Cherry eye in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Cherry eye is when the gland inside the third eyelid pops out from the corner of the eye.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Cherry eye is when the gland inside the third eyelid prolapses, or pops out, from the corner of the eye.[1] It is uncomfortable and needs to be treated by your vet.[1]

Signs

  • Rubbing at the eye due to irritation
  • Red and inflamed eye
  • Eye discharge

Causes and risk factors

  • Bulldog
  • Mastiff
  • Great Dane
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Beagle
  • Shih Tzu
  • Pekingese
  • Boston Terrier
  • Cane Corso

How vets treat it

  • Surgery
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Hospitalisation
  • Eye drops or ointment

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

beagleBoston TerrierBulldogCane CorsoEnglish MastiffGreat DaneLhasa ApsoPekingeseShih Tzu

What the experts say

“Overview. Cherry eye is when the gland inside the third eyelid prolapses (pops out) from the corner of the eye. It is uncomfortable and needs to be treated by your vet. Cherry eye is especially common in certain breeds such as English Bulldogs, and Mastiffs.”

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What is cherry eye?

Cherry eye is when the gland inside the third eyelid pops out from the corner of the eye.[1]

What signs can cherry eye cause?

Signs can include rubbing at the eye due to irritation, a red and inflamed eye, and eye discharge.[1]

Will a vet always treat a very small cherry eye straight away?

If it is very small and not bothering your dog, your vet may suggest anti-inflammatory and lubricating eye drops and keeping an eye on it rather than treating it straight away.[1]

Sources

  1. PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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