Dan and his wife, No\u00ebl, and their two sons live on the Jersey shore, where Tundra has frolicked through the kind of idyllic outdoor life most dogs only dream of. \u201cThe first year of her life was right across the street from the bay and the beach,\u201d Dan says. \u201cWe trained her to be off-leash, and she would swim, dig in the sand, run around with other dogs and play with our boys, who were about 8 and 10 when we got her. They all grew up together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tundra loved walks in the woods, too, retrieving sticks along the way, where trees provided some shade. But she also attended sunny sporting events, like the boys\u2019 football and baseball games. She would sometimes roll over to \u201csunbathe\u201d and let the pink skin of her belly feel the sun\u2019s warmth. If she got too hot, she\u2019d try to find a shady spot.<\/p>\n
Pets at Risk<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Newspaper](\"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Newspaper-clipping-maybe-brighten-450x600.jpg\")
Dan believes in consistent training from a young age; puppy Tundra\u2019s classes made the local paper!<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cYes, dogs will seek the shade because they\u2019re hot in their fur coats. So sometimes they\u2019re smarter than we are,\u201d laughs Dina Rovere, VMD, who (with her husband, Marko Sima, VMD), takes care of Tundra and other animals at Happy Tails Veterinary Hospital in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Fur is great, she explains, because it reflects the sun, but it is not perfect, and white fur like Tundra\u2019s is the least<\/em> protective. Many dogs have fur-less areas on their bellies, so they can develop skin cancers<\/a> there. And when the weather is cool or even snowy, they love to roll over and feel the warmth of the sun, while accumulating more skin damage from the year-round ultraviolet (UV) radiation<\/a>.<\/p>\nCats get skin cancer, too, and the tip of any pet\u2019s nose, she says, is a prime spot for sun damage \u2014 especially if they have pink<\/em> noses. (Black noses have more melanin pigment, which helps protect the skin a bit.) Ears, especially if they\u2019re light-colored and stick up, are also very vulnerable, says New York City veterinarian Jill Abraham, VMD, who is board certified in veterinary dermatology. \u201cWe see squamous cell carcinomas<\/a> (SCCs) on the ear tips of cats, on their noses and even on eyelids.\u201d<\/p>\nAs for dogs, Dr. Abraham says pit bulls, labs like Tundra and other breeds with light-colored fur, short coats and less hair on the belly are vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer \u2014 \u201cespecially the ones that like to lie on their backs and sunbathe,\u201d she says. Animals who have a condition that causes hair loss, such as certain skin diseases or allergies, or if they\u2019ve been clipped short or shaved for surgery, are also at risk.<\/p>\n
Warning Signs<\/strong><\/h3>\nDan says Tundra had some lumps of fat (called lipomas) under her skin that had previously been diagnosed as benign. But one day while petting her, he saw something new that looked like a shiny bump on her skin when he parted her fur. Soon he noticed a few more: on her head, shoulder and back of the neck. One seemed to be growing, and they were unusual and felt harder than the squishy benign lumps under her skin.<\/p>\n
He knew, from The Skin Cancer Foundation\u2019s Big See early detection campaign<\/a>, that \u201cnew, changing or unusual\u201d are warning signs of skin cancer in people. Could it be the same for dogs?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/In-the-water-needs-crop-e1660583954600-600x600.jpg\")
Tundra loves swimming, but water reflects the sun\u2019s harmful rays, and wet white fur doesn\u2019t protect the skin well.<\/p><\/div>\n
Yes, says Dr. Rovere. She explains that many people feel something on the skin while petting their dog or cat that they haven\u2019t felt before. So they come in to have it checked out. If it doesn\u2019t look serious, she might say, \u201cLet\u2019s wait and watch it.\u201d If it\u2019s more suspicious, she might collect a few cells with a fine needle aspiration to do a biopsy, or, if it\u2019s growing, remove the entire lesion and send it to a pathologist to check for cancer.<\/p>\n
Dr. Abraham agrees: \u201cKeep an eye on your pets\u2019 skin and watch for anything new, like a red spot or open sore that isn\u2019t healing within a week or two, or that is changing or growing quickly, especially in an area of less hair.\u201d Dogs and cats can get melanoma of the eye<\/a>, too, so watch for a dark or \u201cfreckle-like\u201d spot in the eye. See your veterinarian right away, as early detection of any type of skin cancer is the key to the least amount of treatment with the highest chance of a cure.<\/p>\nTundra turned out to have several mast cell carcinomas, common in dogs, and Dr. Rovere performed Tundra\u2019s surgeries. No further treatment was required, although after a life of unfettered freedom, Tundra was deeply offended by her cone and refused to wear it. She chewed out a few stitches on a rear paw, which Dr. Rovere had to resuture. \u201cThe stitches start to get really itchy after day three,\u201d she explains. But once the scars healed, Tundra was fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the healing wound is on their pet\u2019s foot, I tell people to get a tube sock and put some duct tape on it. That often works.\u201d Putting a T-shirt or, for smaller dogs, a baby onesie on them over a wound can help keep them from bothering it.<\/p>\n
Good Outcomes<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/PM1-Dan-Tundra-side-by-side-forward-scaled-e1660584052800-600x600.jpg\")
