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Wild Child
Neapolitan Mastiff
Eye information
Entropion is the medical term for an eye condition in which the eyelids turn inward toward the eyeball instead of outward as they should... More
Ectropion is the turning out (eversion) of the eyelid. Besides being unattractive, ectropion can cause irritation because it exposes the sensitive inner lining of the eyelids... more
Trichiasis is hair from the eyelid growing in the wrong direction and rubbing on the eye, causing irritation. Trichiasis is most common... more
Cherry Eye in the dog is a picturesque term for Everted Third Eyelid. The Third Eyelid is also known as the Nictitating Membrane. It serves as added protection for the eye through an interesting ability to close upward and over the dog's eyeball. The canine is able to retract the entire eyeball backward into the eye socket, and coupled with this retraction is the Third Eyelid's ability to slide up and over the retracted globe.
On the underside of the Third Eyelid is a small gland. It secretes about 30 percent of the eye's tear production. Some surgeons prefer to preserve this gland at the time of surgery to correct Cherry Eye, with the thought in mind that if the other tear producing apparatus ever fail due to infection, trauma, or autoimmune disorders, the gland of the Third Eyelid will be of benefit to the eye.
Once the tear production
of an eye fails, a chronic dryness ensues and adversely impacts the health of the eye surfaces. This "dry eye" is called Keratoconjunc-tivitis sicca (KCS).
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or "dry eye" describes the changes in the eye which result from lack of tear production. To understand "dry eye" it is helpful to know how tears help keep the cornea healthy. The cornea is the optically clear portion of the eye that allows entry of light into the eye. Like all living tissue, the cornea requires a supply of oxygen and energy to remain healthy. Oxygen and nutrients are supplied to most tissues by the blood that moves through the area in blood vessels. The healthy cornea has no blood vessels, if it did it wouldn't be clear, so the oxygen and nutrients are supplied through the three-layered 'tear film.'
However, when it is concerned The Neapolitan Mastiff Breed, the cherry eye should be removed and never tacked back, there are many tear recourses in the eye left to reproduce enough tears to keep an eye healthy (not "dry").
Chalazion, is a cyst in the eyelid that is caused by inflammation of the meibomian gland (gland at the rim of the eyelid - responsible... more
To be continued
Tacking the huge infected third eyelid back does not help a dog, keeps an eye infected and as a result the eye looks ill, red and messy; and unremoved gland will pop up again in up to 6 weeks and will require another surgery. You can tack it many times but it will be back; each time you tack- the eye will look worse and worse (really messy and sore, lower lid gets more open (ectropion) with each surgery, red and uglier looking).
Usually if cherry eye removing procedure was done correctly the eye gets healed with using the special eye ointment and looks healthy and pretty; it might take up to 4 weeks.
The picture is of the same dog which shown above with cherry eyes. Here you can see how eyes suppose to look if the cherry eye removing was done correctly.
Tacking the prolapsed eye gland does not work for the Neapolitan Mastiff, it will pop up again and again until gets removed... though many veterinarians in USA will not agree to remove eye gland and will insist to do tacking (because were taught it is a malpractice). Do not tack and seek for another specialist who is experienced and will remove the gland.
