Companion Animals

Dog Mast Cell Tumour Welfare

Mast cell tumours are the most common skin cancer in dogs and range from benign to aggressive, with welfare outcomes strongly influenced by grade and treatment speed.

Key Facts

Mast cell tumours account for 20% of all canine skin tumours
Histological grading predicts behaviour: low-grade tumours rarely metastasise, high-grade frequently do
Surgical excision with wide margins is curative in most low-grade tumours
Toceranib (Palladia) is the first licensed targeted therapy for canine mast cell tumours
Mast cell degranulation from tumour manipulation causes systemic histamine release requiring antihistamines

Welfare Considerations

Mast cell tumour welfare depends on rapid diagnosis, appropriate grading and timely treatment. Early excision of low-grade tumours is straightforward and curative, preventing progression to advanced disease.

What You Can Do

Have any rapidly changing or unusual skin lump assessed by your vet promptly
Request histological grading for all mast cell tumours to guide treatment decisions
Administer antihistamines before surgical manipulation of mast cell tumours as recommended