Tumors of the Anterior Uvea (Iris and Ciliary Body) in Dogs

Tumors of the Anterior Uvea (Iris and Ciliary Body) in Dogs

By: Dr. Noelle McNabb

Section: Follow-up

Optimal treatment for your pet requires a combination of home and professional care. Follow-up can be critical, especially if your pet does not improve rapidly.

  • Administer all prescribed medication as directed. Alert your veterinarian if you are experiencing problems treating your pet.

  • Intraocular surgery or laser treatment of uveal tumors always results in significant inflammation within the eye. This inflammation requires intensive medical treatment, and frequent follow-up examinations are necessary for several weeks after surgery.

  • Periodic ocular ultrasound examinations may be necessary to monitor for any evidence of tumor regrowth.

  • The risk of recurrence or regrowth of primary uveal tumors after surgical removal is possible for all malignant tumors and for all benign tumors that are incompletely removed.
    The prognosis for vision and survival of the eye depends upon the type of tumor, whether chemotherapy is effective for the specific tumor type, whether the entire tumor was excised during surgery, and whether the tumor is present anywhere else in the body.

  • It is best to remove eyes with primary uveal tumors that are extensive or that result in secondary glaucoma in order to extend the lifespan of the pet and reduce the risk of metastasis. Follow-up examinations after removal are minimal for the surgery site and focus mainly on monitoring for any evidence of metastasis.

    •  
    Printable Version
     
    Have a Pet Question?
    Review the Most Frequent Questions
    Answered by Dr. Jon and His Staff of Veterinarians
    Ask Dr. Jon
    Dr. Jon's Newsletter
    Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
     
     

    Related Articles

    • 1 Ocular (Eye) Pain and Squinting in Dogs

      Eye pain can be difficult to determine. Most dogs will squint if their eyes are painful but many dogs may show vague signs such as sleeping more, hiding, decreased appetite, reduced playfulness or even...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2 Blindness in Dogs

      Blindness is the loss of vision in both eyes and may be caused by disorders of the structures that receive and process the image or specific visual pathways of the brain that transmit and further process...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3 Anterior Uveitis in Dogs

      Anterior uveitis is inflammation that affects the front part of the eye. The iris, which is the colored portion of the eye, is typically involved, and common causes include immmune diseases, infections...

      Read MoreRead More
    Related Articles
    • 1Anterior Uveitis in Dogs

      Anterior uveitis is inflammation that affects the front part of the eye. The iris, which is the colored portion of the eye, is typically involved, and common causes include immmune diseases, infections...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Blindness in Dogs

      Blindness is the loss of vision in both eyes and may be caused by disorders of the structures that receive and process the image or specific visual pathways of the brain that transmit and further process...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Ocular (Eye) Pain and Squinting in Dogs

      Eye pain can be difficult to determine. Most dogs will squint if their eyes are painful but many dogs may show vague signs such as sleeping more, hiding, decreased appetite, reduced playfulness or even...

      Read MoreRead More
     

    Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

    Dogs & Puppies
    Cats
    Related Articles
    • 1Anterior Uveitis in Dogs

      Anterior uveitis is inflammation that affects the front part of the eye. The iris, which is the colored portion of the eye, is typically involved, and common causes include immmune diseases, infections...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Blindness in Dogs

      Blindness is the loss of vision in both eyes and may be caused by disorders of the structures that receive and process the image or specific visual pathways of the brain that transmit and further process...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Ocular (Eye) Pain and Squinting in Dogs

      Eye pain can be difficult to determine. Most dogs will squint if their eyes are painful but many dogs may show vague signs such as sleeping more, hiding, decreased appetite, reduced playfulness or even...

      Read MoreRead More