Skin Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) in Dogs

Dexter has had 2SCC areas on his toebeds. The first one appeared in May 2018, amputation in September 2018. The second in May 2019, surgery in July 2019.
Both started with swelling, gnawing and limping. Had I been aware of this kind of cancer, I would have been more aggressive in treating the first toe. The second toe, as soon as he limped, we went to the vet. First exam showed nothing, not even swelling. But a month later the limp had not gone away and there was slight swelling. The xrays showed a subtle area on the nail bed of the middle toe, same paw. It was barely perceptible. We went ahead with the amputation and he is recovering nicely. A week after surgery, he was walking normally on 2 toes. Dexter is a black and white GSP, and we live in Texas, although he is mostly inside. He is large and weighs about 89 lbs.

Our female West Highland White Terrier will be 14 yrs. old next April. The Monday before Thanksgiving, we brought her to the vet for surgical removal of an abscessed molar. Not more than an hour after I dropped her off, I got a call from the surgeon. She informed me that, having anesthetized Coco, they learned that there is a mass in which three of her teeth appear to just be "floating." I agreed to have the mass biopsied and move forward with an x-ray of her chest to detect metastasis. One of her teeth actually fell out during the biopsy.
The biopsy showed SCC and there is the appearance of a nodule on her lung, as reflected by the x-ray. We were advised to enter into palliative treatment. We've finished administering an antibiotic and continue with pain medication twice a day.
Ultimately, my question is how to know when it's time to let go. Coco is still quite attentive. She loves to be pet and uses her paw to scratch my hand to urge me to continue if I stop. I kiss her on her snout. She tries to "kiss" me back, the way she used to lick my face, but she won't extend her tongue which to me suggests it must hurt. She has a good appetite and can still eat but struggles to get it into her mouth. It's best when we feed her her food.

11yr old MN border collie mix. Started limping/ non at bearing on left hind about 5 weeks ago. Vet and checked and dismissed it as his hip dysplasia and muscle atrophy in hind. He was already on two pain meds. We never got a good look at his paws because he hates them touched and tries to bite. Now it’s 5 weeks later still very painful and limping. SCC diagnosed after patient found licking digit with blood on floor. Aspirate of digit confirmed SCC and aspirate of popliteal lymph node reactive but not metastasis. 3 view chest X-rays clear. Rad of digit confirmed lytic bone in affected digit. Amputation of digit scheduled for this Tuesday.

My eight year old Airedale had a lump on his shoulder. My vet did a fine needle aspirate which came back negative. Several months later it grew more and seemly became painful. The vet said it needed to be removed which it was within two weeks. The pathology said it was a squamous cell carcinoma. While the vet got good margins, greater than 20 mm and a deep tumor free margin measuring 10 mm, the mitotic count was greater than 30 per 10 400 x fields. We went out-of-town for an oncology consultation and they suggested a lymph node aspirate, chest x-ray and abdominal x-ray. They tried to test the lymph node but it was too small and also behind some scar tissue. He had a chest x-ray just before the surgery so we declined at that moment. They recommended chemo and/or Piroxicam. The studies didn't convince me that chemo was the right thing to do so we're using Piroxicam and I will have get a chest x-ray and lymph node check in about two weeks. Surgery was on Jan. 8, 2020. I'm not sure if chemo is necessary or the right thing to do - or is it? He seems happy and back to his old self and I watch him like a hawk. He also has numerous fatty lypomas but they have been looked at and don't seem to be causing a problem so better off left alone I am told. We had a hard time with the surgical recovery due to a large blood clot so I don't want to put him through that again. I would appreciate any professional expertise on whether or not I should start chemo and/or if the Prioxacam is a reasonable course of treatment with regular lymph note checks and chest x-rays.
Thank you.

I have a 13 year old mini schnauzer who is dying from skin cancer. We are keeping some what comfortable with pain, antibiotics and prednisone medications, he has a healthy appetite. But his sores are getting bigger raw smelly and losing weight. We are so sad because we know that is time to say goodbye.

My 11 year old Shitzu was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma 8 months ago. Due to his age, I decided not to do surgery, as they would have had take out half his lower jaw. I also decided against chemo, so currently he is taking Piroxicam. Of course the tumor continues to grow, but he seems pretty happy still and has a great appetite. However, sometimes he looks like has some pain and recently, he's starting to bleed a little from his mouth. What I'm wondering is, is there any other pain meds I can request for him and what else should I expect to see in his progression. I'm just not sure at what point I should put him down. He just seems so alive and happy most days right now, I can't imagine putting him down now. But I worry about how bad it can get and I don't want him to be miserable.

My dog was recently diagnosed with stage IV SCC. My vet said that there is nothing that we can do by this point, as she is 12 years old and likely would not make it through surgery. My dog's tumor has grown about 4x as big in the last month. M vet says that I will likely have to put her down in the next 2-4 weeks. I was just wondering if you could give me a second opinion on her life expectancy and if there is really nothing else I can do. I just love her so much, I'm not ready to say goodbye. :(

Honestly, where would I even begin with all of the unnoticed symptoms that I brushed off as “normal” due to his age or whatever. I guess I’ll start with the day I decided to take him to the vet.

