Companion Animal Welfare

Companion Dog Canine Mast Cell Tumour Management

Mast cell tumours are the most common malignant skin tumour in dogs, with highly variable prognosis. Good staging, appropriate treatment, and quality of life monitoring are essential welfare components.

Key Facts

Mast cell tumours account for approximately 20% of all canine skin tumours
Tumour grade is the most important prognostic factor affecting treatment decisions
Surgical excision with adequate margins is curative for low-grade tumours
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors toceranib and masitinib are licensed for mast cell tumour treatment
Systemic mastocytosis causes internal organ infiltration with poor prognosis

Welfare Considerations

Mast cell tumours cause direct welfare impacts through local tissue disruption, degranulation reactions producing systemic symptoms, and discomfort at tumour sites. Appropriate treatment significantly improves welfare and extends life for affected dogs. Quality of life monitoring throughout treatment enables early identification of treatment-related side effects or disease progression requiring plan changes.

What You Can Do

Have any new skin lump on your dog fine-needle aspirated promptly
Consult a veterinary oncologist for complete staging and treatment planning for mast cell tumours
Use quality of life assessment throughout treatment to guide decision-making