How To Spot, Treat & Prevent Skin Cancer In Dogs

Much like us, our buddies can also develop some serious health conditions – at least one of which is dog skin cancer. In fact, skin cancers are the most common tumors in dogs, accounting for approximately one third of all tumors.

You might not think much about it if your buddy’s on the furrier side or you don’t live in the sunniest spot. But catching on to skin cancer early can be one of the best ways to treat it successfully – and ensure a longer, happier, healthier life with your buddy by your side. So here’s what to look out for and what changes in your buddy’s normal behavior might signal a cause for concern. Let’s get started.

Are some breeds vulnerable to dog skin cancer?

Although it can affect any breed at any age, dogs with light-colored skin or a thin coat may be most at risk for sun-related skin cancer¹. There may be a genetic basis for the development of certain cancers, especially for:

• Boxers
• Scottish Terriers
• Golden Retrievers
• Norwegian Elkhounds
• German Shepherds
• Bull Mastiffs
• Weimaraners
• Basset Hounds

Likewise, senior dogs are also much more in the “risk zone” than younger ones.

What does skin cancer look like on a dog?

Skin cancer on dogs can show up in several different ways, depending on which form of cancer it is. Keep an eye out for any unusual:

• Bumps,
• Lumps,
• Sores,
• Lesions,
• Scabs,
• Raised patches
• Discoloration on your dog’s skin.
• Spots that are pink, red, black, brown, or grey in color
• Wounds that don’t heal

It’s best to make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible if you notice something strange on your dog’s skin, or if your dog appears to be in pain.

⚠️ If you find a tumor on your dog, try not to touch it, and don’t let your dog chew, lick or scratch it. This is more likely to worsen the situation and needs immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of skin cancer in dogs

Cancer can be hard to detect in dogs but if you pay attention, you can find a lot of the warning signs and symptoms yourself.

Dogs with skin cancer may experience the following symptoms:

• Abnormal swelling that persists or continues to grow
• Sores that do not heal – even for several months (especially in areas where your dog’s fur is light colored)
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite, including difficulty eating or swallowing
• Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
• Lethargy, including seeming less active or more reluctant around walks and playtime
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• Difficulty in breathing and urinating
• Excessive itching

If your pet has any of these cancer symptoms, or any other signs of illness in dogs, be sure to consult with your veterinarian right away.

💡Keeping track of your dog’s everyday activity can help you spot any weakness, lethargy, or signs of sickness early on.

It’s why experts recommend you:

“Keep track of your dog’s energy levels, especially how long they are able to walk.

If you notice significant declines, it could be a sign of pain, heart disease, or other illness.”

– VCA Animal Hospitals²

Which could mean jotting down your dog’s symptoms in a journal to share with your vet…

✅ …or using the actionable data you could otherwise get from an Activity Tracker built for dogs.

🐶 It’s why dog parents around the world – just like you – are investing in Tractive devices as a way to monitor their buddies’ health and wellness.

Because with its built-in motion detector, your trusty Tractive GPS logs in your dog’s movements throughout the day as active minutes.

Which, besides helping you track down your dog in real-time, helps you figure out:

• How active your dog is on the regular
• Any weird drops in your dog’s daily active minutes – which could signal a sign of sickness, pain, or injury

All of which mean a much more productive conversation with your vet – and a ton of time, energy, and tears saved from catching your buddy’s sickness early.

Discover Activity Tracking

Types of skin cancer in dogs

Now the good news: even though there are different types of dog skin cancer, not all tumors are malignant or cancerous. In fact, if your vet notices any suspicious bumps or lumps, they might take a biopsy to determine whether it’s benign or malignant.

Some of the most common types include:

• Mast cell tumors
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Malignant melanoma
• Histiocytic cell tumors
• Fibrosarcoma

Let’s take a closer look at the three most common types of skin cancer in dogs: mast cell tumors, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

Mast cell tumors

MCTs are one of the most common types of skin cancer in dogs, but thankfully, mast cell tumors are considered one of the most treatable types of cancer in dogs.

