Thanks to the ONCEPT® melanoma vaccine, dogs with oral melanoma (i.e. a cancerous tumor in the mouth) are living longer. This is great news for these dogs and their devoted parents. On the invitation of integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby, veterinarian Dr. Dawnetta Woodruff shares her dog Bert’s experience with the melanoma vaccine and answers some melanoma vaccine FAQs.
In 2015, our family had two dogs named Bert and Ayla. Bert was the older of the two pups, and a rescue. We liked to call him a “Heinz 57” mutt because he was a mix of Labrador, German Shepherd, Chow, plus a few others. He was 100% sweet!
When I was petting Bert one day and checking his mouth (because, let’s face it, veterinarians’ dogs get physical exams quite often), I noticed a black mass hanging from his gums. It was relatively small, but it had shown up extremely quickly. And its color was concerning because typically a black mass in a dog’s mouth is bad news.
My fears were confirmed when the biopsy showed an aggressive malignant oral melanoma. The margins were clear (i.e. all the cancerous cells were removed). But they were also narrow (i.e. the cancer cells were found right next to the edge of the surgical incision). We had some decisions to make about treatment. And I couldn’t help but wonder about using the ONCEPT melanoma vaccine for Bert.
Even though I’m a vet, I still had plenty of questions about the melanoma vaccine. And I’m guessing that if you are in a similar situation with your dog, you might be facing those questions too. That’s why I hope to put your mind at ease by answering 10 FAQs and sharing Bert’s story.
FAQ #1: What is oral melanoma in dogs?
A melanoma is a tumor that arises from the melanocytes, or pigment cells, within the body. You may have heard of melanoma because it is a type of skin cancer in humans. As in people, canine melanoma does sometimes affect a dog’s skin or feet. However, its most common location is in the oral cavity. In fact, malignant oral melanoma is the most common type of tumor found in a dog’s mouth.
Malignant oral melanomas tend to be black because melanocytes create melanin, which is a black pigment. However, there are also amelanotic melanomas, which are melanomas that are pink because they lack pigment. These masses may ulcerate or bleed easily and are usually round and somewhat flat.
Malignant melanomas also tend to grow rapidly and spread aggressively. They are locally invasive, which means they spread deep into the surrounding tissue and even into the bones within the mouth. Additionally, oral melanomas are very likely to spread to other parts of the body. The most common places to find metastasis (i.e. cancer spread) are the lymph nodes and the lungs.
FAQ #2: What will my vet do if my dog has an oral mass?
Once your vet (or you) finds a growth in your dog’s mouth, he or she will likely recommend having it biopsied and removed. Sometimes your vet will want to do an incisional biopsy (i.e. collect a piece of the tumor for testing) before removing the growth. Other times, he or she will recommend removing the whole mass and sending it out for a biopsy. The vet will make this decision based on your dog’s history and the location and size of the mass.
General practice vets may do the removal and biopsy themselves. However, in more complicated cases or locations, the vet may recommend a consultation with a veterinary oncologist, veterinary dentist, or board-certified surgeon. Getting wide enough margins (i.e. removing enough surrounding tissue to “get it all”) can be challenging in some locations in the mouth. Therefore, working with a specialist may be your dog’s best chance for a successful treatment outcome.
FAQ #3: If the biopsy confirms malignant oral melanoma, what are the next steps?
After diagnosis of malignant oral melanoma, your vet (or veterinary specialist) will want to stage your dog’s cancer. That means he or she will perform additional tests to determine if/where the cancer has spread. This may include:
- X-rays of your dog’s chest
- Fine needle aspirate or biopsy of the dog’s lymph nodes in the region
- Bloodwork (CBC and chemistry panel)
- Urinalysis
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Advanced imaging like a CT or MRI
The vet will then assign your dog’s oral melanoma a stage based on evidence of tumor spread and the size of the tumor at the time of surgical removal. The WHO (World Health Organization) classification system for canine oral melanomas defines the stages as follows:
- Stage I: < 2 cm diameter tumor, no metastasis
- Stage II: 2 cm to <4cm diameter tumor, no metastasis
- Stage III: 4 cm or greater diameter tumor, metastasis to local lymph nodes
- Stage IV: distant metastasis to other lymph nodes or to lungs
This information will help your dog’s care team determine the best treatment plan.
FAQ #4: What are the treatment options for malignant oral melanoma?
Once the vet removes the tumor, some dogs require additional therapy (or a combination of therapies) to help their body fight against the cancer. This may mean:
- A second more aggressive surgery to remove additional tissue around the local tumor site
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- ONCEPT® melanoma vaccine for dogs
These are not “one size fits all” kinds of treatments. Some dogs may benefit from one, while other dogs benefit from another. And in some cases, they actually need a combination of treatments.
