All Entries Tagged With: "dog skin cancer"

The Causes of Dog Skin Cancer, Part 1: Environmental Carcinogens

Why do dogs develop skin cancer? There are a variety of reasons to answer this question.

Tumor formation is primarily due to abnormalities, mutations or defects in the way cells grow. Another contributor to these irregularities are what we call risk factors. These risk factors can come from the environment (like carcinogens), or they could also be internal factors (such as genetic or inherited inclinations). In this article, we will discuss environmental carcinogens.

Environmental Carcinogens

Why do dogs develop skin cancer? There are a variety of reasons to answer this question

Carcinogens present in the environment are inescapable in daily life. Everyone, which includes you and your dog, interacts with these carcinogens every day. Unlike their human masters, however, dogs are unable to wear protection and are therefore at a higher risk. Environmental carcinogens can be classified two ways: as either chemical carcinogens, or physical carcinogens.

Chemical carcinogens are found in products that we commonly use and consume. Examples of these would be lawn-care products, chemicals we use to clean our houses, or even food can contain carcinogenic ingreients. The chemical content of these products may be reactive by themselves, or can be reactive with bodily enzymes that, when introduced into the body, may interfere with the natural cell growth process. Such interference with natural metabolic processes can lead to defective cell growth and the beginning of cancerous tumor growth. Chemical carcinogens can enter the body through the skin, inhalation, and ingestion.

Our food, for example, contains chemicals such as artificial additives, preservatives, by-products, and fillers, while fruits and vegetables are grown with the aid of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Dog food isn’t exempted from these harmful chemicals. Both we and our pets ingest these elements on a daily basis.

As stated before, humans can wear protection. While we wear shoes everyday as we walk out of our houses, or wear gloves and masks, our dogs walk all over our properties barefoot, sometimes licking his feet as any innocent and trusting creature would.

Physical carcinogens affect the body and cause cancer through their physical properties and effects. Some of the most common forms of these carcinogens that are always present in our surroundings are radiation, hard and soft materials, fibrous and non-fibrous particles, and gel materials.

Examples of carcinogenic radiation are electromagnetic radiation, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation. Carcinogenic hard and soft materials are metals and alloys such as platinum, titanium, steel and silver. Some synthetic materials that are also cancer-causing are rubber, cellophane, Teflon, silicone gels, linen, parchment paper, silk, and ivory. One of the most common forms of physical carcinogens is asbestos–an indestructible fibrous carcinogen that is found everywhere, including the air, in homes, and the workplaces. This agent is now even detected in water, food, and drugs.

These environmental factors need not cause you undue alarm, if you are a responsible and caring pet owner. Knowing what to fight against is half the battle. Continue reading the next article in this series called The Causes of Dog Skin Cancer, Part 2: Genetic Factors to know more about what causes skin cancer in your dog.

Other contributors to cancer aside from carcinogens and genetic defects are obesity, vaccinations, immune system problems, and hormonal factors.

Skin cancer may occur when mast cells are chronically or frequently activated by allergic reactions brought about by environmental carcinogens or genetic factors. This is when antibodies bind with mast cells and release reactive agents such as histamines, heparin, enzymes, and cytokines.

What is Dog Skin Cancer?

Dog Skin Cancer is also known as Cutaneous and Mast Cell Tumors or MCT. It is a type of cancer that manifests through tumors, the forms of which may be histiocytomas, cysts, perennial gland tumors and warts. There are different forms of this illness as well:

Epidermoid Carcinoma

Dog Skin Cancer is also known as Cutaneous and Mast Cell Tumors or MCT

This is a sort of tumor that usually appears on your pet’s feet and legs. It may appear cauliflower-shaped, or it may look like a hard, grayish and flat ulcer that does not heal. Take care to watch out for these kinds of breakouts on your dog’s skin.

Mast Cell Tumors

These tumors are commonly found on hind legs, on the genital foreskin, and the lower abdomen. This type of skin cancer usually affects older dogs more than the rest.

Melanomas

Melanomas are dark-colored bumps which usually sprout from a mole that’s already there, or a pre-existing mole. For this reason, melanomas are sometimes overlooked until they spread out, or grow elevated above the skin surface, or starts bleeding.

Sebaceous Adenomas

Sebaceous adenomas appear to be less than an inch long. They are cauliflower-shaped and are light in color. They are called sebaceous adenomas, because they grow in the skin’s oil-producing (sebaceous) glands.

All these are the different forms of skin cancer. If any of these signs start manifesting on your pet, it is important to find out as much as you can about them and to seek a proper professional opinion on how best to address it.

What Symptoms of Dog Skin Cancer Should You Watch Out For?