• Mast cells are the cells in the body that release histamine, a chemical that causes allergic reactions in dogs. (Resulting in itching and scratching.)
• Tumors made of mast cells can grow anywhere on a dog’s skin as well as in internal organs like the spleen, intestine, liver, and bone marrow.

Here are some signs of mast cell tumors in dogs

• Common: a raised, possibly red or swollen bump or lump on or under the skin; stomach or intestine ulcers, which may cause lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, and black stools
• Possible: anaphylaxis (allergic reaction)
• Rare: swollen lymph nodes, spleen, or liver, round or swollen belly

Most often, mast cell tumors are found on the legs, lower belly, and chest of dogs. Most dogs with mast cell tumors only develop one tumor.³

Dogs breeds most susceptible to mast cell tumors

• Pugs
• Boxers
• Boston Terriers
• Bull Terriers
• Rhodesian Ridgebacks
• Labrador Retrievers

Mixed breed, older dogs are also most susceptible to MCTs. This type of skin cancer is most often seen in dogs aged 8 to 10 years old.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Another very common type of dog skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer is often triggered by exposure to the sun and usually appears as a single lesion.

• The term “squamous” refers to the top layer of the skin, where tumors can develop in the cells.
• Commonly found around the nails, paw pads, abdomen, ears, back, or nose, it may be mistaken as a minor abrasion.
• But its essential to diagnose and treat it early, otherwise squamous cell carcinoma can spread to surrounding tissue or other parts of the body.

Dogs breeds most susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma

• Scottish Terriers
• Pekingese
• Boxer Dogs
• Poodles
• Norwegian Elkhounds
• Whippets
• Beagles
• Dalmations
• Bull terriers

Fine coated, light-haired, and light-skinned dogs are more prone to squamous cell carcinoma.

Read more: Dogs And Heat: How To Keep Dogs Cool In Summer

Malignant melanoma

Melanomas often appear as raised, sometimes dark bumps near your dog’s mouth or nail bed. Many melanomas in dogs are benign, but sometimes they can be malignant.

• In the latter case, they pose a serious risk to your dog’s health and well-being and require urgent treatment.
• Fast growing, this type of cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body.
• Any dog breed can get melanoma, and it is typically found in dogs 10 years or older.
• Besides, small dog breeds, black dogs, and male dogs are more susceptible to developing this form of skin cancer. Schnauzers and Scottish Terriers are also more at risk.

How would my vet treat my dog’s condition?

Cancer treatment in dogs can vary and depends on the type and stage of cancer. The most common treatments include:

• Surgery,
• Chemotherapy,
• Radiation
• Immunotherapy – though a mixture of therapies is also a possibility.
• In some cases, your vet might also provide your dog palliative care, including pain relief.

Your vet should, however, make regular skin checks a priority – especially as your buddy grows older.

What causes skin cancer in dogs?

In most cases, it’s difficult to say what causes skin cancer in dogs. That’s because cancer is a “multifactorial” disease, which means it has no known single cause. But it may develop as a result of:

• Your dog’s genetic history. In fact, genetic mutations contribute to the development of mast cell tumors.
• Certain viruses
• Hormonal abnormalities
• Environmental factors, including chemicals in your dog’s environment
• How much sun exposure your dog gets

💡 Now while you can’t do much about your dog’s genetic background – you do have a means to ensure they’re not venturing into any unsafe environments.

Aka, where your dog might run into harmful chemicals, virues, or just not get as much shade as they need during sunny days. (And end up being more exposed to harsh sunlight and UV radiation than is safe.)

Which could mean:

• Securing your backyard fencing to prevent any wandering
• Providing your dog plenty of cool, shaded areas to hang out in. (Plus, watch out for the signs of heat stroke in dogs, especially in the warmer months.)
• Informing your neighbors to watch out for your dog wandering into their property

🐶 But most importantly, monitor where your dog’s spending most of their time throughout the day – especially if they’re an outdoor dog that’s used to wandering about by themselves.

