French Bulldog Red Eyes: Causes, Cherry Eye and When to See a Vet

Why Frenchie eyes are vulnerable

Eye problems are common in the breed. In a Royal Veterinary College study of 2,781 French Bulldogs, the breed had higher odds of eye disorders overall (about 1.5 times) and about 4.4 times the odds of corneal ulceration compared with other dogs.^[1]

Common causes of red eyes

• Conjunctivitis: inflamed pink tissue around the eye, often with discharge. Interestingly, the UK study did not find Frenchies more prone to conjunctivitis than other dogs.^[1]
• Corneal ulcer: a scratch or erosion on the clear front of the eye. Merck notes most ulcers in dogs "are caused by injury, such as nail scratches, foreign objects in the eye, or chemicals."^[3]
• Allergies: often with itchy skin, paws and ears.
• Dry eye (low tear production): sticky, thick discharge and a dull-looking eye.
• Cherry eye: a red, swollen gland in the inner corner.
• Irritation from facial folds or hairs rubbing on the eye.

Urgent signs

See a vet the same day if your Frenchie:

• Squints or keeps one eye closed
• Paws or rubs at the eye
• Has a cloudy, white or bluish spot on the eye
• Has an eye that looks bigger, bulging or out of place
• Has a sudden change in vision
• Had an injury, such as a scratch from a cat or a branch

Merck notes that ulcers usually heal within a week, but slow-healing and recurring ulcers also occur, and deep ulcers can create a hole through the cornea.^[3] That is why early treatment matters.

Cherry eye

Dogs have a third eyelid with a tear gland at its base. In "cherry eye," that gland pops out and appears as a red lump in the inner corner. Merck lists the English Bulldog among the breeds most often affected.^[2]

Because the gland makes a large share of the eye's tears, Merck says vets "will want to preserve it, if possible," usually by stitching it back into place. Removing the gland is avoided because dogs with cherry eye "appear to be more likely to develop dry eye ... later in life, especially if the gland is removed."^[2] If your vet suggests removal, ask about repositioning surgery instead.

At home: what to do and not do

Do:

• Gently wipe discharge away with a clean, damp cotton pad, one per eye.
• Prevent rubbing. A soft cone may be needed.
• Take a clear photo to show your vet.

Do not:

• Use old or human eye drops. Drops containing steroids can make an ulcer worse.
• Wait several days to see if a squinting eye improves.
• Try to push a cherry eye back in yourself.

Prevention and screening

• Keep face folds clean and dry so they do not irritate the eyes.
• Avoid letting your dog stick its head out of car windows.
• Be careful around cats, thorny plants and tall grass.
• When buying a puppy, ask for the parents' CAER eye exam results and the HSF4 juvenile cataract DNA test, both recommended by the French Bull Dog Club of America.^[4]