Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and outcomes of toe cancer in 79 dogs after treatment
By Marconato, Laura et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2021·Department of Medical Veterinary Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical Features and Outcome of 79 Dogs With Digital Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Treatment: A SIONCOV Observational Study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 79 dogs with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on their toes was studied to understand how this uncommon cancer affects them. Many of the affected dogs were dark-coated Schnauzers, which had worse outcomes compared to other breeds. Most tumors were found on the front legs, and many dogs showed signs of bone damage. The best treatment was amputation of the affected toe, which worked well for most dogs, while chemotherapy and radiation were used in some cases but had unclear benefits. Regular check-ups are recommended for high-risk breeds to catch any issues early.
People also search for: dog toe cancer treatment · Schnauzer squamous cell carcinoma · dog digit amputation recovery · signs of cancer in dogs · dog cancer follow-up care
Abstract
In dogs, digit squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is uncommon. Clinical signs are frequently underestimated, leading to a diagnostic delay. The purpose of this retrospective study was to report our experience regarding the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, treatment and outcome of 79 client-owned dogs with SCC of the digit. The greatest majority (84.8%) of dogs was dark-coated. Schnauzers represented approximately one third of the study population, and had a poorer outcome compared with other breeds. The majority of SCCs occurred in the front limbs (61%), and bone lysis was frequently observed (92.4%). Approximately 9% of dogs had involvement of multiple digits, and this was associated with a shorter time to progression (TTP;= 0.047). Similarly, a duration of clinical signs >90 days was associated with a shorter TTP (= 0.02). Regional lymph node metastases were documented in 17.7% of dogs at admission and were significantly associated with tumor-related death (< 0.001). At presentation, none of the dogs had evidence of distant metastasis. Digit amputation achieved adequate local tumor control in the majority of cases. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy were carried out in 21.5% of cases, with uncertain benefit. Due to the relatively non-aggressive clinical behavior of digit SCC, chemotherapy should only be offered in the case of metastatic disease. Approximately one fourth of dogs developedSCCs during the follow-up. Careful examination of the digits should be encouraged in breeds considered at high risk and in dogs with a previous history of digital SCC.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33996973/