Which you could do with just a glance at your phone – from your dog’s Heat Map and Location History, that is.

So you can figure out if your dog is spending most of their time in:

• Your neighbors’ backyards, where they might run into harmful chemicals, weed killer, roundup, mulch, pesticides, or even poisonous plants. All of which can irritate their skin and lead to worse health problems if your dog licks or tastes them.
• Any neighboring farmland. Even fertilizers can contain chemicals and minerals that are toxic to dogs.
• Open fields or patches of woodland that tend to be sunny, which could increase your dog’s risk for overexposure.
• Any nearby water bodies or sun-exposed areas. Chlorine in most swimming pools, for example, can majorly dry out dogs’ skin. Even lakes and rivers might be contaminated from runoff from nearby farms or factories.

Because why take a risk on your buddy’s safety?

Why not go for the relief and peace of mind from knowing you can always find them – no matter where they’re off wandering?

Discover Location History

How to prevent skin cancer in dogs

Now since we don’t know for sure what causes most cancers, it can be difficult preventing it 100%. Which is why you’re better off identifying it early – and getting your buddy to a vet as soon as you spot something off.

Make regular grooming (and skin checks) a priority

With regular brushing and grooming, you don’t just keep your dog’s fur tangle-free – you also catch on to any weird bumps, lumps, and swellings early on. It can also help rid your dog’s skin of any dead skin cells and help you spot any areas with patchy fur much in advance. (Especially around the belly, ears, and armpits.)

• Keep an eye out for any moles or spots and if they change in size and shape.
• Avoid shaving your dog’s fur. This can increase their exposure to UV radiation during the warmer months.
• Avoid using any harsh grooming products. Your vet can best advise you what dog-friendly grooming products to use to avoid irritating your dog’s skin.

Read more:

• Is Dog Shaving A Good Idea? What To Consider Before You Get Clipping
• 5 Easy Dog Grooming Tips You Can Do At Home: The Ultimate Guide For Dog Parents

Be extra mindful of the sun

While this is important for all dogs, watch out if you’ve got a light-colored, thin-coated, or hairless dog at home.

• Limit the time they spend in the sun, especially between 10 AM to 4 PM when UV radiation is at its peak.
• Provide your dog plenty of shade to spend time in, like an umbrella or canopy in your backyard. Or consider installing shades, curtains, or UV-blocking protective window films indoors.
• Use a dog-friendly sunscreen recommended by your vet on spots where your dog’s skin is the thinnest, like their nose, ears, belly, and hindquarters. Avoid using any products on your dog that are built for humans, as they’re more likely to be toxic to animals.
• Avoid walking your dog outdoors with the sun directly overhead. Besides, hot pavements or asphalt roads can irritate the skin around your dog’s paws.
• Never leave your dog in a car with the windows down! This can increase their risk of both UV exposure and overheating.

Watch out for harmful chemicals in your environment

Like, for example:

• Lawn chemicals, like pesticides or fertilizers. If your dog likes to spend time digging around or playing in your backyard, you’re better off using pet-safe alternatives that won’t accidentally poison them instead.
• Mark off any treated areas in your backyard with fences, rocks, or any other barriers to deter your dog from approaching them.
• Keep an eye out for other, common household items that might be toxic to dogs. Including tobacco smoke, harsh cleaning products, and other potential carcinogens.

💡And if you run into any unsafe zones in your neighborhood while out with your buddy, you can even report a “danger” to other dog parents – from your Tractive mobile app.

Like, for example, areas with:

• Poisonous plants, like mushrooms, which can be fatally toxic to dogs
• Sharp objects
• Poison bait
• Animal traps
• Wild animals (another source of ticks and fleas – if not worse!)
• Pollen- or tick-riddled patches of woodland
• Food waste – especially foods that are off-limits to dogs or likely to make them sick. (Like from a campsite, park, or hiking trail.)

So you can both keep your dog safe and healthy – and do your part as a responsible dog parent.

