Eye Neoplasia

When your dog’s cells multiply too rapidly, it can create a growth, known as a neoplasm. If this growth in the eye or eye area is benign, the cells are simply growing a bit more rapidly than they should. If it’s malignant, there is cause for concern, as the neoplasm is considered cancerous--it can spread rapidly and is difficult to control, according to pet supply and medical information company Doctors Foster and Smith.

  1. Prevalence

    • Your dog is more prone to developing a neoplasm than your cat, according to Merck Veterinary Manual. But if your feline does develop a neoplasm, it can be more of a challenge to treat, according to MVM, as neoplasms in cats are usually malignant.

    Risks

    • Just as humans are more likely to suffer from cancer as they age, so are pets more prone to neoplasms of the eye as they get older, according to Doctors Foster and Smith. In fact, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cancerous growths are responsible for nearly half of all deaths in pets older than 10. Some breeds have also been known to suffer more frequently from eye-related tumors, such as white cats with little pigment, according to MVM.

    Symptoms

    • In both cats and dogs, there may be many of the same symptoms, including: obvious swelling of the eyelid, tearing, eye pain, light sensitivity and redness, according to the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Just as with human eye-related conditions, these symptoms mimic other conditions, including skin problems like dermatitis, or parasitic and fungal infections.

    Diagnosis

    • There are some ways to know for sure that your dog or cat has a neoplasm, or some other condition. MVM reports that a radiograph, or X-ray image, may be taken of the impacted area of the skull. An ultrasound may also be used to capture an image, and determine just what type of growth this may be and the extent this mass has spread. Blood may also be drawn and examined, and a biopsy, whereby a sample of your pet's tissue is analyzed, may be needed to confirm that a neoplasm is cancerous, according to AVMA.

    Treatment

    • Once your vet finds out, one, if it’s a growth and, two, just how severe it is, he may have to remove the mass--including surrounding tissues and bone, according to MVM. In some cases, the entire eye may have to be removed. Surgical removal of the affected and surrounding area could be crucial to prevent your dog or cat from going blind. According to the AVMA, other treatments include radiation and chemotherapy or a combination of therapies, and are highly dependent on both your pet's health and the type of tumor.