You will want to have a consultation with a veterinary oncologist at this point if you haven’t already. He or she will answer questions about what kind of therapy is best. Plus, the oncologist can discuss what kind of side effects to expect, how effective the treatments might be, and the cost of the melanoma vaccine vs. radiation vs. chemotherapy.
FAQ #5: What is the ONCEPT® melanoma vaccine for dogs?
Prior to 2007, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation were the only options for treating canine oral malignant melanoma. With the development of a melanoma vaccine called ONCEPT, the veterinary community gained an exciting treatment option.
The canine melanoma vaccine is effective at improving survival times, has minimal side effects, and can be used with surgery and/or radiation. Every case is unique, but most dogs diagnosed with oral melanoma can benefit from this therapeutic vaccine as a part of their treatment plan.
FAQ # 6: Are there any precautions or contraindications to the vaccination? What are the side effects?
According to the vaccine manufacturer’s website (and associated studies), there are no known contraindications. If your dog has stage II or III oral melanoma, and has had the mass surgically removed, he or she can receive the vaccine.
Thankfully, the side effects for ONCEPT are mild. Some dogs will experience a mild fever, or soreness or mild bruising at the injection site. In studies of the vaccine, no side effects were severe enough to require veterinary intervention.
FAQ # 7: How effective is the melanoma vaccine for dogs?
Left untreated, dogs with malignant oral melanoma have a survival time of approximately 65 days. And the median survival time (i.e. 50% are still alive at that point) for dogs who have surgery but not other treatments is :
- Stage I: 17-18 months
- Stage II: 5-6 months
- Stage III: 3 months
- Stage IV: approximately 1 month but varies considerably (could be days or months)
Compared to surgery alone, dogs who received the ONCEPT vaccine following surgical removal of the tumor had a significant increase in survival time. So much so that the researchers were not able to calculate an exact median survival time in the vaccine trial studies. Too many of the dogs were still living at the end of the observation period to obtain correct numbers.
However, as published in the safety and efficacy studies for ONCEPT, researchers calculated that 75% of vaccinated dogs will survive beyond 464 days. This is significantly better than dogs treated with surgery alone where the 75% of patients survive 156 days.
FAQ #8: How does the dog melanoma vaccine work?
ONCEPT is a targeted DNA vaccine. The exact details of how it works are complicated, but in short, it’s similar to traditional vaccines in some ways, yet different in others.
Traditional vaccines for diseases like parvovirus or rabies teach the body to recognize and attack a viral protein when it enters the body. Because the virus is foreign (i.e. not normally found in the body), the vaccine can train the body’s immune system to attack that type of protein any time it “sees” it. Therefore, the vaccination primes the body’s immune system to fight off the virus more rapidly. This can prevent the illness completely, or at least make it less severe.
However, developing a vaccine for cancer cells is not an easy task. One potential target was the oral melanoma protein tyrosinase. However, tyrosinase is also found on melanocytes (i.e. the normal pigment-producing cells in the body). So, if a vaccine taught the body to react to (and kill) cells bearing that protein, it would also be teaching the body’s immune system to attack and kill normal healthy tissues.
To solve that problem, ONCEPT was created using a human tyrosinase protein rather than a canine tyrosinase protein. It is similar enough to the normal tyrosinase that the immune system leaves the normal melanocytes alone. But it is different enough that it will stimulate an immune response that targets the tyrosinase within the cancerous melanoma cells, thus killing them. The technology really is amazing!
FAQ #9: Which dogs are good candidates for the melanoma vaccine?
As mentioned in FAQ #4, your dog’s veterinary team will want to stage your dog’s cancer. In addition to determining if the cancer has spread, it also gives an indication whether the dog is a good candidate for the melanoma vaccine. In general, dogs with stage II (2 cm to < 4cm diameter tumor, no metastasis) or stage III (4cm or greater diameter tumor, metastasis to local lymph nodes) disease are the best candidates for receiving the ONCEPT vaccine.
FAQ # 10: Where can my dog get the melanoma vaccine and how is it administered?
ONCEPT is a specialty medication, which means an oncologist needs to administer it and oversee its use. Your vet can recommend a local oncologist that he or she knows and trusts. Or you can also find a veterinarian specializing in oncology by using the “Find a Specialist” tool on VetSpecialist.com (the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s website for pet owners) or by looking at the Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) website.
Your dog’s oncologist will inject the vaccine into the skin with a specialized VET JET® transdermal vaccination system. Most dogs tolerate the administration well, and react about the same as they would for a traditional vaccine. The vaccine protocol for the initial series is four vaccines given two weeks apart. After the initial series, MERIAL, the company that manufactures ONCEPT, recommends dogs have a booster every six months.
