In canine oral tumors, which histologic type is most commonly reported, preceding others such as squamous cell carcinoma?

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In dogs, the most frequently reported histologic type of oral tumor is melanoma. This predominance comes from the presence of melanocytes in the oral mucosa, which can give rise to malignant melanomas more often than other tumor types. Melanomas in the canine mouth can be pigmented, but many are amelanotic, so they aren’t always obvious by color alone; histology reveals proliferating melanocytic cells that invade surrounding tissue. Because of their frequency and aggressive behavior, melanomas are the top consideration when evaluating canine oral masses. Squamous cell carcinoma is the next most common, but it occurs less often than melanoma. Other tumors like lymphoma or fibrosarcoma occur in the mouth as well, but at lower frequencies.