Can A Dog Suffer From Skin Cancer? Why?
Many think that dogs are adequately protected from harmful solar radiation by their fur, but unfortunately our loyal companions can also develop skin cancer. This disease can develop regardless of the age or breed of the dog, so it is good to know more about it.
What is skin cancer?
Normally, damaged cells are regenerated, but the cells can also multiply in an uncontrolled manner , which is called a tumor. This can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors are easy to distinguish from the surrounding tissue and grow slowly. However, malignant tumor cells spread quickly and can lead to metastasis. Repeated UV exposure causes cancer to develop from the pigment-forming cells of the skin; this process is the same in humans and animals.
Canine Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is relatively common in dogs, and malignant mastocytomas are particularly widespread. However, not all tumors are malignant and have serious consequences. As a rule, skin cancer in dogs occurs particularly in those areas of the body that have more fat stored in them.
Not only older dogs suffer from this type of cancer, it can also occur in puppies. As mentioned earlier, the problem is mostly because we believe that dogs are protected from UV radiation by their fur. However, when exposed to too much sunlight, even young dogs can develop skin cancer.
Breed also plays a role, as some dogs are more prone to skin cancer than others. It is particularly common to suffer from:
- pug
- Bulldog
- Labrador
- Weimaraner
Symptoms in Dogs
To identify malicious changes in the skin on your furry friend, observe the following symptoms:
- Lump on the skin
- Skin thickening
- Wounds that don’t heal
- Weight loss
- limp
- lethargy
- Difficulty breathing and emptying urine or bowel
Treatment of skin cancer in dogs
Cancer treatments in animals have also been greatly improved in recent years. In skin cancer, the appropriate therapy is usually successful. Usually, the tumor is surgically removed to address the root of the problem. However, it depends on the type and stage of the tumor, and other treatments are sometimes necessary.
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy are also used in many cases to eliminate the cancer.
As a precaution, you should palpate your dog regularly to identify possible changes as quickly as possible. You should also see a veterinarian if you have behavior changes.
Cancer can usually not be prevented in dogs. But in the case of skin cancer, you should avoid direct sun exposure whenever possible as a preventive measure, especially at lunchtime when the UV radiation is particularly intense.
