Cancerous Moles on Dogs

All organisms' body are made up of cells that grow, divide and die in a more or less predictable manner. An animal's body is made up of billions of such cells. Their growth, function, division and multiplication is controlled by the genes present in their nucleus. Certain structural changes may occur in these genes controlling cell division and multiplication, and can eventually result in an uncontrolled division of cells called cancer. All multicellular organisms, including dogs, are at a risk of developing cancer. Skin cancer in dogs are generally indicated by the presence of hard lumps or cancerous moles. Let's learn about the cancerous moles on dogs in brief.

Dogs generally have dark pigmented areas called moles, on their skin. You may find moles on dogs in their tongue, gum and eyelid tissues. Other areas on the dog's skin where moles can be found are mouth, eyes, toes and fingers. Presence of moles is natural but appearance of new ones are definitely a matter of concern as they may be cancerous moles on dogs. In order to differentiate cancerous moles from normal ones, you may refer to the following features of the former.

Characteristic Features of Cancerous Moles on Dogs

• Cancerous moles are mostly present under haired skin as small, dark brown to black lumps.
• The width of cancerous moles is up to two inches.
• Cancerous moles on dogs gradually increase in size.
• They swell and elevate above the surface of the skin.
• Such moles may bleed at times due to the abundance of blood vessels.

A microscopic examination is required to determine the presence of cancerous moles on dogs. The pathologist takes out a small portion of the tumor for evaluation. There are different types of skin cancer and each type is determined by the rate of proliferation showed by the cancerous moles. The common types of canine cancer are benign and malignant. The former type remains localized to a part of the body while the latter spreads to other body parts.

Types of Cancerous Moles on Dogs

• Melanomas: Melanomas are malignant new mass of tissues that develop in a pre-existing mole. They are dark in color and are malignant. The dog breeds commonly affected by melanomas are Cocker Spaniels, Scottish Terrier and Boston Terriers.
• Sebaceous Adenomas: Sebaceous adenomas are the cancerous lumps occurring in the sebaceous or oil-producing glands. Such tumors are generally less than an inch in length and are light-colored. Almost all dog breeds are at a risk of developing these particular types of cancerous moles but Cocker Spaniels are the most common victims.
• Epidermoid Carcinomas: The cancerous moles on dogs that are commonly found in their feet and legs, resemble a cauliflower in shape and are hard to touch are known as Epidermoid carcinomas. They are grayish ulcers that do not heal. They are commonly found in dog breeds of Boston and Scottish Terriers.
• Mast Cell Tumors: Older dogs of Boxers and Boston Terrier breeds are the most common victims of mast cell tumors. Such types of cancerous moles occur on the hind legs, foreskin of the penis and lower abdomen. They are malignant in nature.

Read on

• Dog Cancer Symptoms
• Cancer Symptoms in Dogs

Treatments for Cancerous Moles on Dogs

The methods of treatment for cancerous moles on dogs are surgical excision of the cancerous moles, destruction of tumor by radiation and tumor-killing medicines. The selection of treatment method is done on the basis of the type of cancerous mole in question, presence or absence of metastasis, age, and the general health of the dog. The best treatment of cancerous moles on dogs is the surgical removal of the entire mole. As a precautionary measure, surgeons prefer to remove out the tissues surrounding the cancerous moles as well. Excision provides complete cure to the benign type of cancerous moles on dogs. The cut out tissues are again histologically tested to confirm the complete removal of the cancerous moles. In case the cancerous moles are found to show metastasis, the doctor takes help of radiation and tumor-destroying drugs to provide complete treatment.

More on:

• Dog Care
• Dog Illnesses

In case you identify the moles on your pet dogs skin similar to the 'cancerous moles on dogs' described in this article, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible for timely detection and treatment of cancer in your furry friend.