Retrospective study of canine cutaneous tumors in Japan, 2008–2017

Cutaneous tumors are commonly found in dogs. To date, few studies have investigated the epidemiology of canine cutaneous tumors in Asian countries. The present study aims to report the prevalence of canine cutaneous tumors in Japan, and assess the association of breed, age, sex, and anatomical locations with the development of common tumor types. A total of 1,435 cases of cutaneous tumors were examined, of which 813 (56.66%) cases were malignant, and 622 (43.34%) were benign. Soft tissue sarcomas (18.40%), mast cell tumor (16.24%), lipoma (9.69%), hair follicle tumors (9.34%), and benign sebaceous tumors (8.50%) outnumbered the other tumor types. Tumors were commonly found on the head (13.87%), hindlimb (10.52%), forelimb (8.01%), chest (5.78%), and neck (5.57%). The risk of developing cutaneous tumors increased significantly in dogs aged 11-year and above (P<0.001). Mixed-breed dogs (14.63%), Miniature Dachshund (9.90%), and Labrador Retriever (8.01%) were the three most presented breeds; while Boxer, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Golden Retriever had an increased risk of cutaneous tumor development in comparison to mixed-breed dogs (P<0.05). Epidemiological information from the present study will serve as a useful reference for regional veterinarians to establish a preliminary diagnosis of canine cutaneous tumors.