TELL TAIL SIGNS PET COLUMN
Nevena Stefanovic studied
at the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine in Belgrade, Serbia
and Wroclaw, Poland. Her
primary interest are companion
animals internal medicine and
surgery. Nevena is now working
as a veterinary surgeon at
Animal Doctors International
Clinic, HCMC.16 08/
very small) the vet
will discuss whether
a surgical biopsy is
appropriate for your
pet.
Some of the more
common types of skin cancer
in dogs are:- Malignant melanoma
- Mast cell tumors
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Histiocytic cell tumors
How Skin Cancer is Treated?
Thankfully, most skin cancers can
be treated and cured successfully,
often with an operation to remove
the lump if caught at an early
stage. Sometimes chemotherapy
may also be offered. In many
cases, the prognosis is very
positive for dogs; most go on to
make a full recovery and lead
a normal lifespan without any
further problems. Recovery
will depend on the type of
cancer and how advanced or
aggressive it is. THE SKIN IS THE LARGEST
organ of a dog, and tumors affecting
this structure are common. Despite the
fact that dogs are typically covered in
fur it doesn’t mean that they are more
protected than people. Skin cancer can
have a variety of causes. Just like with
people, genetics (breed predisposition
for dogs) play a large role in which
dogs are more likely to get skin cancer.
Skin cancer in dogs is often caused by
exposure to the sun, but not all cases are
linked to this. Dogs with light skin, a
thin coat or a lack of fur are most at risk,
especially if they have suffered sunburn
at any point. Some studies show that
compulsive licking of certain areas can
also damage the skin and increase the
chance of skin cancer.
A few different forms of skin cancer
can, unfortunately, affect dogs and it's
important for dog-owners to recognize
the potential signs of the disease in order
to treat it as quickly as possible.
Top Signs of Skin Cancer:
- Lumps and bumps on the skin: Not
all lumps are cancerous on dogs.
Some lumps are simply pimples,
skin tags, nipples, warts, or consist
of fat and do not necessarily pose
a health concern to a dog, but it’s
always better to play safe and take
your dog to the vet for testing. - A bleeding or oozing area on the
skin: Smaller or larger “wounds”
on your dog that are not healing
properly. The reason for this is
presence of cancerous cells. - Dog excessively itches or licks at one
area on the skin: Usually bleeding
and oozing wounds are irritating
your pet to additionally scratch the
affected area, causing more trauma
and subsequent bleeding.
How is Skin Cancer in Dogs Diagnosed?
If your vet suspects skin cancer, they will
often carry out a fine needle aspiration or
biopsy so that the cells can be examined
under a microscope and determine
whether or not the lump is cancerous. If
the sample cannot establish a diagnosis
(and they sometimes can’t as they are
Despite being covered in fur,
dogs can get skin cancer too