My dog's cherry eye surgery failed. Should I consider gland removal?
The problem with a removal of the gland of the third eyelid is that many dogs develop pannus/dry eye(because that gland is responsible for much of normal tear-film production), which then needs to be treated life long with expensive eye drops and can also impact your dog's eye sight negatively. So unless there is a medical reason to remove the gland, it is not advisable. Consult with the ophthalmologist weighing up the risk vs. the benefit of removing the gland. If the cherry eye is only a beauty fault to you , then I would not risk creating a dry eye in the dog and just leave it as it is. Unfortunately, cherry eye surgery is not always successful. Cherry eye is hereditary, so it’s best not to breed a dog that has developed this condition. You will always need to monitor your dog for "dry eye" after surgery: Signs to watch for that would indicate dry eye are: redness to the lining of the eyelid, a thick pus-like discharge from the eye, and a cloudy cornea.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025