How To Treat Canine Melanoma

Canine Melanoma is a cancer that can occur in a dog's mouth, toes, behind the eye or on the skin. Canine Melanomas occurring in the mouth, toes or behind the eye are usually malignant, meaning that this cancer can spread. Canine Melanoma of the skin is generally benign, meaning that the tumors do not spread. Keep in mind that this is a general rule of thumb, and there are always exceptions.

Symptoms of Canine Melanoma are:

1. Odd colored and odd shaped skin lesions
2. Bad breath
3. Loss of appetite
4. Drooling
5. Coughing
6. Weight loss
7. Trouble swallowing
8. Visible tumors

Diagnosis for Canine Melanoma by a veterinarian depends on findings from:

1. Physical exam The veterinarian performs a physical exam of the dog including palpating the lymph nodes.
2. Blood work The veterinarian will draw blood from the dog and test the blood, getting a blood count and serum chemistry.
3. Chest x-ray The veterinarian will take an x-ray of the dog's chest to check the condition of the lungs.
4. Biopsy The veterinarian can take a biopsy of the tumor to make a diagnosis.

Treatment for Canine Melanoma by a veterinarian includes:

1. Surgery The veterinarian may do surgery on the dog to remove all or at least as much of the tumor as possible.
2. Radiation Treating the tumor with radiation promotes the shrinking of the tumor. Radiation is given in three-dose cycles given on day 1, day 7 and day 21.
3. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy works best when combined with Dacarbazine.

The prognosis for Canine Melanoma is poor at best when found in the dog's skin. The prognosis for Canine Melanoma is even poorer when it is located in the mouth, toes or behind the eyes. Tumors spread quickly when they are not treated and they may spread even if treatment is tried. Canine Melanoma may even reoccur after treatment.

Even though the prognosis for Canine Melanoma is not very good, the treatment received by a dog diagnosed with this cancer may prolong its life, if only for a short time. Of course, as with any medical treatment requiring surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the cost can be expensive. The dog owner will have to decide if he can afford for his dog to have the treatment. If not, the options are to either let the cancer run its course, which can be painful for the dog and would seem cruel, or to have the dog euthanized by the veterinarian, ending the pain and suffering.