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My senior dog has a bleeding, leaking eye growth. Is it cancer?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

my dog has a growth on her eye that has been spreading bleeding and is now leaking fluid my concern is that it may be cancerous how do I know if it is without taking her in she is 15 years old and cannot stand undergoing surgery

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 29th, 2019

Oh poor pup! In a senior dog, there is always a chance any growth could be malignant. The only way to tell is have her seen by a vet, as that growth looks nasty. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Take her into the vet first thing in the morning. Best of luck.

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on August 14th, 2018

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. Based on your description, I would be more suspicious of a malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

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