Tumors and bumps

One of the easiest ways to spot skin cancer is looking to see if tumors or bumps have appeared on it. They can pretty much appear anywhere on your pet’s body, but they are more likely to grow on the limbs, trunk and genital areas. Tumors are likely to grow on the skin or underneath, in what is called the subcutaneous tissue.

These symptoms could point to skin cancer… and that your dog is suffering in silence

Tumors can grow alone or in clusters. They can appear smooth, bumpy, or red and inflamed. All of these can serve as clues to judging for yourself if it is time for a check up with the vet.

Abnormalities in bodily functions

Look for these signs and you may detect skin cancer early: blood in the stool, duodenal ulcerations, vomiting, and abnormal blood clotting. These symptoms could point to skin cancer… and that your dog is suffering in silence.

Tumor location and growth rate

Where a tumor is found as well as the speed with which it grows or spreads are also important factors in appraising the severity of skin cancer. Some tumors on the dog’s body indicate benignity, but there are areas on the body that may more or less indicate a higher percentage of malignancy. These areas are the nail bed, the oral cavity, muzzle, and genital areas.

Look out for these tell-tale signs of skin cancer on your pet–and you may make a huge difference yet in helping your dog cope with skin cancer.

How to Tell If Dog Skin Cancer is Malignant or Benign

Malignant or Benign Canine Skin Cancer?

This article will discuss the symptoms and diagnosis of mast cell tumors in dogs. Skin cancers can resemble benign tumors.  A biopsy should be performed on any lump or bump that is questionable.

Definition of Dog Skin Cancers

Skin cancers are inclusive of Mast Cell Tumors (MCTs), which are common in older dogs, and frequently found on the hind legs, lower abdomen, and foreskin of the penis. Mast cells comprise about 20% of the dog’s skin cells.

Approximately 30% of all tumors in dogs are tumors of the skin, or subcutaneous tumors. Of these, 70 – 80% are benign. The remaining 20 – 30% are malignant. Of the malignant tumors, about 20% are Mast Cell Tumors (MCTs).

Dog Skin Cancers Symptoms & Diagnosis

The tumors can appear on the skin, or in the subcutaneous tissue. They can emerge singly, or in multiples, and can be smooth, bumpy, or even ulcerated.

For some dogs, other bodily signs of Canine Skin Cancer include:

• Vomiting
• Blood in the stool
• Blood clotting abnormalities

A biopsy is required to confirm a mast cell tumor diagnosis.  MCTs that arise in the following areas are more likely to be malignant:

• Nail bed
• Genital areas
• Muzzle
• Oral cavity

MCTs that originate in deeper tissues such as the liver or spleen present an especially severe situation. Tumors that have been present for quite a while are more likely to be benign. The rapidity of cell proliferation can be determined via an Argyrophilic Nuclear Staining Organizing Regions count. A higher AgNOR count correlates to an increased likelihood of malignancy.

Along with these factors, the grade and stage of the tumor will determine the course of treatment and prognosis.

Get the information you need about canine cutaneous and mast cell tumors in your copy of Canine Cancer SECRETS.

Causes of the 4 Types of Skin Cancer in Dogs & How to Prevent Them

This article will discuss the rates, causes and prevention, and age, breed and sex predilection of skin tumors in dogs.

Here’s what canine skin cancer looks like:

• Epidermoid Carcinoma : Possible cauliflower-shaped, or  hard, flat, grayish ulcer
• Mast Cell Tumors: Common in older dogs. Frequently found on hind legs, lower abdomen, and foreskin of the penis.
• Melanomas: Usually dark in color. The mole spreads out, bleeds, or becomes elevated above the skin surface.
• Sebaceous Adenomas: Usually less than an inch long, shaped like a cauliflower, and light in color.

Rate of Dog Skin Cancer Appearance

Skin tumors are the most prevalent tumors overall, affecting 450 per 100,000 dogs per year. Approximately 30% of all tumors in dogs are tumors of the skin.

Dog Skin Cancer Causes & Prevention

• Skin cancers are linked to both inherited and genetic abnormalities, and to environmental factors.
• Mast cell activation occurs with allergic reactions when antibodies bind to the mast cells and release reactive agents.
• Chronic activation of mast cells that have been compromised leads to their transformation into a cancerous state.

Breeds Predisposed For Dog Mast Cell Tumors Include:

• Beagles
• Boston Terriers
• Boxers
• English Bulldogs
• Golden Retrievers
• Labrador Retrievers
• Mixed Breeds
• Pugs
• Schnauzers

Other brachiocephalic breeds (those having short, wide heads) seem to be prone. Further, these tumors appear in males and females with equal frequency.

Even if your dog’s breed is not predisposed to skin cancer, it is still the most common type of cancer in dogs, and really a disease every dog owner needs to be aware of.

Get your copy of our new book Canine Cancer SECRETS and discover everything you MUST know about canine cancer.