So, he was 100% his normal self until one night he cried out from eating his kibble — figured it was a dental issue considering his age so we took him to the vet. After getting put under they found a mass the size of a baby’s fist on the left upper palate near the throat. It was biopsied and then reduced but since it’s in the head, there’s not much room for doggy MOHs surgery.

So, we’ve decided not to treat but start palliative care. But here’s my question:

I was cleaning his ears today and I noticed a reddened area close to the opening on the same side as the tumor — could the tumor have invaded his ear canal already? If so, should we prepare ourselves... although I’m really hoping that I may have just irritated his ears while cleaning them.

Just discovered my 11 yr old Bloodhound Frances as SCC, which manifested itself in awful raw red sore on neck kind of under her pronounced dewlap area. Had surgery for that June 2018 and in mid Aug I felt ball like tumors in her throat. So apparently SCC does metastasize. My Bloodhound Gyp died of SCC in 2007, which began as tiny red bump on chin and ended up moving to lymph glands and large goiter like tumor on one side of dewlap. So two unrelated indoor Bloodhounds have died of SCC. I feel for all of you other dog owners witnessing your beloved pets dying. Nothing more to do than ensure Frances remains comfortable. With a strong robust disposition, she has never been sick until now.

Coco is 6.5 years old black cocker spaniel. he was diagnosed with scc on his front right toe. Vet suggested to ampute the arm to avoid spreading of the disease. It’s been a month after amputation. Coco is now limping and in a lot of pain because of a swelling in his left arm. He is not keeping the arm down any crying continuously . Vet did an X-ray which suggested that scc is coming back I’m the left limb now. Another doc suggested it to be osteocoma. Is it possible. We don’t want another amputation? We are waiting for biopsy report. He is In a lot of pain. Can we apply cold pack on the inflamed elbow will it help??

About 6 months ago Belle was diagnosed with SCC and her entire leg was amputated due to the tumor starting to wrap around her joint on her ankle. About two weeks after her surgery her scans were clear and that was that. No follow up appointment or anything. I’m wondering when and how often I should get repeat scans? I'm also curious of the chances of the cancer coming back in a different location.

She has two bumps that have me worried since I haven’t noticed them before. She’s recovered well from her surgery and only deals with phantom leg pain.

My dog has had two subungual squamous cell carcinomas removed. On under a front armpit and one near lower jaw. Both were removed. Biopsy on both came back positive. She is now showing one for sure and may two additional under armpit. Because of the different locations i.e. armpit and jaw, does that not show that it is being spread through the blood or L nodes? She is a 10 yer old black Lab. She is sleeping more than usual. She has a very high threshold to pain so it is hard to tell how much pain, if any, she is experiencing.

L hind paw lesion- seen initially 2/1918 by a vet who said it was inflammatory after doing needle aspiration. Simplicef given- no change.
He is an 11 yr. old Alaskan husky. No overt symptoms other than lesion which I noticed. Took him to another vet this past week - another needle aspiration. Supposedly SCC. Vet recommends surgery. I am thinking entire toe should be amputated even though it is next to the toe. Would you recommend this? I am so disappointed that I didn't take him back sooner for a second opinion. No change in size of lesion. He acts as if it is not there. What is usual prognosis for this type of lesion post surgery? Thank you .

My brother’s walker hound, Sully, has oral SCC in his upper palette & to ensure complete removal much of his upper jaw & nose must be removed. A spot has been detected on one lung but hasn’t increased in size over 2 weeks so metastasis is unknown. The oncologist feels surgery is still the best option but can a hound who lives nose to the ground have sufficient quality after such surgery?

My dog Lily, a pit/beagle/boxer mix will be 8 this year, and in the last month, I noticed on her left side, by her ribs, a small bump. It felt like a scab from a possible tick bite I didnt notice. But now its about a pea/pea and a half pea sized. It's under her (thin) coat, so I cant see it that well, but it feels rough on the outside, while my dog is not showing paid when I touch it. She has had issues with skin and coat allergies, as she will get a loss of coat in the spring, and late fall/early winter so I'm not sure if this is a allergy thing I could self treat or if Im looking at something cancerous that I should bring her to our vet to get aspirated.

My dog has a sore in his right nostril. My vet said he thinks it's an scc. He is blind and quite an old 11 year old entire male golden retriever so I don't feel cutting it out or radiation treatment is an option. He gets severe seperation anxiety if he is not with me. I would like to know what the process is as I don't want him to suffer and I want to be prepared. How long does he have without treatment? How long after finding it would it effect his quality of life? Currently he snores and sometimes has to catch his breath. He sneezes quite a bit in the morning when he wakes up. Sometimes it bleeds so I've been keeping his nose moist with paw paw ointment. His eyes have started watering a bit in the last 2 days. And now I think his muzzle is a bit swollen

my all white female pitbull is 12 years old. About a year ago the vet discovered she has skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma).. was about golf ball size till i got it surgically removed. As soon as it healed, it grew back. Now its a little bigger than a golf ball size. And i dont know what to do. I dont want her to suffer.. but i dont want her to go through getting the tumor surgically removed again & it grow back once again.
i have been giving her pain meds & amoxicillin.