Why does my dog develop a cherry eye?

The most common cause of cherry eye in dogs is a problem with the tear gland. The tear gland sits at the inner corner of the eye and is responsible for producing tears that keep the eye moist. When the gland malfunctions, tears accumulate at the inner corner and increase internal eye pressure, eventually producing the cherry-eye protrusion.

Cherry eye can also be hereditary – some breeds are more prone to it, such as Bichon Frise, Pomeranian and Chihuahua, because their tear glands are more likely to develop problems.