How Are Moles Similar In Dogs and Humans?
Despite the physical differences between various species, there are some qualities that moles will share in common within them all.
Your dog can develop bumps from infection or allergies that are benign or harmless. But he can also develop permanent, abnormal growths of skin cells or tumors. In fact, according to Merck Manuals, tumors affecting the skin or the tissue just under the skin are the most commonly seen tumors in dogs. Luckily, the majority of skin tumors in dogs are benign, but you still need to be vigilant since early detection of the malignant ones is always best when it comes to treatment and a cure.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets. Related symptoms:
How will you know if a lump is benign or malignant? You won’t. Again, most skin lumps are benign but they should all be checked. So you will need to consult with your veterinarian. You also need to be prepared for the visit. You would be amazed at how often that pesky lump simply cannot be located once the dog is in the exam room at the clinic. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a ‘map’ of your dog and mark the location of each lump. Note its size (not in vague terms like ‘it’s the size of a quarter’ but in actual inches or millimeters) along with its shape and its color. This is the digital age so even snap a picture if you are so inclined. If you still aren’t sure you will be able to easily find the lump, mark the area with a magic marker or trim a bit of hair in that location — anything that will help.
The key is to be aware, to be looking and to address your dog’s lumps and bumps as soon as they appear. Don’t wait to see what happens or if it grows. See your veterinarian.
From supermodel Cindy Crawford with her signature beauty mark on her face to a little poodle with a mole on her ear, plenty of people and lots of dogs have skin lumps and bumps. If your dog has warts, moles or beauty marks, how do you know which ones are nothing to worry about and which ones require attention?
What Are Melanocytomas?
Also known as “benign melanoma,” this type of mole is caused by benign accumulations of melanocytes. The pre-fix “melano” refers to melanin-producing cells while the suffix word “cytoma” means tumor of the cell. In most cases, the suffix “-oma” is added to the tissue of origin to mean its a benign tumor. For instance, fibroblasts – fibroma, bone – osteoma, cartilage – chondroma, blood vessels – hemangioma.
Which dogs are predisposed? According to the National Canine Foundation, melanocytomas are more common in older dogs with darkly pigmented skin. They are often found in areas of haired skin or in the mouth. Theyre commonly found in dogs between 5 and 11 years of age with a predilection for dogs belonging to the following breeds: Vizsla, Miniature and Standard Schnauzer, Doberman Pinscher, Airedale Terrier, Golden Retriever, and Irish Setters. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, they are often found on the head and forelimbs of middle-aged or older dogs and are more prevalent in male dogs.
What do they look like? Melanocytomas present as small, pigmented macules (generally measuring from one-quarter to 2 inches in diameter) that are generally black, but can also be different shades of brown, gray, and red. This is the tumor the vet diagnosed my dogs with both times and is seen in the pictures. Here are more pictures from Just Answer: Dog Black mole 1 and dog black mole 2. Even though these are benign growths, the vet said to keep an eye on them for any changes.
How do they behave? According to Philip J. Bergman, a veterinarian specializing in oncology, melanomas found in areas of haired skin that are not in proximity to mucosal margins (lips, mouth) tend to behave in a benign manner. Yet, he explains how sometimes you may stumble on a melanoma that engages in unreliable biologic behavior.
For this reason, a biopsy of benign melanomas in dogs is recommended for the simple fact that a pigmented mass can also be indicative of melanocytic hyperplasia, hemangioma, hemangiosarcoma, basal cell tumor, or histiocytic sarcoma. While its true that location is often indicative of whether melanoma is benign or malignant, according to a 2011 paper by Elizabeth Downing for Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, about 80% of tumors found in areas of haired skin are benign while 20% are malignant. The paper presents a case where a pigmented growth on the skin of a dog turned out to be malignant melanoma, despite the fact it was in the dogs left lumbar region.
Generally, according to the paper, benign melanomas are firm, but mobile over the underlying tissues, well defined, measures less than 2 centimeters, and their mitotic index (the ratio of the number of cells that are undergoing cell division to the number that are not ) is less than 3 per 10 HPF. Malignant melanomas, on the other hand, tend to grow rapidly, extend into underlying tissues, are larger t than 2 centimeters, tend to ulcerate, and have a mitotic index greater than 3 per 10 HPF. Yet, another paper further suggests that other studies demonstrated that the behavior of melanomas wasnt always correlated with their histologic appearance in 10 to 40% of histologically benign oral and cutaneous canine melanoma.
Note: melanomas found in the dogs mouth, lips, or toenail bed are usually highly malignant, explains veterinary surgeon Dr. Daniel A. Degner.
Can Dogs Get Moles? | Wag!
The overall health of a dog is often reflected in their skin. Dogs can get lumps, bumps, and cysts from normal aging, or they can be signs of a problem.
There are two major types of lumps and bumps on dogs: malignant (cancerous) and benign (not cancerous). However, you can’t tell the type or severity of a growth just by looking at it. A veterinarian can take a sample of cells to give you a diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.