Melanoma
Pigment-cell tumours; oral and nail-bed forms are usually malignant, cutaneous forms often benign.
What is Melanoma?
Location matters enormously with melanoma in dogs. Skin melanomas away from mucous membranes are usually benign. Oral melanomas, nail-bed (subungual) melanomas, and mucocutaneous junction melanomas are aggressive with a high rate of metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs.
Common signs and symptoms
Signs vary between dogs and can be subtle at first. Watch for the following, especially if several appear together or persist for more than a few days:
- Pigmented mass in the mouth or on the lip
- Swollen toe with a lost nail
- Firm, pigmented skin lump
- Enlarged lymph node draining the site
Risk factors
Certain dogs are more predisposed. Understanding risk helps you screen earlier and act sooner.
- Scottish Terrier, Standard Poodle, Golden Retriever
- Heavily pigmented oral mucosa
- Senior dogs
When to see a vet
Use this as general triage guidance, not a substitute for veterinary advice.
- Book a routine appointment if: any pigmented mass in the mouth or on a toe.
- Seek urgent care if: difficulty eating, obvious oral bleeding, or a rapidly growing digital mass.
Diagnosis and management
Diagnosis is via biopsy and lymph node aspirate. Aggressive local treatment (surgery ± radiation) is combined with the canine melanoma vaccine (Oncept) to target micrometastases.