cherry eye! give me some advice

[TC]

Here is some information On Cherry eye.
I have had this discussion with a few Promenent breeders Where they have said that it was hereditary. I also have asked for PROOF of this and have so Far recieved NO PROOF that it is hereditary.
It is said that it can and does run in Certain lines More than others But i still Have NOT seen proof to this. Spent a lot of hours online and looking at research pages from Vet schools and nobody can prove that it is hereditary. If this was So. A LOT of the major Lines in SHOW and FIELD would have been drastically reduced in Numbers and some of the TOP dogs Would never have been Bred.
Can Anyone PROVE it is Hereditary????
Some of the major Vet Schools would like your research if you can.

What causes it?

The exact cause of cherry eye is not known, but it is strongly suspected that it is due to a weakness of the connective tissue that attaches the gland to the surrounding structures of the eye. The weakness of the connective tissue allows the gland to prolapse. Once the gland prolapses and is exposed to the dry air and irritants, it can become infected and/or begin to swell. The gland often becomes irritated, red, and swollen. There is sometimes a mucous discharge and if the animals rub or scratch at it, they can traumatize the gland further or possibly create an ulcer on the surface of the eye.

What is the treatment?

Treatment of cherry eye is very straightforward and consists of surgically repositioning the gland. Topical or injectable treatments of antibiotics and steroids are rarely effective in reducing the gland and allowing for correction without surgery. Because the exposed gland is at greater risk for further trauma or infection, prompt surgical replacement is the best choice.

At one time, it was popular to surgically remove the gland as a way to correct this condition. While this procedure is often effective, it can create many problems later in the animals life. The gland of the third eyelid is very important for the production of tears. Without the tears produced by the third eyelid many dogs could suffer from the condition known as 'dry eye.' Dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a serious condition that results from the decreased production of tears. When the third eyelid gland is removed, we are greatly increasing the chances for the development of this condition. The much better and preferred surgical option is to surgically tack the gland back into place with a suture that attaches the gland to the deeper structures of the eye socket. Most of these surgeries are performed quickly and have very few complications, and allow the gland to return to normal function. After the surgery, some animals may need to be placed on antibiotic ointment for a few days.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/gi/dynamic ... ry_eye.htm

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/ce.html

[houndsnmules]

They should be reattached if possible. My buddy who is a vet stated, that there is a ruffly 30 percent chance they could have problems due to lack moisture that that membrane helps with. I have had hounds for 20 plus yrs now and the only cherry eye my dogs have had is when he hit a post playing. My friend has had quite a few beagles with cherry eye when they got older, But he bred is dogs pretty close.

[Larry G]

I've cut out a bunch myself and never had any problem. I wouldn't try it alone though. You need a good helper to hold the dog still. People who keep a lot of hounds usually can't afford to run to the vet for every little thing or they'd go broke!

[dad]

What is cherry eye? I have never heard of it..

[sanfordssj]

Old link, but great info!

One of my males that was bought came up a cherry eye. Neither sire or dam are known to have issures and none of the other 4 pups that i have contact with seem to have any problems. This is the dams second litter, agian the first pup to have cherry eye. I wanted to research it to see what people think about it being a trait passed in breeding. From talking to a vet and reading this link i'm not to sure that it is. Issues like long nails, rough play, and dry conditions seem to play a role. The third eye lid catches dust and particles and therefore can become infected. I don't think surgery should be the first choice either. Medication first!

BTT

[Salzer mtn]

A neighbor of mine had some beagle pups he wanted to sell me one time. He had them in a long cattle trailer and when i went to look at them, the whole litter of 8 had cherry eye. They were about 3 months old. In this instance it had to be hereditary.