Skin Cancer In Dogs

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in dogs. Skin cancer can grow in hair follicles, the fat just below the skin, in the cells that produce pigment, or in the skin itself. Skin cancer can appear as a sore that doesn’t heal, a discolored spot on the skin, or a lump. If you have been to your veterinarian and your dog has skin cancer, there are treatments.

Surgery is the most commonly used method of treatment for skin cancers. If your dog has a malignant tumor, surgery may be the cure. Unfortunately the surgery can’t guarantee that it won’t return in that spot nor can it guarantee that it hasn’t spread. When removing a tumor, about an extra inch or two of normal tissue will also be removed. So, expect to have a much larger incision site than the size of the tumor itself.

Radiation therapy is used in the treatment of mast cell tumors, malignant mesenchymal tumors, and squamos cell carcinoma. Radiation therapy is most effective after surgery has reduced the amount of tumors to where they can only be seen by a microscope. Radiation therapy involves multiple treatments given over several weeks. Animals cannot move during radiation therapy, therefore they will be under anesthesia. The most common side effects for radiation therapy are redness of the skin, hair loss, and oozing of the skin. These side effects will stop when radiation therapy is done. Radiation therapy will not be done by your veterinarian; you will be referred to a place that does radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy is often used if the tumor has already spread. The types of drug used and the duration of treatment will depend on the type of tumor and how much it has already spread. The most common side effects are vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

Cryosurgery involves liquid nitrogen that is used to freeze the tumor. Once the tumor is frozen it dies. Cryosurgery is not used that often because recurrence is very common due to the fact that if it kills the cells at the edge of the tumor it will have serious effects on healthy tissues.

Photodynamic therapy is another option. This new therapy involves giving the dog an intravenous drug and exposing the tumor to laser light. The drug sensitizes the tumor to the laser light and kills the tumor. This can be very effective, but may leave dogs sensitive to light for a little while after the treatment. Once your dog has been diagnosed with skin cancer you have a few options. Your veterinarian will tell you which is the best option for your dog depending on the type of tumor and if it has spread.