Welcome to the Canine Melanoma Web Site.

This site was created to help dog lovers of all ages who want to know more about canine cancer in general, and canine oral melanoma in particular.

Working with your veterinarian, this site will help you:

Recognize early signs of cancer.
Understand the treatment options available, including ONCEPT^®.
Learn more about ONCEPT, the first USDA-licensed therapeutic vaccine proven to extend the lives of dogs treated for oral melanoma.*¹

Please enjoy the site and discuss this information with your veterinarian.

If you’re a veterinarian, please visit For Veterinarians Only to access to more technical information.

*Product indications: Vaccine aids in extending survival times of dogs with stage I or stage II oral melanoma and for which local disease control has been achieved.
¹Data on file at Merial. Study 05-171. 2009.

More Info 1

Did you know?

In companion animals that live 10 years or longer, almost half will die of cancer. Why? Explanations include an increasingly older population (advances in health care mean that fewer dogs die of other diseases at a younger age), improved recognition of early warning signs and more effective methods to diagnose cancer.*

*Vachani C, Making Treatment Decisions for Your Pet, OncoLink Vet. Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Available at: http://www.oncolink.org/types/
article.cfm?c=22&s=69&ss=545&id=9551.
Accessed October 17, 2011.

2

What is cancer?

The American Veterinarian Medical Association defines cancer as an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells*. These growths may occur on the body or within it, and may be benign or malignant. They may be found in a single part of the body, or may invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

*What you should know about cancer in animals. American Veterinary Medical Association. Available at: https://ebusiness.avma.org/EBusiness50/
ProductCatalog/product.aspx?ID=103
Accessed October 17, 2011.

3

Cancer has its own language.

When you discuss cancer with your veterinarian, you’ll hear many terms that are unique to cancer discussions. This site includes a glossary for your use in defining common canine cancer terminology. On this page and throughout the site, terms that are included in the glossary are highlighted for a quick definition as they occur.