What’s That Mole on My Dog’s Eyelid?

Adrienne is a certified dog trainer and former veterinarian assistant who
partners with some of the best veterinarians worldwide.

Masses on eyelids on dogs are not uncommon.

If your dog has grown a lump, stye-looking bump, or mole on its eyelid, you
may be wondering what it is. The growth may have appeared suddenly, or it
might have been there for some time and you didn’t really notice it much until
it got bigger. Some people compare some of these eyelid growths in dogs to
styes. Not only are these growths unsightly, but some can obviously also
interfere with a dog’s vision, making blinking difficult and causing
irritation to the eye if they grow quite big and start rubbing against the
cornea.

A dog’s eyelids play an important role in protecting the dog’s eyes. Any
lumps, bumps, and growths on the eyelids should be investigated. Masses on
eyelids on dogs are not uncommon. While only your vet can diagnose what these
growths on the eyelids are, these are just a few possible causes of unsightly
moles, lumps, and bumps on a dog’s eyelids.

Dog eyelid growths have a number of causes, some of which are not serious, and
others which may need attention.

Causes of Bumps on Dog Eyelids

Your dog’s eyelids are populated by several meibomian glands. What are
meibomian glands? These are sebaceous glands that are found on the rim of the
dog’s eyelids and that are responsible for secreting an oily substance that
keeps the eye well lubricated and moist.

These glands are prone to inflammation and sometimes they are prone to
developing cysts and tumors which cause the eruption of unsightly growths on
the dog’s eyelids. Eyelid tumors are more commonly found in middle-aged to
older dogs. The good news is that the majority are benign growths. According
to veterinarian Dr. Fiona, approximately 80 percent of eyelid tumours in dogs
are benign.

Meibomian Gland Adenomas

What’s that mole on your dog’s eyelid? It may be a meibomian gland adenoma
. When flesh-colored or pigmented tumors form on these glands, vets tend
to remove them only when they get very large, interfere with vision, or rub
against the cornea of the eye and ulcerate. Sometimes they can also cause
inflammation of the dog’s cornea and conjunctiva.

Also known as meibomian gland cysts, eyelid warts, or simply benign eyelid
tumors, meibomian tumors tend to form in older dogs and they are commonly
benign, but it’s always good to get them checked out as a small percentage of
them could be malignant and spread to the dog’s lymph nodes, suggests
veterinarian Becky Lundgren. If the growth warrants removal, it can be removed
surgically, sometimes using only local anesthesia with a mild sedative. In
some cases, veterinarians may refer to a veterinary ophthalmologist specialist
for removal.

Chalazion

Another possible explanation for a bump on a dog’s eyelid is the presence of a
chalazion, which is similar to a stye as seen in humans. Sometimes the
meibomian glands get impacted and blocked, which causes local swelling and
rupturing along with the release of oily secretions. Something that dog owners
can do for these types of growths is to apply a soft facecloth soaked in warm
water to the dog’s eyelid for five minutes about three times a day. This
should reduce the impaction and stimulate the gland to drain, explains
veterinarian Dr. Fiona.

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See your vet if the growth seems to not get better, appears larger and
bothersome to the dog, or the dog keeps the eyelids partially closed. In some
cases, the chalazion needs to be lanced or removed surgically. While
chalazions may resemble styes, true styes are called hordeolums and are simply
pin-point abscesses caused by bacteria affecting the meibomian glands. Styes
are typically located on the external edge of the dog’s eyelid whereas
chalazions are found on the inner surface of an eyelid margin, according to
Veterinary Vision of Rochester.

Other Benign Growths

While meibomian adenomas and chalazions are two common causes of bumps on a
dog’s eyelids, there are several other possible benign growths such as
squamous papillomas and benign melanocytomas. Fibroma and histiocytomas are
also possible, but they are not that common. The latter are sometimes seen in
young dogs and appear as smooth, pink growths, explains veterinary
dermatologist Mark Bobofchak.

Malignant Eyelid Growths

The malignant version of meibomian adenomas are meibomian (sebaceous)
adenocarcinomas. While the term malignant may sound scary, meibomian
adenocarcinomas are locally invasive. The good news is that they are not known
to metastasize, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Small mast cell tumors, which are referred to as mastocytomas, are another
potentially troublesome growth. They may shrink when dogs are given
corticosteroids orally or locally injected. Mast cell tumors among vets have a
reputation for being “the great impersonator” because they can appear as
benign skin tags or harmless lipomas, explains Susan Ettinger, a veterinarian
specializing in oncology. This is why any mole, lump, or bump, even though
innocent looking and on the dog’s eyelids should be checked out.

Other malignant tumors that can appear on the eyelids of dogs include
malignant melanomas, basal cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinomas, and
lymphosarcomas. This latter when it affects the eyelid is usually a sign that
cancer deriving from somewhere else in the body has metastasized to the
eyelid, explains veterinarian Dr. Noelle McNabb. Sebaceous adenocarcinoma and
fibrosarcoma are also possible, but they are considered rare.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.

Comments

Pat on September 07, 2018:

My Labs have grown these bumps. What the heck? Help

stella vadakin from 3460NW 50 St Bell, Fl32619 on February 24, 2016:

Thank you for some great information. My old dalmatian had to have his eyes
cleaned just about every day. Great hub.