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If you've never heard it before, cherry eye is a condition that is common for certain breeds
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such as bulldogs, cocker spaniels, Boston terriers, and yes, beagles too. So what exactly is cherry eye, and how can you prevent it
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We will find out in this video of BeagleCare. Well, to understand cherry eye, we need to talk about dogs' eyes, or more specifically
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their eyelids. While we humans have two eyelids, dogs have three. Their third eyelid is translucent and provides an extra layer of protection to their eyes
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This third eyelid, known as the nictating membrane, resides in the inner corner of the eye and only slides in when your dog needs it
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You might have already seen it. It's that little trace of translucent bit in the corner of their eyes
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But sometimes the ligament that holds it stretches or detaches entirely, and the third eyelid gland pops out and becomes visible
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This condition is called the cherry eye. While this can happen to any dog breed
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few dogs, including beagles, are more prone to this problem because of their genetic predisposition
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The early stage of cherry eye is not at all painful for dogs
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In fact they don even notice it But over time it can lead to irritation And if left untreated it can also lead to dry eyes and infection The third eyelid gland produces about 50 of their tears and hence plays a crucial role in keeping their eyes hydrated
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Without proper treatment, your beagle is more likely to develop dry eye, which can impair their vision
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So it is crucial to treat this condition as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage to the eye
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An early symptom of cherry eye is easy to spot. Look for a red swollen lump in the corner of their eye closest to the muzzle
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This red lump looks like a cherry, hence the name. If you suspect that your beagle has cherry eye, take them to the vet immediately
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She will do a full eye checkup to rule out other eye problems like glaucoma
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If cherry eye is diagnosed, she may recommend using anti-inflammatory eye drops
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If that doesn't work, then the most effective treatment would be a surgical replacement of the third eyelid gland
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Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent cherry eye in our beagles
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All we can do is make sure our beagles eat healthy and get regular exercise and hope for the best
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I hope this video was helpful. Do drop a like and subscribe to our channel for more beagle care videos
