Dog Eyelid Tumors

Eyelid tumors in dogs often grow from the glands located within the eyelid margin. Most of these tumors are benign. The cause of eyelid tumors is unknown.

  1. Types

    • According to Pet Place, the most common benign eyelid tumors in dogs are sebaceous gland (meibomian) adenoma, squamous papilloma and benign melanocytoma.

      Malignant eyelid tumors that can grow in dogs include basal cell carcinoma, mast cell tumor, lymphosarcoma, malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Two other rare tumors are sebaceous adenocarcinoma and fibrosarcoma.

    Signs and Symptoms

    • The most obvious sign of an eyelid tumor is the appearance of the growth itself. The growth or surrounding area may appear swollen and red. Your dog may frequently paw or rub the eye, have minor bleeding from the eyelid or exhibit increased blinking or squinting. Other possible symptoms of eyelid tumors in dogs include excessive tearing, discharge from the eye, bloodshot or reddened conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white of the eye) or cloudiness, bluish haze or film covering the cornea.

    Diagnosis

    • To diagnose the growth on a dog's eyelid, in addition to a complete eye exam, the veterinarian may recommend other tests. These tests might include fluorescein staining of the cornea to check for foreign bodies in the eye or bacterial and fungal tests to check for infection. The vet may also do a biopsy on the tumor or do blood tests to check for cancer.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for most eyelid tumors is to remove them with surgery. According to Veterinary Specialists of Rochester, two procedures are available. The first is to numb the local area, cut away as much of the tumor as possible, then freeze the tumor site to kill any tumor cells left behind. This cryotherapy technique often works well and can be done more than once, if necessary.

      If the tumor continues to grow after the cryotherapy, or if the tumor is very large, the second method is to anesthetize the dog, remove a chunk of tissue with the tumor, then sew the eyelid back together.

    Considerations

    • Not all growths on a dog's eyelid are tumors. If you notice a growth on your dog's eye, take the dog to a veterinarian.