Understanding Melanoma in Dogs: Signs, Stages, & How to Save
You can thank melanocytes, the pigmented cells in your dog’s skin, for their unique coloring. Unfortunately, these cells can sometimes develop tumors called melanomas.
Key Takeaways
- Canine melanoma is a tumor that develops from pigmented skin cells and can be benign or malignant, with oral melanomas being the most aggressive.
- Symptoms vary by type but may include lumps, swelling, bad breath, vision changes, and limping—early detection greatly improves prognosis.
- Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and vaccines, with costs ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on severity.
- Pet insurance can help cover melanoma diagnosis and treatment costs—Pawlicy Advisor makes it easy to find a plan that fits your budget.
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In this article, we’ll cover everything pet owners should know about melanoma in dogs, including the different types, signs to watch for, and treatment options, to help you safeguard your dog’s health.
What is canine melanoma?
A melanoma is a tumor that develops from pigmented skin cells called melanocytes. Melanomas can be cancerous or noncancerous.
- Benign (noncancerous) melanomas often appear on the skin, especially in areas where hairless skin meets fur-covered skin, such as the lips, vulva, anal area, eyes, and between the toes.
- Malignant (cancerous) melanomas are more serious and typically grow in the mouth or other sensitive areas.
Melanomas can also vary according to the location in which they develop:
- Oral melanoma: This type of melanoma develops in the mouth and on the gums. Oral melanomas are the most aggressive type and often spread to the lymph nodes and lungs.
- Skin melanoma: Most skin melanomas are benign (non-cancerous), but some can become malignant.
- Ocular melanoma: Ocular melanomas develop in the eye and can affect vision.
- Nail bed (subungual) melanoma: Nail bed melanomas develop on the toes. This type of tumor is usually malignant and treatment often involves amputation of the affected toe.
Any dog can develop a melanoma, but the condition is more common in the following breeds:
Note: We’ve included links to pet insurance comparisons for each breed given their increased risk for melanoma.
Recommended Reading: How Pet Insurance Works
How does melanoma progress in dogs?
Left untreated, melanoma will progress, eventually spreading to other parts of the body. Here’s what to expect at different stages:
- Localized tumor: This is the earliest stage, with the melanoma confined to a single tumor. If melanoma is caught at this stage and removed, survival time can range from 10 to 18 months, especially with additional treatments such as radiation or immunotherapy.
- Spread to lymph nodes: Cancer cells typically spread (metastasize) to lymph nodes near the tumor before moving to other body parts. Once cancer reaches the lymph nodes, the prognosis worsens, with an average survival of three to six months.
- Spread to lungs or other organs: This is the most advanced stage, with survival typically limited to one to two months even with treatment.
Early detection is key! If you notice any unusual lumps, swelling, or behavioral changes in your dog, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
What are the signs my dog might have melanoma?
Since melanoma in dogs can develop in different parts of the body, signs will vary. Here are the signs to watch for according to melanoma type:
- Oral melanoma: Watch for bad breath, bleeding from the mouth, facial swelling, excessive drooling, difficulty eating, and weight loss.
- Skin melanoma: Keep an eye out for dark, raised, or ulcerated lumps on your dog’s skin.
- Ocular melanoma: In addition to vision changes, this type of melanoma may cause a mass inside the eye, change in eye color, swelling of the eyes, or excessive tearing.
- Nail bed melanoma: Often mistaken for a toe infection, this type may cause a swollen or painful toe, a loose or missing toenail, and limping.
Early detection is key! If you notice any unusual lumps, swellings, or behavioral changes in your dog, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
How do vets diagnose melanoma?
If your vet suspects that your dog has melanoma, they will follow a step-by-step diagnostic process to confirm the diagnosis and assess its severity.
- Your vet will do blood work, including a complete blood count and blood chemistry profile, to assess your dog’s overall health.
- Your vet will also analyze your dog’s urine to check for any abnormalities with their kidneys.
- Imaging, such as chest X-rays, CT scans, and/or ultrasound, may be used to assess the tumor and see whether it has spread.
- If your vet believes the tumor has spread, they may collect tissue samples from nearby lymph nodes or other organs that may be involved, to send to the lab.
- Meanwhile, your vet may also check for other possibilities beyond melanoma to ensure they reach an accurate diagnosis.
How does melanoma progress?
The size of the tumor and whether it has spread are key factors in how melanoma affects a dog’s health.
- Small tumors (less than 2 cm): If the tumor hasn’t spread, surgery can often lead to an average survival time of 15 to 18 months.
- Medium tumors (2–4 cm): Surgery may help extend life expectancy to around six months.
- Large tumors (over 4 cm) or if they spread to lymph nodes: Survival is usually three to four months, even after surgery.
- Melanoma that spreads to the lungs: This type has the poorest prognosis, with survival typically ranging from just one to two months after surgery.
Recommended Reading: Dog Health Issues: Common Conditions by Breed, Size, Age
How is Canine Melanoma Treated?
Treatment for canine melanoma will depend on the type, location, and severity of each case.
For oral melanomas, surgery is typically needed to remove the tumor, which also might involve removing part of your pup's jaw. The vet may also recommend radiation therapy to shrink the tumor before surgical removal, or they may recommend radiation and/or chemotherapy instead of surgery.
With one or a combination of these treatments, about 70% of dogs see a slowdown in cancer growth or go into remission for about a year (and some remain cancer-free for much longer).
For eye melanomas, if the tumor on the iris grows, part of your dog's iris may need to be removed, or laser surgery may be an option to save the eye. But, if the tumor spreads or causes issues like glaucoma, removing the eye (enucleation) may be necessary.
Skin melanomas are often non-cancerous, so your vet will monitor the tumor closely. If the tumor grows quickly or spreads to other parts of the body, surgery, sometimes combined with treatments like cryotherapy or radiation, may be needed.
What is the cost of cancer treatment?
Overall, the cost depends on a number of factors, including where you live, your pup’s size, and the severity of the melanoma. Here are the approximate treatment costs:
- Diagnosis: Typically costs $500 or less; severe cases can exceed $10,000 in treatments.
- Chemotherapy: Costs range from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on pet size.
- Surgery: Aggressive oral surgery involving bone: $2,000 to $5,000.
- Radiation Therapy: Costs approximately between $5,000 and $10,000 for oral melanoma cases.
- Melanoma Vaccine: Costs $1,000 to $1,500 per dose, with at least four initial doses and a booster shot every six months.
Does pet insurance cover canine melanoma?
“Most pet insurance plans can help cover costs associated with melanoma diagnosis and treatment as long as it's not a pre-existing condition. That’s why it’s vital to purchase pet insurance sooner rather than later.”
Kari Steere, Licensed Insurance Producer
“Most pet insurance plans can help cover costs associated with melanoma diagnosis and treatment as long as it's not a pre-existing condition. That’s why it’s vital to purchase pet insurance sooner rather than later.”Most pet insurance plans will cover canine melanoma and can reimburse you 70% to 100% of vet bills related to the condition. This can include reimbursement for diagnostics, treatments, surgery, hospitalization, and prescribed medications.
Regular vet check-ups are crucial to detect any signs of melanoma early and address the condition as quickly and effectively as possible. Finding the right dog insurance plan can help ensure your dog receives the best care possible if they develop melanoma.
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Ricky Walther, DVM, is a small animal general practitioner in the greater Sacramento, California area. Realizing the positive financial and medical impact that pet insurance can provide for pet parents and the profession, he lends support and advice to companies like Pawlicy Advisor "The Pet Insurance Marketplace") that simplify the process of connecting with veterinary financing resources.