Your dog’s oncologist may recommend observation in their office for a period of time after administering the vaccine. He or she may also suggest follow-up blood work and periodic testing of the lymph nodes and lungs to monitor for metastasis.
Bert’s melanoma vaccination experience
Talking with Bert’s oncologist and reviewing all of the information above helped me feel confident that the ONCEPT vaccine was a good choice for him. He did not have any side effects from the vaccine other than a bit of redness at the administration site and being worn out from spending part of his day at the specialty clinic. Bert was able to receive the entire series, and he had a wonderful quality of life! Like many dogs living with cancer, Bert had no idea that he was sick.
He was diagnosed in Feb of 2015, and his tumor was between stage II & III (it was 4cm, but there was no spread to lymph nodes). He began receiving his melanoma vaccines in March, and he was a happy and relatively healthy boy until December. At that time, I started noticing signs that his cancer was back. His recheck confirmed my suspicions—the tumor had returned (this time deep at the back of his throat). And it had spread to his lungs and his lymph nodes.
Saying goodbye to Bert
We decided to take him home and spoil him with all of his favorite things. And we vowed to enjoy whatever time we had left. According to the median survival times, Bert should have lived about three to six months after his surgery if we didn’t do any other treatment. But instead he was with able to enjoy life for almost 11 months thanks to the melanoma vaccine! I would count his as a vaccine success story for sure.
At the end, he was lethargic and had a decreased appetite. Plus, the tumor in his throat was making it hard to swallow. We gave him a big cake, iced in peanut butter, and allowed him to fall asleep at home eating a favorite snack. It was a beautiful way to do an in-home dog euthanasia as we said our final farewell.
I am incredibly grateful that ONCEPT was an option for Bert, and for the extra time it gave us. If your beloved dog just received a malignant oral melanoma diagnosis, I encourage you to ask your vet (or veterinary oncologist) about the melanoma vaccine. It may be able to give you more precious time with your pup too.
Has your dog received the melanoma vaccine?
Please share his or her story and any advice you have for other dog parents facing a similar situation.
We noticed our boy, a beautiful yellow lab, had a histiocytoma below his mouth early last year. The Vet suggested we watch it as she was unable to do a biopsy without GA. By August it had grown to nearly 2cms. We took him back for a biopsy at that point and our worst fears were confirmed – malignant melanoma. A frantic search for an oncologist resulted in us finding Dr. Joe Impelllizeri, who was incredibly responsive, knowledgeable and, most importantly, empathetic.. He suggested a full course of oncept including boosters. Six months later Roger has been deemed clear of all cancer cells! We could not be happier with Oncept and Dr. Impellizeri!
Hi Vijay & Kamini,
This is such wonderful news! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I am certain this will offer hope and encouragement to others. Wishing your sweet boy continued success and many happy years ahead. ♥
I happend to see Dr. Buzby’s blog while searching for the information about Oncept. Oncept in my country is very expensive. A lot of people think it’s not worthy spending so much money in pets. In my case, I don’t have income; I won’t use my parents’ pension to save my dog. I don’t want to borrow money, as I know it’s very difficult for me to clear the debt in the future.
My dog is currently on chemotherapy. She has received two surgeries since July, 2024. Now she’s growing new tumors in her mouth. The veterinarian recommended Oncept which could prolong my dog’s life. But I know I can’t afford to buy more time for her, which puts me in a difficult, also very sad situation.
I know I will say good-bye to her sooner or later. However, I still want to make my last effort to treat her, to give her more comfy days.
I also know I shouldn’t let my emotion overcome my sense. But my heart is crying. ..
Dear Rena,
My heart goes out to you as you face this emotional situation with your beloved pup. I know you want to do whatever you can to gain extra time together and can understand how hard it is when finances limit the options. I am praying for your strength and for clarity when tough decisions have to be made. Bless you and your sweet girl. ♥
Thank you, Dr. Buzby.
Hi, pls can someone guide how do i procure this vaccine from India?
Hi Trupti,
My recommendation would be to contact the manufacturer directly (Boehringer Ingelheim). They may be able to offer assistance with acquiring the ONCEPT vaccine in your country. Here is a link to their website where you can fill out a form to be contacted: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/contact-us
Hoping you can get the help you need for your pup.
My 6 year old Dachshund was diagnosed a year and a half ago, she had a growth on her inner ear flap, biopsy came back as subcutaneous malignant melanoma. She had surgery to remove part of her ear flap to get clean margins as was started on the Melanoma Vaccine. We have chest xrays every 3 months and the vaccine booster every 6 months at which time I hold my breath. So scared it will come back, hoping it doesn’t. Thank you for this article.