Dr. Rovere has found potentially life-threatening melanomas<\/a> on dogs, and even recently discovered an amelanotic (colorless) melanoma<\/a> inside a Yorkie\u2019s cheek. She did additional surgery to assure clean margins, and the dog is now fine. \u201cIt makes me really happy that I saved that dog\u2019s life,\u201d she says. \u201cWe likely saved Tundra\u2019s life, too. If we hadn\u2019t taken those lesions off, they would have grown and gotten worse and probably would have killed her.\u201d<\/p>\nDan says that Tundra has a limp from arthritis and is slowing down a bit, since she is in her mid to late 70s in dog years. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t stop her from jumping up on beds or couches \u2014 or running down the stairs when it\u2019s dinnertime,\u201d he says. \u201cIf there\u2019s food involved, she\u2019s there! She can\u2019t do the long hikes she once loved, but she still likes to go outside (as in the recent photo, above, near Dan\u2019s home in New Jersey).\u201d<\/p>\n
Dan\u2019s boys are in college now, but Tundra is delighted to see them when they come home to visit. \u201cWe love that she has the energy to bring a stuffed animal into the room and basically say, \u2018Come on \u2014 who wants to chase me?\u2019 She still has a bit of puppy inside her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Treatment<\/strong><\/h3>\nTreatment options<\/a> for dog and cat skin cancer are similar to those for people, says Dr. Abraham. Usually surgery is required, although sometimes laser surgery is an option. Radiation may be a possibility for some skin cancers. And cryotherapy, laser surgery or topical treatments are options for precancerous spots (yes, pets get those, too). And with recent advances in immunotherapy medications, there are veterinary oncologists saving the lives of beloved pets with advanced skin cancers, too. See our (human)\u00a0Treatment Glossary<\/a>\u00a0for the basics on these.<\/p>\nPet Prevention<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Tundra](\"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tundra-Scar-600x600.jpg\")
Tundra resting after her surgeries for mast cell carcinoma. You can see the neat stitches and shaved areas on her scalp, back of the neck and paws. She\u2019s healed and doing fine now!<\/p><\/div>\n
Shade<\/strong>. The best protection for pets, veterinarians say, is to provide shade for them all year long, and get them out of the sun. Also, because animals don\u2019t sweat the way people do, it\u2019s harder for them to cool themselves. Don\u2019t forget lots of water for outdoor pets. \u201cAnd never leave a pet in a car unattended,\u201d Dr. Abraham says.<\/p>\nClothing<\/strong>. For pets who have to be out in the sun, consider clothing. \u201cMore companies are making rash guards and sun protection clothing for dogs,\u201d Dr. Abraham says. \u201cThere might be some that cats could fit into, if you can get them to tolerate it! Even UV-protective T-shirts that are made for people could be an option for some dogs. And I know of at least one company that makes sun-protective eyewear for dogs.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nWindow\u00a0treatment<\/strong>. Remember that windows allow dangerous UV rays to penetrate, too, both at home and in your car, so you might consider getting sun protection film or shades for the windows.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
Dan believes in consistent training from a young age; puppy Tundra\u2019s classes made the local paper!<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cYes, dogs will seek the shade because they\u2019re hot in their fur coats. So sometimes they\u2019re smarter than we are,\u201d laughs Dina Rovere, VMD, who (with her husband, Marko Sima, VMD), takes care of Tundra and other animals at Happy Tails Veterinary Hospital in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Fur is great, she explains, because it reflects the sun, but it is not perfect, and white fur like Tundra\u2019s is the least<\/em> protective. Many dogs have fur-less areas on their bellies, so they can develop skin cancers<\/a> there. And when the weather is cool or even snowy, they love to roll over and feel the warmth of the sun, while accumulating more skin damage from the year-round ultraviolet (UV) radiation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cats get skin cancer, too, and the tip of any pet\u2019s nose, she says, is a prime spot for sun damage \u2014 especially if they have pink<\/em> noses. (Black noses have more melanin pigment, which helps protect the skin a bit.) Ears, especially if they\u2019re light-colored and stick up, are also very vulnerable, says New York City veterinarian Jill Abraham, VMD, who is board certified in veterinary dermatology. \u201cWe see squamous cell carcinomas<\/a> (SCCs) on the ear tips of cats, on their noses and even on eyelids.\u201d<\/p>\n As for dogs, Dr. Abraham says pit bulls, labs like Tundra and other breeds with light-colored fur, short coats and less hair on the belly are vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer \u2014 \u201cespecially the ones that like to lie on their backs and sunbathe,\u201d she says. Animals who have a condition that causes hair loss, such as certain skin diseases or allergies, or if they\u2019ve been clipped short or shaved for surgery, are also at risk.<\/p>\n Dan says Tundra had some lumps of fat (called lipomas) under her skin that had previously been diagnosed as benign. But one day while petting her, he saw something new that looked like a shiny bump on her skin when he parted her fur. Soon he noticed a few more: on her head, shoulder and back of the neck. One seemed to be growing, and they were unusual and felt harder than the squishy benign lumps under her skin.