Eye melanoma (Cancer) in my dog

[Compostella]

Our dog (Border Collie X 6yrs old) has a small dark mark that has appeared on the white area of her left eye. Its about 5mm long.

I took her to the vet and he said that it could be cancer and reffered her to a specialist. However, he couldnt answer any further questions on the subject.

Needless to say that we are worried and wondered that if it is cancer, can it be treated? How? Will she lose her eye?

Anyone with a similar experience could you let us know?

Thanks in advance

[burkeas]

According to the official US health page, ocular melanoma's primary treatment is surgical excursion (removal). It also says that physicians usually wait to hive treatment until the afflicted area has grown to 1 inch (approx. 3 cm.). It says yet melanoma of small size is not very harmful, many people in the United States have the melanoma removed with an infrared laser. Yes, the treatment will cause a small scar, no, she won't lose her eye. I'd wait and let it go. If it starts to grow rapidly, contact the vet.

[garner]

what a worry comostella, if its any concelation one of my old dogs had only one eye and it made no difference to her doggy world she could do anything her two eyed pals could.good luck to her and you hope things turn out well.

[ProperBoPeep]

Brown pigmented masses affecting the eye can certainly be a type of cancer called a melanoma. Often these will start on the sclera (white of the eye) and almost bulge into the iris (coloured part of the eye).

Currently treatment of choice is a combination of surgical excision and cryotherapy (freezing the stump!) to try and prevent recurrence.

Due to the technical difficulty of this type of surgery, it has to be performed by an ophthalmic specialist, with a special operating microscope. This is highly skilled surgery and can be expensive.

In some cases, if surgical treatment is not possible, then it may be necessary to remove the whole eye. This is usually more drastic for the owner than the pet! Once over the surgery, all pets recover and can lead a perfectly normal life.

My advice - take up the refferal option, get it checked by the specialist, and then you will know exactly where you stand.

Good luck