Canine Melanoma
Canine melanoma is a very serious cancer. It can affect your dog’s toes, mouth, skin, or behind the eye. In most cases, the cancer is benign if it only affects the skin. However, if it occurs in the toes, mouth, or behind the eye, it is usually malignant. So, what are some of the symptoms of this disease?
Symptoms
Dogs with melanoma develop tumors in the affected area. Skin lesions will have an odd color and shape. Most dogs also experience coughing, drooling, bad breath, and difficulty swallowing. It is also common for the dog to lose his appetite, which will in turn lead to weight loss.
Diagnosis
If you suspect your dog has melanoma, you will need to consult a veterinarian. The vet will perform a complete physical exam. A blood sample will also be drawn to get a complete blood count. The next step in diagnosing canine melanoma is to take a chest x-ray. Since the tumors will be visible, a biopsy will also be done.
Treatment
If your dog has been definitively diagnosed with melanoma, he will have three treatment options. They include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Radiation treatment is aimed at reducing the size of the tumor. Surgery involves trying to remove all of the tumor. If this isn’t possible, at least part of the tumor will be removed.
Prognosis
As mentioned earlier, canine melanoma is a very serious cancer. If the skin is affected, the prognosis of a meaningful recovery is very poor. If the eyes, mouth, or toes are affected, the situation is even more bleak. Even with treatment, the tumors may spread. Even if your dog receives successful treatment, the cancer may recur sometime in the future.
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