My senior dog has a new black skin patch. Could it be cancer?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Chinese Crested | Male | neutered | 7 years and 9 months old
I have a 7 year old chinese crested that already has a lot of darker patches on his skin since he has gotten older. They are usually just a dark brown, but I recently noticed an extremely dark patch that's completely black in the middle of another lighter patch on his ribs. It doesn't feel like a scab at all and it isn't raised at all, but I am still worried. Could this be a cancer even though it's not a tumor? Or is it just another normal mark?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 4th, 2016
From your description of the darker patch it sounds like another patch of hyper pigmentation due to old age. Melanoma (a type of tumor) could potentially start with this type of hyper pigmentation though and evolve in a proper growth. A picture of it would be extremely helpful, but it can be shown to us only by requesting a consultation. Otherwise a check up would be needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 26th, 2020
Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is very hard to say what is going with your dog's skin on the picture you posted. It looks like normal skin pigmentation, but it may be a bruise or small growth. If the area is not bothering Mucho at all, the dark patch is soft and feels like normal skin, is not raised, not painful I would monitor this for the next 2-3 weeks. If it is getting bigger or starts bothering your dog, if there are more patches like that that suddenly popped up on the skin, you will have to take him to your local vets for a check.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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