Melanomas in Dogs Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments | by AADG, DVM

In this article originally commissioned for Honest Paws, Dr. Athena Gaffud, DVM offers a clear, accessible guide to melanomas in dogs — including what they are, how they present, how veterinarians diagnose them, and what treatment paths are available. She aims to help pet owners and vet-content clients understand when a pigmented lesion is benign or malignant, and what to expect in management or referral.

Key Takeaways

1. Definition & classification

   • Melanomas are tumors of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells). They can arise in the skin (cutaneous), oral cavity (oral melanoma), nails (subungual), or eye (ocular).

   • Many melanomas are benign, but some — especially oral and subungual melanomas — tend to be more aggressive and carry metastatic risk.

2. Causes / risk factors

   • The precise triggers are not fully understood, but genetics, breed predispositions, and chronic irritation may play roles.

   • Darker pigmented skin or mucosal surfaces are common sites; melanomas may arise from preexisting pigmented lesions.

3. Clinical signs / presentation

   • For cutaneous melanomas: new pigmented bumps, often dark, raised, possibly ulcerated or bleeding.

   • Oral melanomas: bad breath, drooling, bleeding gums, difficulty eating, loose teeth, facial swelling.

   • Nail (subungual) melanomas: discoloration or growth under or around the nail, lameness, swelling of toes.

   • Ocular melanomas may present as pigmented spots on the iris or uvea, vision changes, or eye reddening.

4. Diagnosis

   • A full physical exam with careful observation of pigmented lesions.

   • Biopsy or excisional histopathology is the gold standard to determine malignancy and tumor type.

   • Advanced staging workup: imaging (thoracic radiographs, CT, MRI), lymph node assessment, and sometimes sentinel lymph node evaluation to check for metastasis.

5. Treatment / management

   • Surgical excision is the mainstay for many melanomas when feasible and margins can be clean.

   • Radiation therapy is often used for tumors in less resectable areas (especially oral melanomas).

   • Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapies may be considered adjunctively, depending on tumor behavior.

   • In cases where metastasis is present or surgery is not possible, palliative care and supportive therapy may be the focus.

6. Prognosis & considerations

   • The prognosis depends heavily on location, size, histologic features (e.g. mitotic index), and presence of metastasis.

   • Cutaneous benign melanomas often have good outcome; aggressive types (especially oral) have poorer prognosis if advanced.

   • Early detection, prompt biopsy, and multimodal therapy improve chances.

This content not only serve dog owners with reliable information but also demonstrate Dr. Gaffud’s capacity to distill complex oncology topics into client-friendly, authoritative narratives—an asset for veterinary clients seeking high quality content.

Disclaimer:

This content was originally commissioned for a client and is republished here for informational and promotional purposes only. It does not substitute for professional veterinary diagnosis or care. Always consult your veterinarian if you suspect your pet has a tumor or skin lesion.

Keywords:

melanomas in dogs, dog melanoma, canine melanoma treatment, oral melanoma dog, skin tumor in dogs, subungual melanoma dog, dog tumor diagnosis, veterinary oncology, Dr. Gaffud, canine melanocytic tumors