What Do Red Lumps In Your Dog's Eyes Mean?

Your dog's eyes should be smooth, clear and bright, without any blemishes or bumps on the pristine surface. A red lump on the inside corner of the eye is definitely a problem - although not one you should panic about.

Dogs (as well as other pets like cats) have a unique structure called the third eyelid, a thin membrane that protrudes from the lower inside portion of the eye and swipes tears across the surface. Behind the third eyelid are tear and lymphatic glands. Periodically one of these glands may protrude over the top of the third eyelid, forming a red bulge. Vets call this condition cherry eye, and it can cause heavy tearing and frequent blinking.

Cherry eye usually occurs when tissues that hold the gland in place are weaker than they should be. It is quite common in young dogs, especially Saint Bernards, German shepherds. Great Danes, cocker spaniels, beagles, and some of the short-faced breeds. Red lumps can also be caused by problems with the third eyelid itself. The eyelid contains a "spine" of cartilage. If this cartilage is somewhat mis-formed - a condition that vets call eversion - it will stick out slightly and irritate the surface of the eye.

Both cherry eye and third-eyelid eversion are quite rare in older dogs. Cancers, however, do develop later in life and sometimes they cause an irritated-looking red lump somewhere in the eye.

Serious eye problems should always be treated by a vet, but sometimes you have to act quickly at home to protect your pet from further damage. If your dog gets cherry eye, for example, and for some reason you can't get to a vet, you may have to readjust the popped out gland yourself.

It sounds scary, but it is often easy to do. Sliding the eyelids up over the "cherry" will usually cause the gland to pop back into place. Put your finger or thumb at the edge of the lower eyelid near the nose. Applying gentle pressure, slide both the outer and inner eyelids over the swelling. This only works if you do it the very same day it popped out. If the lump doesn't pop back into place easily or if your dog seems to be in a lot of pain, give up right away and do your best to get to a vet. Sometimes putting the gland back in place will correct the problem for good. But in many cases, pets will need surgery to eliminate the underlying cause.