syts on dogs eyelids

Question
we have a 4 yr old great dane who has developed stys on both upper and lower eyelides within a 5 day period and they are continually getting bigger, with a discharge.  the vet put him on eyedrops and antibiotics but he appears to be getting worse.  our second visit to the vet today, we suggested we see an opthalmologist.  Is this a rare disease, curable and what should our next step be.  Please help us

Answer
Hello Charlotte: yes, your are correct that it may be cancer but NOT all cancers are killers!  It can be benign and not spread..... Let's hope that is the case.

I was also thinking it could be virus of some type.  Dogs tend to get warts but mostly on the chin and nasal areas...

Here is some info on eye lid tumors: again, he doesn't have to die over this... see the specialist ASAP


http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/canine.htm

  EYELID TUMORS. Older dogs commonly develop eyelid tumors (cancer). As in humans, cancer can be either benign or malignant. Fortunately, eyelid tumors in dogs are usually benign and do not spread to distant tissues. However, eyelid tumors do slowly or quickly grow, and can destroy the structure of the eyelid, in addition to rubbing on the eye. It is usually best to remove them when they are still small.

Eyelid tumors are treated by surgical removal. While there are many different surgical procedures possible, most eyelid tumors in old dogs can be removed at Animal Eye Care without requiring general anesthesia. The patient is given a sedative, and then a local eyelid anesthetic is given to numb the eyelid. The tumor is removed and the site frozen with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery) to kill any remaining tumor cells. Tumor cells are usually very sensitive to freezing, and normal eyelid tissue is more resistant. After surgery, the eyelid margin turns pink (depigments), but usually repigments within 4 months.



Let me know what the 2nd opinion says???

Marie Peppers
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html
It is rare for the eyelid tumor to recur following surgery. 85-90% of tumors do not recur following surgery.