Q. I have a 3-month-old Pointer pup that has developed a bright red swelling near the corner of its eye. My hunting buddy told me it was a "cherry eye" and would be OK if I just left it alone. Does he know what he is talking about?

A. Dogs have three eyelids. The third one is called the Nictitating Membrane or, better, just the third eyelid. It is common for a gland that lies in this third eyelid to get inflamed and produce the classic "cherry eye."

The cause is unknown but doubtlessly involves debris or irritation from dust or other culprits. I would not neglect the condition because some remain present for years if not removed. In the past, veterinarians just snipped the gland off using local anesthesia, but the current recommendation is to remove just the inflamed portion of the gland and leave some glandular tissue in the third eyelid area.

Complete removal of the gland can lead to a "dry eye" later in life, which is a real nuisance as the dog will have to have artificial tears applied daily or even several times daily to keep the eye healthy. Your veterinarian can best assess the situation and provide the optimal surgical removal of the swollen tissue.

Please Note: Euksport.com should only be used as a guide and in no way should be substituted for licensed veterinary care.