Third-Eyelid Tumors in Horses: Schedule a Yearly Eye Exam with Your Veterinarian

by Fran Jurga | 2 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Early intervention is the best way to beat cancerous conditions of the third eyelid in horses. Look periodically for any lumps or broken skin in or around your horse's eyes, and call a veterinarian if you find anything. If treated early, they may be fully removed; if left too long, recurrence is common. The condition is especially common in horses with light coat colors.

Squamous cell carcinoma, also abbreviated as SCC, is one of the most common cancers in horses. Appearing as small, wart-like bumps commonly found on the eyelid or surface of the eye, they require early treatment. While a conscientious owner may quickly notice a new lump on the shoulder of his or her equine friend, even the most watchful horseperson will miss a concealed third eyelid tumor.

The nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, is a very interesting anatomical component of most mammals' and birds' eyes. It is a white to pinkish membrane that usually remains in hiding in the corner of the eye until debris or trauma is detected, in which case it swiftly slides across the eyeball in a horizontal motion. Interestingly, humans do not have a third eyelid, but we do have a remnant called the plica semilunaris. It is visible in the corner of your eye as a small white membrane where "sleep" or eye discharge can accumulate.

But in contrast to humans, horses have a substantial nictitating membrane. The trouble is most horse owners don't know to look at it because they never see it. "Squamous cell carcinoma of the third eyelid can be a very easy lesion to miss," says Dr. Amber Labelle, an ophthalmology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. It's one of the many reasons why horses should have a thorough eye exam once a year, often when they receive their annual vaccines.

Just like certain skin tumors in humans, SCC is linked to UV radiation from the sun. Dr. Labelle mentions that, "It is especially common in horses with less pigment in their eyes, like Paints, Appaloosas, and some draft breeds." SCC is also commonly found in the genital region of older male horses with light skin. In short, the less pigment a horse has in a certain area, the more cancer-causing UV radiation it can absorb.

Although there are some tumors that spread quickly, SCC is a more slow-growing kind that doesn't seem to metastasize until a much later stage. Nevertheless, "early detection is the key to early cure," notes Dr. Labelle. The sooner veterinarians can surgically remove the tumor with wide margins, and potentially use local radiation treatments, the better the prognosis.

The problem that is unfortunately much too common is that horse owners either miss or put off having a vet check out that lump on their horse's eye. And by the time the tumor is diagnosed, it has grown so large that adequate margins cannot be taken. In short, an enucleation (total removal of the eye) may need to be performed to stop the tumor from spreading.

What's even more of a heartbreaking situation is that horses that have had a SCC removed need to have a recheck appointment every 6 months. It is common that these tumors grow back. Just because it's been removed once, doesn't mean it can't come back with a vengeance and potentially spread to other parts of the body, which can be fatal.

If you are concerned about any new growth on your horse, Dr. Labelle advises owners that, "any pink lump or bump or ulcerated lesion in or around the eye needs a veterinarian's attention."

Thanks to UMass Extension for bringing this article to our attention through the xtension.org web site and to Dr Labelle and writer Ashley Mitek of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine for providing this information.

Churchill Downs Turns Pink, from the Spires to the Backside

posted by Fran Jurga | 17 November 2008 | The Jurga Report on Equisearch.com

If they had run the Derby yesterday, the blanket of roses draped over the winner's withers would have been pink instead of the traditional red ones.

Yesterday was not "business as usual" at the iconic Louisville racetrack, as 900 breast cancer survivors joined the state's First Lady, Jane Beshear, in raising awareness and funds for the prevention of breast cancer among the racetrack's employees.

Beshear's "Horses and Hope" program has been hosting awareness events at Kentucky's racetracks through October. Beshear has built on her relationships in the equine industry to deliver breast cancer education and services to racetrack workers and their families by hosting fundraising events at the state's tracks. So many supporters showed up at Churchill Downs that a second dining room had to be turned over to the group!

"There are over 80,000 equine related employees across the Bluegrass, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured," Beshear points out. "These individuals are the backbone of our signature industry and I am committed to giving back to the people that help to make Kentucky the horse capital of the world."

A committee of women who work in the equine industry is the engine that drives the program. It's called "The Pink Stable" and yesterday they turned the racetrack pink! Pink is the symbolic color of breast cancer awareness and fund-raising and not a color normally seen at the racetrack. All that changed yesterday!

Jockeys, outriders and grooms wore pink clothing or accents, and a pink cosmopolitan was the drink of the day. Winston, the mascot horse of the Kentucky Derby Museum, wore panniers as he circulated through the crowd so that donations to cancer research could be deposited in his saddle bags. A feature race was the "Horses and Hope" Stakes, and cancer survivors were invited to pose for the win photo in the winners circle.

While the fundraising group partied in the clubhouse, a mobile medical unit was set up in the stable area, offering breast cancer awareness information and free mammograms to women working in the barns and at the track.

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the twin spires of Churchill Downs have been swathed in pink spotlights.

It's wonderful to see an initiative like this to help racetrack workers. The event also brought 900 racegoers, mostly women, to the racetrack to meet Jane Beshear and be part of the fundraiser. Many of those women are probably not regular visitors to Churchill Down, so horse racing won, too!

Australia's Top Dressage Horse Loses Cancer Battle

The aptly named dressage horse "Cinderella" has danced her last waltz.

With a heavy sense of the inevitable, I have been following the news from Germany and Australia regarding the dressage mare Cinderella. She was the first horse to qualify in dressage for Australia and was ridden by Matthew Dowsley at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen last year in spite of a recurring tumor over one eye.

Franz Venhaus, of the Equestrian Federation of Australia, has kindly shared his reports, but I read on his web site today that Cinderella has been euthanized.

On April 4, the 11-year-old Hanoverian mare had surgery while training in Europe to remove a second malignant growth from under her right eye. The tumur had grown to a length of 8.5 cm. As a result, Cinderella did not make the trip to Las Vegas to compete for Australia's honor at the 2007 FEI World Cup there in April.

According to Franz's reports, Cinderella was given special medication that is also used in human cases of this nature.

Subsequently,a new cancerous growth was discovered on her larynx and Franz warned that there was a chance of it spreading to other organs.

Before 2006, Australia had never had a rider qualify for the Grand Prix Special at a WEG. But both Matthew and teammate Kristy Oatley were among the top 30 riders from the Grand Prix test to make it through to the Special.

Matthew said he greatly appreciated the opportunity he’d been given by Cinderella’s owner, Claudia Harper from Sydney, to base himself (and Cinderella) in Germany with Australian Dressage Training Adviser Ulla Salzgeber.

The EFA has a nice slide show of photos of the late, great Cinderella.

At the 2007 World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany last week, teammate Oatley placed fourth with Quando-Quando in the Grand Prix CDI and 7th in the Freestyle. Australia has come a long way in a short time in international dressage, but will surely miss Cinderella's magic.