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Melanoma
Malignant melanoma in dogs and cats arises from melanocytes (pigment-producing cells). Unlike in humans, pet melanoma is not typically caused by sun exposure. Oral melanoma is the most common oral tumor in dogs.
Key Facts
- Oral melanoma: most common oral tumor in dogs; highly aggressive and metastatic
- Skin melanoma: usually benign in dogs; often malignant in cats
- Nail bed melanoma: aggressive in dogs
- Signs: pigmented (dark) or amelanotic (unpigmented) masses in mouth, skin, or digits
- Treatment: surgery, radiation, melanoma vaccine (canine), chemotherapy
- Canine melanoma vaccine (Oncept) may extend survival
- Staging requires chest X-rays, lymph node evaluation, and abdominal imaging
- Species: dogs and cats