What are the treatment options for cats and dogs with nail bed tumors?
The recommended treatment for nail bed tumors is amputation of the affected digit (finger/toe) in order to prevent the tumor from growing back. Additional treatment for SCC does not appear to be required in most cases. In contrast, malignant nail bed melanomas typically require additional treatment but radiation therapy and chemotherapy have shown only a modest benefit. In March 2007, the U.S Department of Agriculture granted a conditional approval of a DNA vaccine against dog oral melanoma. The vaccine was developed through a partnership between Merial, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and The Animal Medical Center (AMC) of New York. Clinical studies of the vaccine in dogs showed significantly longer life spans even in dogs with advanced stages of oral melanoma. The vaccine is administered via a new Canine Transdermal Device, which delivers the vaccine without the use of a needle. The approved protocol for oral mealnoma involves administration of a dose of the vaccine ev
