When do Warts Indicate Canine Skin Cancer?

Sudden growth of lumps, hair loss, scales on dog's skin, bald patches and unhealed sores are some symptoms of canine skin cancer. Older dogs are more prone to skin cancer as they usually have weak immune systems. Most of the canine skin cancers present as warts.

Types of Warts and Their Causes

Infection by pappiloma virus leads to the growth of warts around the lips and on the eyelids. Warts appear even in the mouth and between the toes of the dog. Pale colored warts that have consistent size and shape are usually benign, whereas the fast spreading dark brown warts that ulcerate or enlarge are considered to be malignant.

Hemangiosarcoma is a skin cancer that affects the dog's spleen, wherein the tumor grows from the blood vessels, thereby causing bruises and bleeding. Pink warts formed by the secretion of the sebaceous gland grow in clusters and can be removed by surgery.

Eyelid warts are small tumors that develop in the meibomian glands, which affect the eye sight.

Melanomas (dark round spots) that appear in the dog's mouth can spread to other vital organs.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that presents with red patches and scales. A greater percentage of warts that are diagnosed as skin cancer are fund to be malignant.

 

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