Dog Tumors of the Eye - Understanding Your Pet's Melanoma
If your veterinarian has told you that your dog has cancer of the eye, you're probably feeling scared, overwhelmed, worried and confused. What are dog tumors of the eye, what causes them and what sort of treatment can help? This information will help you understand this condition and what your veterinarian can do. What are Melanocytic Eye Tumors? Melanocytes are simply cells that make melanin, a pigment, and melanocytic tumors are formed by abnormal melanocytes. Melanoma (also called malignant melanoma or melanosarcoma) is a tumor that spreads, while melanocytoma refers to benign, non-spreading tumors. The most common types of dog tumors of the eye are those that start in the iris, and they usually start out as benign. Eyelid, limbal, choroid and conjunctival tumors are rare, and only conjunctival tumors are malignant. What Causes Dog Cancer? The causes for dog cancer of any kind are not very straightforward, just as with people. While humans often develop melanoma through environ...