<\/p>\n He knew, from The Skin Cancer Foundation\u2019s Big See early detection campaign<\/a>, that \u201cnew, changing or unusual\u201d are warning signs of skin cancer in people. Could it be the same for dogs?<\/p>\n Tundra loves swimming, but water reflects the sun\u2019s harmful rays, and wet white fur doesn\u2019t protect the skin well.<\/p><\/div>\n Yes, says Dr. Rovere. She explains that many people feel something on the skin while petting their dog or cat that they haven\u2019t felt before. So they come in to have it checked out. If it doesn\u2019t look serious, she might say, \u201cLet\u2019s wait and watch it.\u201d If it\u2019s more suspicious, she might collect a few cells with a fine needle aspiration to do a biopsy, or, if it\u2019s growing, remove the entire lesion and send it to a pathologist to check for cancer.<\/p>\n Dr. Abraham agrees: \u201cKeep an eye on your pets\u2019 skin and watch for anything new, like a red spot or open sore that isn\u2019t healing within a week or two, or that is changing or growing quickly, especially in an area of less hair.\u201d Dogs and cats can get melanoma of the eye<\/a>, too, so watch for a dark or \u201cfreckle-like\u201d spot in the eye. See your veterinarian right away, as early detection of any type of skin cancer is the key to the least amount of treatment with the highest chance of a cure.<\/p>\n Tundra turned out to have several mast cell carcinomas, common in dogs, and Dr. Rovere performed Tundra\u2019s surgeries. No further treatment was required, although after a life of unfettered freedom, Tundra was deeply offended by her cone and refused to wear it. She chewed out a few stitches on a rear paw, which Dr. Rovere had to resuture. \u201cThe stitches start to get really itchy after day three,\u201d she explains. But once the scars healed, Tundra was fine.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the healing wound is on their pet\u2019s foot, I tell people to get a tube sock and put some duct tape on it. That often works.\u201d Putting a T-shirt or, for smaller dogs, a baby onesie on them over a wound can help keep them from bothering it.<\/p>\n Dan says that Tundra has a limp from arthritis and is slowing down a bit, since she is in her mid to late 70s in dog years. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t stop her from jumping up on beds or couches \u2014 or running down the stairs when it\u2019s dinnertime,\u201d he says. \u201cIf there\u2019s food involved, she\u2019s there! She can\u2019t do the long hikes she once loved, but she still likes to go outside (as in the recent photo, above, near Dan\u2019s home in New Jersey).\u201d<\/p>\n Dan\u2019s boys are in college now, but Tundra is delighted to see them when they come home to visit. \u201cWe love that she has the energy to bring a stuffed animal into the room and basically say, \u2018Come on \u2014 who wants to chase me?\u2019 She still has a bit of puppy inside her.\u201d<\/p>\n Treatment options<\/a> for dog and cat skin cancer are similar to those for people, says Dr. Abraham. Usually surgery is required, although sometimes laser surgery is an option. Radiation may be a possibility for some skin cancers. And cryotherapy, laser surgery or topical treatments are options for precancerous spots (yes, pets get those, too). And with recent advances in immunotherapy medications, there are veterinary oncologists saving the lives of beloved pets with advanced skin cancers, too. See our (human)\u00a0Treatment Glossary<\/a>\u00a0for the basics on these.<\/p>\n Tundra resting after her surgeries for mast cell carcinoma. You can see the neat stitches and shaved areas on her scalp, back of the neck and paws. She\u2019s healed and doing fine now!<\/p><\/div>\n Shade<\/strong>. The best protection for pets, veterinarians say, is to provide shade for them all year long, and get them out of the sun. Also, because animals don\u2019t sweat the way people do, it\u2019s harder for them to cool themselves. Don\u2019t forget lots of water for outdoor pets. \u201cAnd never leave a pet in a car unattended,\u201d Dr. Abraham says.<\/p>\n Clothing<\/strong>. For pets who have to be out in the sun, consider clothing. \u201cMore companies are making rash guards and sun protection clothing for dogs,\u201d Dr. Abraham says. \u201cThere might be some that cats could fit into, if you can get them to tolerate it! Even UV-protective T-shirts that are made for people could be an option for some dogs. And I know of at least one company that makes sun-protective eyewear for dogs.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Window\u00a0treatment<\/strong>. Remember that windows allow dangerous UV rays to penetrate, too, both at home and in your car, so you might consider getting sun protection film or shades for the windows.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nWarning Signs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Good Outcomes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Dr. Rovere has found potentially life-threatening melanomas<\/a> on dogs, and even recently discovered an amelanotic (colorless) melanoma<\/a> inside a Yorkie\u2019s cheek. She did additional surgery to assure clean margins, and the dog is now fine. \u201cIt makes me really happy that I saved that dog\u2019s life,\u201d she says. \u201cWe likely saved Tundra\u2019s life, too. If we hadn\u2019t taken those lesions off, they would have grown and gotten worse and probably would have killed her.\u201d<\/p>\nTreatment<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Pet Prevention<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Featured](\"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/featured-in-journal-2022.jpg\")
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