Can a dog get a sty?

[ramanth]

Last night while eating dinner, I looked down at Kia's head in my lap and noticed something unusual.

Her lower lid on her left eye was a little swollen and pink.

It wasn't so bad that it inhibited her eyesight, nor did she flinch or cry when I ran a gentle finger over it.

I'm not sure if it's a sty or if she was maybe stung by something. She seems to be okay and I'm going to keep an eye on it in case it gets worse.

Has any of you had something similar happen to your pooches?

[aly]

It might be the beginning of cherry eye. I'd just keep an eye on it like you are doing and go to the vet if it gets worse. Hopefully it'll just go away.

[ramanth]

I've never heard of Cherry eye. Thanks Aly. I'll do just that.

[ramanth]

I found these sites on it and I don't think cherry eye is what Kia has.... (phew!)

Her actual eye lid is swollen and it's the back corner... not the front corner like the images on these sites show.

http://www.eyevet.info/cherry.html

http://www.vin.com/PetCare/Articles/...tal/M00556.htm

http://www.flash.net/~anmleyz/cherry_eye.htm


I know it's not perfect but I colored in the spot where it's swollen to give you all an idea....

[Cincy'sMom]

From the spot you have the red it really doesn't sound like Cherry eye. Cincy actually had that happen to both of her eyes ...the right, which was reattached when she was 10 weeks and the left on was removed when she was 14 weeks.

Sadie had an infection in her eye a few months ago and it was red where you show...but not on the eyelid we got some antibiotic cream from the vet that we put in her eye 2-3 times a day and it cleared right up.

Hope Kia is feeling better soon!

[Pam]

You are right. Cherry eye occurs near or on the nasal part of the eye (near the nose). One of my RB dogs had cherry eye in the past. I work for an ophthalmologist and, although we only see humans, I would say that it might be caused by a foreign body in the eye or embedded in the eyelid or even an allergic reaction to a lawn chemical or something like that. If it doesn't show signs of improvement I would think a vet visit is in order. Good luck! Oh, and what beautiful eyes by the way!! Don't want anything to be wrong with those peepers!

[Roofus]

Rufus has a red pimple like bump on his lower eyelid near the tear duct that is 3 millimeters in size (sorry about the metric measurement). It first appeared a week ago as a raised area that was the same color as his eye lid that later became dry and slightly scaly (like a when your skin is really dry and it flakes off) and now red. About a year ago he had a similar bump on his muzzle where his whiskers grow that looked exactly the same. We figured it was an inflamed hair follicle and it disappeared on its own in a weeks time so we did not give it a second thought. This time the bump is so close to his tear duct and it has not decreased in size so we took him to the vet today to get it checked out.

Our vet is not sure what it is, he thinks it could be one of two things, either Hystiocytoma or a Mast Cell Tumor. He is optimistic that it is Hystiocytoma since the previous bump resolved itself. Hystiocytoma is common in younger dogs (Ruf is 2yrs old) and usual goes away on its own. We are supposed to keep a close eye on it and if it goes away on its own we are in the clear. Because of the location of the bump if it begins to grow we have to get it removed ASAP before it becomes too big to remove it only without compromising the eye. Also if it does not go away it needs to be removed as well because it probably is not Hystiocytoma. I looked both up on the net and I pary that it goes away on its own.

[ramanth]

I'm thinking in the end that she just got stung or bit by something because the swelling is totally gone now.

Thanks for all your input though! It has been stored away in case something serious does come up.