Eye Cancer

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ELFSBELLS

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Sorry if i ramble, still in shock,
Vet today has diagnosed eye cancer in one of my horses, he has suggested having the 3rd eyelid removed, has anybody any experience of this, it is all new to me, what is the prognosis etc, and if anybody has any idea of the cost to have it done under sedation would be helpful.
Many Thanks
 
Yes, broodmare with the same problem, squamous cell carcinoma of the third eyelid.

She had a tiny growth, around the size of a large grain of rice. She was sedated standing and it was removed. Very delicate procedure and most of third eyelid removed to ensure good margins.

She has bred two foals and is now nannying a third. I was advised to buy her a UV mask, which I did at great cost and it was imported from America. I put it on daily, she removed it daily, usually before I had got back to the yard from her paddock. I secured it firmly, she removed and threw it over the hedge. I gave up and she stands outside in the sun all day.
 
I knew a horse had this. The growth was removed in a standing operation in the field. The horse went on for 4 or 5 years as a PC eventer and hunter, and then was put in foal. She had the foal at the stud and came back from the stud in foal, and with a lump in her jaw. Unfortunately this was a tumour, and it grew into her airways so she had to be PTS before the foal was born.

So the eye operation was a success, but the canter came back after a few years.
 
yes, had the third eyelid removed. needed to do it quickly as there were feeders, the vet showed it to me afterwards and he managed to take the whole tumour and the feeders had not reached the outer edge of the lid, however, he developed hypertrophy and was put down 6 years later. This is a secondary of a squamious cell carcoma ( not spelt that right), there is treatment for that now but would not be covered by insurance as it is the result of the initial tumour. However, he would not have survived had he not had the operation quickly ( two days after it was found) as it would have spread to his brain which did not happen. Hypertrophy is arthritis symptoms in joints, cartilage turned to bone so presented as navicular/ringbone intially. Difficult one .
 
A friend of mine has a gelding that was diagnosed with Cushing's at 6. Last year, he had the same sort of eye tumour that you describe. He had several operations and several chemo sessions, which were a worry because of his metabolic issues. However, he came through it well, and is doing fine a year later (wears a UV mask when out in the sun). Don't give up hope yet! :)
 
Hi, my old mare had a squamous cell carcinoma on the lower lid. It was successfully removed by GA, and they took a fair chunk of tear duct as well as the margin of safety.

She made a grand recovery, went on to Intermediate event. She did always have a slightly runny eye as the operation had slightly mis-shapen lower lid, but I just Vaselined it and kept it clean.

There was no recurrence, and they got it all. She was even good to have the tube in her eye for 2 weeks, and to have it removed, and staples removed too.
 
ELFSBELLS said:
Sorry if i ramble, still in shock,
Vet today has diagnosed eye cancer in one of my horses, he has suggested having the 3rd eyelid removed, has anybody any experience of this, it is all new to me, what is the prognosis etc, and if anybody has any idea of the cost to have it done under sedation would be helpful.
Many Thanks
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I know the feeling - my cob was diagnosed with exactly the same problem in 2014. Sounded horrendous and I went into meltdown but I need not have as he was only in 'Hospital' for a day and had the 3rd eyelid removed with no problems. I recently had his eye checked again and there is absolutely no sign of any further problems in that eye.

Your horse has probably had the Op by now as I've only just come across your Post so I hope all went well.
 
My cob was diagnosed in 2006 with a squamous cell carcinoma on his actual eyeball. he was very prone to this sort of cancer being very light coloured with very pink skin and 2 blue eyes.

he was treated in Newmarket with radiotherapy and had the tumour removed. I was told at the time that there was a very high chance of recurrence.

Sadly last year (2014) it recurred. he had the eye removed and was initially doing well. 2 weeks later he developed uveitis in the remaining eye. It improved but then he started showing neurological signs and falling over all the time and 5 days later he was put to sleep.

I don't want to scare you of course, and my situation was very different to yours, with the placement of the tumour etc. he was 8 years old when I lost him.
 
ELFSBELLS said:
I am sorry about your cob [deleted user] xx
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Thank you so much. He was my horse of a lifetime and I think about him every day. All the best with the op. I hope I haven't worried you too much or anything, and like I said, he had a different type of cancer to yours. There is no reason why your horse shouldn't come through this fine. let us know how you get on. x
 
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