Mark Out A Danger Zone

Keep an eye out for any changes in your dog’s behavior

Your buddy might be communicative, clingy, and sometimes downright annoying when they demand your attention. But if they’re sick, it’s likely they might withdraw to handle their discomfort by themselves.

Which is where your only hint is to keep an eye out for any changes in their behavior – which might indicate something’s not right. Like if they’re suddenly:

• Hiding or withdrawing more than usual.
• Seeming more reluctant to eat
• Not drinking enough water – or, on the other hand, drinking too much water
• Scratching themselves excessively – or even rubbing their faces or scooting their butts across the floor to relieve some discomfort
• Licking or even biting their fur excessively

Get in touch with your vet if you notice any of these behavioral changes – but also any change in your dog’s skin, including any growths, bumps, or lumps, spots, moles, or any bleeding sores. Your vet is most likely to ask you when these symptoms began and how long they’ve been persisting.

Read more: Is My Dog Sick? The Main Signs Of Illness In Dogs

💡Don’t forget – your dog’s daily activity is a window to their overall health.

So if your normally active, healthy dog now whines in protest during walk times or your more chill dog seems to be snoozing more often than usual – don’t ignore these signs. It might be more of a cry for help than you might expect.

Start Activity Tracking

Ready to kick skin cancer in the butt?

It can be scary thinking of dealing with skin cancer in dogs – but with a little vigilance, you can:

• Spot the signs much in advance,
• Set up your dog’s environment for max safety,
• and get them to a vet early on – before their condition worsens

All of which can help ensure your buddy’s that much more likely to live a longer, happier, healthier life by your side.

If you’ve got a light-colored, thin-coated, or hairless dog, you might need to be extra careful. Likewise, if your dog’s breed tends to be vulnerable to skin cancer in the first place.

How does skin cancer on dogs show up?

Keep an eye out for any unusual bumps, lumps, sores, lesions, or growths that turn up on your dog’s skin – and persist over time. Likewise, any moles and spots that seem to change size and shape, along with:

• Any abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
• Sores that do not heal – even for several months (especially in areas where your dog’s fur is light colored)
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite, including difficulty eating or swallowing
• Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
• Lethargy, including seeming less active or more reluctant around walks and playtime
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• Difficulty in breathing and urinating
• Excessive itching

Because as it turns out, identifying the early signs of dog skin cancer is one of the best ways to treat it much in advance – and keep your buddy healthy down the line.

Can I prevent my dog from developing skin cancer?

While a good part of dog skin cancer is genetic or due to hormonal abnormalities, there’s a lot you can do to set your buddy’s environment up for success – and avoid their exposure to harmful chemicals and UV radiation.

For example, you could:

• Make regular grooming and brushing a priority, which can help you identify any weird bumps or moles that seem out of the ordinary.
• Be mindful of how much sun exposure your dog is getting both indoors and outdoors. UV-blocking curtains and car window shades can go a long way in keeping them safe.
• Watch out for harmful chemicals in your environment, like from pesticides, weed killer, fertilizer, and even some harsh cleaning products you might find in your kitchen or bathroom. It’s best keeping your buddy away from these as much as possible, since they can make your dog very sick.
• Keep an eye out for any changes in your dog’s behavior, like if they’re scratching themselves more than usual, seem less active than before, or just seem out of it. All of these could be warning signs that their health is worsening and that you should get them to a vet for a preventive checkup.

💡 Now imagine the relief and peace of mind from knowing you could check if your dog’s wandered off into some unsafe environment – with just a glance at your phone?

Or catch on to a sickness much in advance – because you’ve noticed your dog’s active minutes have dropped weirdly?

Or even warn fellow dog parents in your area that there’s a “danger” in your environment – something harmful, toxic, or infectious you’d rather not have your dog (or other dogs) run into?

All this – and tons more – on one device, built with love for dogs and for your peace of mind as a dog parent.

Stay on top of your dog’s wellness

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

Discover Tractive GPS

Found a weird bump on your dog’s skin and worried it might be cancer? Here’s some advice from Dr. Mona Rosenberg on how to tell whether it’s normal or cause for concern:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.