Cherry Eye Surgery
Cherry eye — prolapse of the nictitating membrane gland — requires delicate veterinary surgery or medication. At Ridglan Farms, non-veterinary staff routinely excised the gland without anesthesia, blood control, or aftercare, causing dogs to thrash and bleed profusely. The practice accounted for the majority of 311 DATCP violations and was described by veterinary experts as mutilation.
The Condition
Cherry eye is the common name for prolapse of the nictitating membrane, or third eyelid gland. The gland protrudes as a red, swollen mass in the corner of the eye. It is common in beagles and other breeds with loose facial skin. The condition is not life-threatening but requires treatment to prevent chronic complications.
Proper Treatment
Veterinary standards call for one of two approaches. Mild cases may respond to topical medication and monitoring. Surgical cases require a "tuck" procedure — the gland is repositioned and sutured back into place, preserving its function. This is delicate surgery requiring anesthesia, sterile technique, and post-operative care. The gland produces approximately 30-40% of the eye's tear film. Removing it rather than repositioning it causes chronic dry eye.
The Ridglan Practice
At Ridglan Farms, cherry eye was handled differently. Non-veterinary staff members — including Leah Staley, Hiltbrandt, and Olson — performed the procedures. They did not reposition the gland. They cut it out.
- No anesthesia — Dogs were fully conscious during the procedure
- No blood control — No hemostasis measures were used; dogs bled profusely
- No aftercare — No post-operative monitoring, pain management, or infection prevention
- Dogs thrashing — Investigation footage showed dogs struggling violently during the cutting
- Near-daily frequency — The procedures were routine, tracked on a whiteboard in the facility
- "Standard operating practice" — Staff described the approach as normal procedure
Veterinary Assessment
Dr. Sherstin Rosenberg, a veterinary expert who reviewed the investigation footage, described the practice as mutilation. The removal of the gland — rather than its repositioning — guaranteed chronic dry eye in affected dogs. The absence of anesthesia meant each procedure was performed on a fully conscious, unrestrained animal.
Regulatory Consequences
The cherry eye procedures at Ridglan accounted for the majority of the 311 DATCP violations assessed against the facility. Veterinarian Scott Gilbertson, who oversaw the facility's animal care, had his license suspended in September 2025. The violations were classified as unlicensed veterinary practice — non-veterinarians performing surgical procedures.
Broader Context
Cherry eye surgery at Ridglan is not an isolated aberration. It reflects the economic logic of high-volume breeding operations where veterinary costs are minimized and throughput is prioritized. The practice persisted for years under a USDA inspection regime that consistently failed to detect it.
Sources
- 1.DATCP Violation Records, 2025. 311 violations, majority related to unlicensed surgical procedures.
- 2.Veterinary Expert Testimony, 2025. Dr. Sherstin Rosenberg's assessment of investigation footage.
- 3.Investigation Footage, 2017. Undercover documentation of cherry eye procedures at Ridglan Farms.