. It seems to be happening when he is really tired and hasn't happened before now.

Should I go to the vet right away or should I wait to see if it keeps happening? Are there are ways to treat it without surgery that are effective? Also, from my post, do you think Truman definitely has cherry eye or can the gland pop out and back in once in a while?

Ugh, between the hips and the mange, I am really hoping for the best on this one!

Thanks for any advice!

[TessaAndSamson]

Oh no, well I don't have any experience with this so I am of no help but I hope for the best on this too

[izstigspunks]

If you'd like to get the procedure done, I'd wait until Truman's mange clears up. As you may recall from the other threads, it's not an emergency situation and doesn't bother our bully, it's only unsightly. Stig has bouts of cherry eye too, the longest lasting about 3 weeks. The day before we were going to call the vet to have it tacked in we came from work and miraculously found that it was gone. It only comes back out now when he's really tired or plays rough. We know that there are going to be future incidences but my bf and I decided that we're going to hold off with surgery unless it's obvious that it bothers him. Of course, we're going to watch for it everyday and try to put it back the same day before it gets too swollen to retract.

[reallyrob]

I usually just let it go for awhile. When my Cocker had cherry eye, I took him and had the surgery, I brought him home and his other eye popped the gland about 3 days after. When I got Bertie my EB, she had her gland pop out and then she would lay down and sleep and it would be fine the next day. This went on for a few weeks, before it finally popped and stayed out. I took her to the vet who specializes in English Bullies and he told me that she was in no pain and to wait a week or two. He said usually if the other eye is gonna do it it will happen within a couple weeks. He told me to put lubricating eye drops in her eye a few times a day. He also told me that allergens from the carpet could be the problem too. I waited three weeks and during that time the gland would go back in for a day or so and then pop back out. Then, on the last day of the third week, the other eye did it too. The vet did the surgery on both eyes at the same time...much better...she only had to be put out once.

[sowdie]

I know I've mentioned this in related posts, but, Lola's pops out frequently. When she rubs her face on the carpet or scratches near her eye, it'll often pop out. I rub right under her eye and it goes away. It's only her right eye too. the left one has never popped out.

[sheshistory]

Thanks everyone!

Truman's eye keeps popping out and today, I couldn't get it back in...ugh.

So here's another question for you @reallyrob - how much did you pay for Bertie's surgery? I called the place I got Truman's hips done and they "estimate" $1200-1500 and I almost dropped the phone. The other threads said $800 seemed high so I am hoping it's way less than the quote I received.

By the way @reallyrob I got the ornament you sent today and I love it! You are so creative! Truman wanted to eat it but it's safely up on the tree now -- the higher branches! Thank you!

[reallyrob]

OH MY GOD!!!! $1200-$1500 !!!!! Bertie had Both Eyes done for Cherry eye, soft Pallet reduction, nastronic nares opened, spayed and hernia repair and the entire thing cost me less then $600 and I got most of that back with the Trupanion insurance (90%). I am so glad you liked the ornament! I love to craft!

[sheshistory]

Although Truman's eye has been back in thus far today, I decided to take him to the vet to see what he said about his eye - especially since I'm leaving town soon. Basically, I didn't learn anything I didn't know before but I got another estimate for the surgery, on one eye, which was almost $1100. The other estimate I got that was $1200-1500 was for a surgeon specializing in ophthalmology so I was hoping this estimate would be significantly less.

So, @sowdie, @savemejeebus, and @BigMacAttack - did you receive any estimate about the cost of the cherry eye surgery? I think I remember @savemejeebus saying it was around $800, which others thought was expensive.

I am at a loss - it seems like so much money for such a simple and oft performed procedure! I called another area vet for another estimate and I will report back!

[izstigspunks]

@jillh10 - It didn't occur to me to ask when I was at the vet's last. I'm thinking it's in the $300 range. I'll ask when I see the vet again, which should be soon for Stig's neutering.

[sowdie]

I've never asked either. I've always been able to get Lola's to go back in by gently rubbing under her eye.

[sheshistory]

I usually just let it go for awhile. When my Cocker had cherry eye, I took him and had the surgery, I brought him home and his other eye popped the gland about 3 days after. When I got Bertie my EB, she had her gland pop out and then she would lay down and sleep and it would be fine the next day. This went on for a few weeks, before it finally popped and stayed out. I took her to the vet who specializes in English Bullies and he told me that she was in no pain and to wait a week or two. He said usually if the other eye is gonna do it it will happen within a couple weeks. He told me to put lubricating eye drops in her eye a few times a day. He also told me that allergens from the carpet could be the problem too. I waited three weeks and during that time the gland would go back in for a day or so and then pop back out. Then, on the last day of the third week, the other eye did it too. The vet did the surgery on both eyes at the same time...much better...she only had to be put out once.

@reallyrob - I forgot to ask if you had the glands removed or tacked back in?

Never mind, I read the old threads again and saw that you had it tacked, which is what I was looking at also. I'm still calling around for prices in my area. So far, the cheapest I've found is $755 but so far, I've been able to get the gland back in.

Maybe you could tell me what the recovery was like for Bertie? Thanks again!

[reallyrob]

Recovery wasn't bad at all. When I first brought her home, I only gave her ice chips for the first 12 hours. I had to put drops in her eyes three times a day for 7 days, and she had pain pills for the first five days. Keep in mind, that she also had the soft pallet, spayed, and her nares opened up and hernia repair. She did great with all of it! I had to watch her,just to make sure she didn't rub her face against anything. I kept her seperated from my cocker spaniel Dexter for three days...that was the hardest thing I had to do.