A few weeks ago, I noticed a large, raw wound on Piko’s ear that just wouldn’t heal. It looked painful, and I hoped it was just from scratching or a minor infection. To stop any parasites, I gave him Bravecto. But even after that – and a full course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine – the sore stayed open, raw, and uncomfortable. Day after day, nothing changed.
Eventually, our vet took a closer look and suspects that Piko might be suffering from something more serious: squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a type of skin cancer.
What Exactly Is Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Dogs?
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common form of skin cancer that starts in the squamous cells – the flat, outermost cells of the skin. These cells are normally part of a healthy cycle where they grow, do their job, and shed off. But with SCC, that normal cycle breaks. The cells begin multiplying abnormally, leading to thickened, crusty, or ulcerated patches that don’t heal. These cancerous areas often become inflamed, painful, and prone to bleeding.
In dogs, SCC typically affects parts of the body that have less fur and are more exposed to the sun – like the nose, belly, paws, or, in Piko’s case, the ears. The cancer is considered locally invasive, meaning it can aggressively grow and destroy surrounding tissue, but it doesn’t always spread (metastasize) to distant parts of the body right away. That’s why early detection and treatment are so important.
Why Piko’s Ear Was Especially Vulnerable
Piko has a white ear flap, which means there’s very little natural protection against UV rays. Light-colored and thinly haired areas are at much higher risk of damage from sun exposure. Even a small scratch – like one from play or shaking his head – can turn into an open sore that gets worse instead of healing.
Once that spot becomes irritated again and again, inflammation takes over. And chronic inflammation is a dangerous trigger. In dogs, repeated trauma or exposure to sunlight can cause the skin cells to mutate. These mutated squamous cells then multiply out of control, which is how a simple wound can evolve into something as serious as cancer.
That’s what we’re likely seeing with Piko: a stubborn sore on his ear that never healed, no matter what we tried.
What’s the Next Step? Our Treatment Plan
To confirm the diagnosis, the vet recommends a biopsy. But due to the nature and location of the tumor, this isn’t a simple needle sample. The vet needs to surgically remove the entire affected area – basically, that means amputating a large portion of Piko’s ear flap – and send it to the lab for histopathological testing.
Only under the microscope can they say for sure whether it’s SCC.
The total cost for this procedure, including surgery and lab fees, ranges between 2.5 to 3 million IDR (around €150-180). If the biopsy confirms that it is indeed squamous cell carcinoma, the vet will check if the cancer has clear margins (meaning: they got it all out). If any cancerous cells are left behind, follow-up treatments such as cryotherapy, laser, or radiation might be needed to ensure it doesn’t return.