Melanoma is melanocytes or pigment cells that have unchecked division rates, and they get masses. For the most part, we see more melanomas in the dog’s mouth area, sometimes around the toenails and around the rectum. They're not necessarily based on UV radiation and light like they are with people in the skin. That's not as common in dogs. They have a nice haircoat. I think that's part of it. We tend to see them in the mouth or the oral cavity and things like that.

Dog lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes, which are an immune cell in the body. They live in the lymph nodes and produce antibodies. The most common lymphoma is where the lymph nodes become rapidly enlarged throughout the body.

I would say they can get most of the same types of cancers that humans get. I'm not too versed in how many different types humans get, but for instance, lymphoma humans get, so many dog owners are familiar with that. Breast cancer, a lot of owners are familiar with that. Dogs can get that. There is some that overlap.

We do a lot of palliative therapy. We control nausea. We don't want our patients to feel any pain, and we want to have the most positive end-of-life experience between the owner and the patient. We try to make things as painless and as pleasant as it can be in those situations.

It's tough to say, and it's a very personal decision every owner has to make. My advice is when your dog is having more bad days than good days or when your dog stops doing the behaviors that make them happy. That's often their interaction with their owners or their pack members. It may be that it's getting time, at that point, that the dog doesn't feel very well and may be getting close, but that is a decision typically that's between you, your family members, and your veterinary team. We have that discussion to see when everybody thinks it's time.