Mastocytoma is a malignant mast cell tumor that often appears on the skin of dogs. It is formed from mast cells - mast cells, of which the connective tissue of animals consists. A distinctive feature is its slow, but dimensionless growth. Most often this tumor is found on the limbs and trunk of dogs, less often on the head and neck. The most prone to mastocytoma are such breeds of dogs as the bulldog, boxer , sharpei , pitbull terrier and others.
Symptoms of this tumor are very similar to other skin diseases: warts, wet dermatitis and others. On the affected area of the skin, the dog falls out wool. The skin looks red and inflamed. The slightest impact on this site leads to a sharp increase in mast cells and an increase in the tumor. What to do if a dog has a tumor?
Mastocytoma in dogs - treatment
To clarify the diagnosis of mastocytoma, the veterinarian-oncologist must collect all necessary tests, make ultrasound and x-rays, and also make a histological classification of this tumor.
Treatment of mastocytoma in dogs is only operative. However, due to the fact that the tumor quickly spreads to the tissues located side by side, the surgical method of treatment is shown only at the first and second stages of the mastocytoma. In this case, the tumor is captured together with a healthy tissue and completely excised. After surgery, chemotherapy is performed.
In the presence of metastases in the dog, at a late stage of the disease, when surgery is not recommended for the animal, chemotherapy is also used.
To treat mastocytoma in dogs, radiation therapy is also used. To radiation is more sensitive to a tumor that is low-grade. An increase in the tumor reduces the effectiveness of irradiation treatment.