Melanoma Cancer in Dogs

ole on The Skin Skins Surface Can Be A Sign Of Melanoma

in Dogs

Cancer is actually an uncontrolled growth of cells resulting from an accumulation of

changes in the structure of the genes that control cell division and multiplication.

Melanoma is one of the several malignant neoplasms, usually of the skin. The affected

cell is mostly melanocytes, a cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces

melanin

under the control of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Benign and

malignant skin

tumors are a common form of canine and feline cancer.

Melanoma cancer in dogs occurs commonly in dark skinned animals, usually in areas

under haired skin, as small, dark brown to black lumps. In certain cases they may appear

as large flat wrinkled masses. Other areas where melanomas can also appear include

mouth, digits and behind the eye. A swelling or increase in size of lymph nodes is the

first clinical sign of a malignant melanoma. Although the pigment called melanin is the

distinctive characteristic of such tumors, some melanomas may not display a darkly

colored pigment.

Malignancy is established with the aid of a microscopic examination. For this purpose

a small piece of the tumor is cut off and evaluated. The pathologist then grades the

melanoma according to how rapidly the cells are proliferating. This gives an estimate

of the likelihood of metastasis.

The best treatment of melanoma is a total excision through surgery. To be on the safer

side, the surgeon may remove some of the neighboring tissue as well. If the tumor is

confined to a particular area this amounts to a full cure. The excised sample is again

sent for histological examination to ascertain whether the entire tumor has been removed

or not.

Melanomas can also spread to distant organs in the body. Complete remission in such

cases is rare and it affects the long term survival of the dog to a great extent. Once the

tumor has metastasized, cancer can start presenting itself as varied symptoms like the

symptoms of liver cancer in dogs.

To the relief of dog owners, all moles in the skin are not malignant. It is normal for a dog

or a cat to have dark pigmented areas of skin, particularly in the tongue, gum and eyelid

tissue. As a general rule small skin tumors tend to be benign and the ones in the mouth

toes, fingers or eyes are mostly malignant. Benign melanomas are seen as dark masses

up to two inches in diameter. Unless the mole or a lump starts increasing in size, or

elevates above the surface of the skin or bleeds, there is no need to worry. Such a

condition necessitates an examination of the lump that you may see on the surface

of your dog’s skin.

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