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Dog Owner’s Guide To Dog Melanoma
June 25th, 2009
Melanoma can affect your dogs mouth, skin, or toes. This is a very serious disease. This article will tell you everything you need to know about melanoma in dogs.
Signs
Dogs with melanoma usually develop lesions on their skin. If the mouth is affected, your dog may develop bad breath, drooling, coughing, and trouble swallowing. This leads to loss of appetite and weight loss. Your dog’s toes may also develop tumors.
Diagnosis
The first step in diagnosing canine melanoma is a physical exam. In order to get a complete blood count, a blood sample will need to be drawn. The condition of the lungs may also need to be checked. This can be done with an x-ray. The tumor should also be biopsied.
Treatment
Melanoma in dogs can be treated in various ways. The disease will spread quickly without treatment. If tumors are present, they can be removed surgically. If the whole tumor can’t be removed, only a part of it will be. To try to reduce the size of the tumor, chemotherapy and radiation can be used.
Prognosis
This is a very serious disease. Most dogs have a poor prognosis. The best chance of survival is presented when only the skin is affected. Even with treatment, the tumor can still spread. Also, a successful treatment doesn’t guarantee that the cancer won’t recur.
Your precious pet can be susceptible to symptoms of canine illnesses. Fortunately, dog-illnesses.com provides a wealth of information on a range of these conditions. So, come by right now to become informed.
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