Cherry Eye Surgery Cost

Catherine and Joesph bought their children a Chihuahua, a few years ago. When the pet was five months old, they noticed that the bottom of the right eye appeared red and swollen. The family thought that the dog might have scratched its eyes or got something into it and the eye may heal within few days. The family waited for some days to see if things would become better, but it didn't. After days of observation, Joesph decided to visit the veterinarian. The veterinarian finally diagnosed the pet with cherry eyes. Unfortunately, weeks after the surgery was over, the dog developed a cherry eye in the other part of his eye. Joseph was baffled about the dog's health. Already he had paid some hundred dollars as the cost and now it affected the other eye of the small pet. Would the surgery cost him more for the other eye? Will it ensure that the cherry won't show back?

These were some of the questions that intrigued Joseph and Catherine. Like Joseph's family, most of the people whose dogs are treated by this surgery, have various questions lingering in their minds.

What is Cherry Eye in Dogs?
Dogs have a third eyelid that contains the tear glands. This feature is not found in the human eyes. Cherry eye is a condition of the prolapse of the third eyelid, which means, the tear gland pops out, becomes visible and there can be swelling in the area near the eyes. Normally, the tear glands remain hidden under the third eyelid of the dogs. It helps in the production of the tears in the eyes. Since cherry eye causes a red lump in the inside corner of the dog's eye, it gives an impression of a cherry and hence, the name cherry eyes.

Cost
The cost involves various factors. First of all, it can vary according to the treatment procedure. Basically, there are three options for a pet owner for this surgery. The first method involves the removal of entire cherry eye. By a simple surgical procedure, the cherry eye is cut away completely. However, many veterinarians and pet owners prefer to avoid this method because during this surgical process, the tear glands will also be removed, thereby risking the problem of dry eyes. The cost involved in removal process is the least. In the second method, the cherry eyes are pulled back to their original position and are stitched to remain intact there. Some cases have shown, that the cherry eye have again popped out and so, only removal was the option. The cost in this method ranges between USD 400 to USD 500. The third method, called the pocket technique surgery, involves making two small incisions, thus, creating a pocket and inserting the membrane into it. The cost in this method is the highest. In this method, the tear glands remain intact and so, there is no problem of dry eyes. It is considered to be the best option among the three surgeries. The cost can range between USD 250 (starting costs) to USD 1000 (till the end).

As we can see, the cost related to this surgery is not very high, however, there are definitely some pros and cons associated to all this. Your pet's eyesight should be the most important issue for you and so, before going for any surgeries, remember to give your best to treat the eye problem by some non-surgical methods. Some of the methods like the removal of cherry eye completely are risky and very few veterinarians adopt it nowadays. Whatever method you choose, the safety of your pet must be the first priority.