My pink skinned mare, sarcoid on 3rd eyelid

I took in this mare from a family about 2 weeks ago, they told me that she had a tumor on her eye and would need it removed. I decided to take her knowing about the tumor because I really adore her (even more so today) and want to get her the help she needs.

Before THEY got her, she was owned by a family and they didnt have it treated either so Im not even sure how long this has been an issue. Anyways, their vet gave them dexamethasone ointment for me to put in her eye every day. So every day, I clean her eye and put this ointment in it to the best of my ability.

I had my vet out to look at it and she said it is benign, but is a sarcoid tumor on her 3rd eyelid. I can tell it causes her pain as its pushing on her eye. I've been keeping a fly mask on her and also putting some baby sunscreen on her nose and around her eye, not on her eye. My vet was going to come out this week to remove it but decided they would prefer we have 2wks of consecutive 70 degree weather with no rain before they will do it but they need to do it before the flies get bad. Well....its spring time, and I live in Texas so weather here is VERY unpredictable. Yesterday I noticed it is getting worse and draining very bad. She is hardly keeping her eye open at this point. I've included some pictures of how it has progressed, the first picture was taken about a month ago from the previous owners. The 2nd I took yesterday.

Could the fly mask be making it worse? I took it off to see if it changes at all. Any advice on what to do to help her until my vet will remove the tumor would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

That is terrible... my horse has a sarcoid but on his chest and my vet told me to use a toxic cream probly not good for eyes..... I would talk to your vet about that

I would defanitly have the vet come and look at that again, and request removal ASAP!

Is it the cream used to kill the cancer? Before they looked at it they were going to give me some sort of cream/ointment that would kill the cancer cells and said it would go away. But when they saw the stage it was in they recommended surgery. They did say it looks like she has another one forming on her lower part of the eye lid as well and the cream might keep that from progressing any farther. Im going to call again tomorrow and see if I can urge them they come out asap. Its only getting worse...I would feel just awful if she lost her eye due to them waiting on the weather.

Wow, poor girl. Good for you taking her in and trying to help her. I can't offer any advice on what to do other than maybe urge the vet to make an exception and come out soon because it's getting worse very quickly. I hope they can get it removed and that there are no complications. XX Fingers crossed for her.

I just had this procedure done on my broodmare. It was really simple and easy. The sooner you get it done the better, because they can seed and spread.....

I'm sure if you tell the vet it is causing pain, she will go ahead and remove it. I've never seen a sarcoid IN the eye, but one of mine had them on the opening of his ear. The problem is they are prone to recurring. I had his removed three times before I found Ditton (I think) cream, which stopped it in it's tracks, but you wouldn't be able to use it in the eye, I wouldn't think.

Thanks for all your posts! I called the vet again today as I've been noticing a smell which is concerning me its turned into an infection as well...they are going to come on Tuesday and remove it as long as we don't get any rain between now and then. Very happy, I can tell its causing her a great deal of pain. Thanks again!!

Let us know how she comes through the surgery. XX Keeping fingers crossed that it's easy and uneventful.

Just wanted to update everyone, had the vet out yesterday. Luckily the squam was only on the very outter edge of her 3rd eyelid so they only had to remove a part of it. There is a 2nd one forming on her lower lid which has tripled in size in 3wks so we are going to try injections to kill it. They said if it comes back on her 3rd eyelid they'd remove the lid..if it comes back again she's going to suggest taking her eye. I know its a very strong possiblity it will come back, but we're going to try all we can to save her eye.

After surgery: