West Nile Virus is here. The infection has migrated up the state
and now has its first
”
kill
”
in Santa Clara County.
In case you didn’t see the reports two weeks ago, a crow was
found dead on the east side of San Jose. Tests confirmed the cause
of death was WNV carried by a mosquito. Unfortunately, we know
there will soon be many more cases.
West Nile Virus is here. The infection has migrated up the state and now has its first “kill” in Santa Clara County.
In case you didn’t see the reports two weeks ago, a crow was found dead on the east side of San Jose. Tests confirmed the cause of death was WNV carried by a mosquito. Unfortunately, we know there will soon be many more cases.
Dogs and cats seem to be immune to this virus. But horses, birds and people are very susceptible. This is a deadly virus and ANY mosquito can be dangerous. So take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. And if you have a horse, have it vaccinated right away.
My daughter, Mary, phoned home from college the other day. (Both our girls call us regularly). She told me she was fighting a flu infection, and she felt crummy.
“Any fever or rash? I asked. She wanted to know why.
I told her the news about West Nile. And I told her that a fever and a rash were some of the symptoms of early West Nile infection.
After a pause, she told me she had three new mosquito bites on her arms from a hike she had taken the other day. For a moment, we were both silent. We both knew that her simple “flu” could possibly be something more serious.
She has since recovered completely. But our conversation made me realize how close all of us can be to serious illness. Life can be fragile, in part because of the dangers of new infections such as West Nile Virus. Be smart. Be careful. Be healthy. And I’ll see you next time.
•••
Q: Our 9-month-old Cocker Spaniel puppy, Willie, has a red lump on the inside corner of his eye. It came up suddenly last week and it isn’t getting any larger. Is this a tumor?
A: It’s hard to be certain, but it sounds as though Willie has developed a condition called “cherry eye.” That red lump is a prolapsed gland from underneath his third eyelid.
The third eyelid is a sheet-like structure that comes up over the eye when Willie blinks. It actually slides across his cornea and acts as a protective barrier.
There is a gland underneath this eyelid. And for some reason, in some dogs, this gland enlarges and actually pooches out from underneath the lid. It gets so big that it prolapses.
Veterinarians aren’t really sure what causes the gland to do this. But it happens mostly in Cocker Spaniels and English Bulldogs and is probably a hereditary problem.
Willie needs to be evaluated by his veterinarian to confirm that he has cherry eye.
It’s possible that this could be some other growth or anomaly, but your description of his symptoms strongly suggest a prolapsed gland. It’s probably not a tumor.
There are two different treatments available for cherry eye. It can be surgically removed, or it can be sutured down in place to prevent it from popping out. The choice of treatment depends on one very important factor … tear production.
Tears are important for the health of the eye. They help lubricate and cleanse out any debris. Without adequate tear production, the eye becomes dry and irritated. And the cornea (the surface of the eye) may be irreparably damaged.
A bit more than 10 percent of total tear production comes from this gland under the third eyelid (the rest from other areas around the eye). That’s not very much, is it? But let’s say that a dog has only marginal tear production in his eyes. Removing the gland would further lower his total tear production resulting in a “dry eye” … an uncomfortable and unhealthy condition.
Willie should be tested for tear content … it’s a simple test that can be done in the exam room.
If he has normal tears, you’ll have a choice for treatment. The simplest is removal of part or all of the swollen gland. Excision of about three-fourths of the swollen tissue allows the prolapse to fall back into its normal place. And in most cases, the remaining tears produced in the eye are more than enough to keep the eye healthy.
But if his tear content is marginal or substandard, your veterinarian will be reluctant to remove any of the swollen gland and risk a potential dry eye problem.
Willie will need the alternative surgery where the swollen gland is pushed into its normal position and anchored with special suture. This procedure is far more time-consuming and difficult. Not surprising, it is also considerably more expensive.
Most patients do very well after either surgery. And the good news is that Willie will regain his normal appearance and be a happy, healthy dog all over again.