Hi Tareyn,
I am sorry your Dachshund has been through so much since receiving this difficult diagnosis. What a blessing the surgery went well and so far, all of her rechecks have received favorable results. Thank you for sharing your experience as it offers comfort to others in knowing they are not alone. Praying for continued success and wishing you both many happy years ahead.
How did you know when it was the right time to say goodbye for Bert?
Dear Chuck,
I am sorry if you are facing this difficult decision for your own pup. This article was written by Dr. Woodruff, but I will do my best to answer this question for you. She mentioned that Bert had become lethargic, and his appetite was decreased. Also, due to the size of the tumor in the back of his throat, he was having trouble swallowing. If you are looking for guidance on how to make this emotional decision I would recommend you read through a few of our other articles that address this topic and have great comments from other readers. I will attach links to the articles below. Wishing you all the best.
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Thank you, Dr. Buzby, for the links. Since his diagnosis two days ago while visiting the vet for a teeth cleaning they found the black tumors near the larynx, behind a molar, and evidence of additional tumors by lumps at top of mouth/sinus cavity. X-rays didn’t show spread yet to lungs, but the doctor said it’s inoperable due to the location. He said that the vaccine is an option along with chemotherapy. Then I asked him if it was his dog what would he do, he said he’d only make the dog as comfortable as possible, spoil him and enjoy his companionship for his remaining time. I think we are going this route. The links will be helpful.
Dear Chuck,
My heart aches for you as you navigate this emotional path. I think you are doing the right thing by focusing on quality of life instead of quantity. Make the most of the time you are gifted and spoil your boy rotten. Praying for comfort and strength. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
My dog Trooper, a lab hound mix, was diagnosed with an aggressive oral melanoma in May of 2018. I got a referral to Auburn Vet School asap. They removed a small portion of his jaw (not disfiguring as you would imagine) and started on the Oncept vaccine as soon as he was recovered from surgery. I have followed all protocols that were recommended. We did the initial 4 shots followed by a booster every 6 months. My wonderful old fellow is now 17 or 18 (a rescue so I don’t know for sure) and may not be with us much longer simply due to his advanced age. The Oncept vaccine was nothing short of a miracle for Trooper. I’m grateful everyday for him and the vaccine. I know it doesn’t always have these results but it has been amazing for us. It is now April of 2024 and he’s still here and feeling well!
Hi Debbie,
This is such a wonderful story! What a blessing Trooper responded so well to the vaccines, and you have gained years of quality time together. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am certain your post will offer hope and courage to others trying to navigate this difficult path. Wishing you both continued success and many happy days ahead. ♥
Hi!
I noticed a black mass in my 8 year old golden retriever while brushing his teeth. Our primary veterinarian surgically removed the mass from his upper gingiva. Chest x-rays and bloodwork looked great. The mass was around 1 cm in size and biopsy results were positive for oral melanoma. We were referred to an oncologist and were presented with the options as outlined in the article. The mention of this vaccine was only coupled with the more invasive surgery (jaw removal) or radiation therapy. It was not presented as a confident/successful option by itself. No staging was given to our pup although I suspect he’s at stage 1 or 2 (no CT scans or further imaging performed). I was told life expectancy without treatment was 8-9 months. If we chose either further surgery or radiation coupled with the vaccine, we were at 18 months. I understand these numbers are a median, and we can have more or less time with him. I give all this information to ask if Bert received the more invasive surgery prior to the vaccine? Did he go straight to vaccine after removal of the mass only? Since I was not given a timeframe on vaccine only, I wanted to see if there were any similarities between Bert and my pup I could add to my list of options!!
Hi Tyler,
I am sorry your pup has received this difficult diagnosis. He is a very lucky boy to have you searching for answers and advocating for his health and well-being. I can’t give all of the specifics of Bert’s care without talking to Dr. Woodruff as this was an article she wrote about her own dog. I can tell you that the mass in Bert’s mouth was removed prior to starting treatment and there were no other therapies (chemo or radiation) given other than the ONCEPT vaccine. Hoping your boy will respond favorably to the treatment plan you select. Wishing you all the best and praying for a positive outcome.
In 1 hour my Lola Belle gets her first shot. I will be sure to follow up down the road to let you know how she makes out.
Hi Mark,
I hope Lola Belle did well with her first treatment. Prying this will allow her to make a full recovery and have many happy years ahead. Looking forward to your next update!
Your encouraging comments about success with the vaccine are wonderful!
Thank you! Our now 10 1/2 year old precious little girl began the Oncept protocol immediately following surgery in May, 2022 for a malignant melanoma on her neck. We have continued the process, delighted with the results. Yesterday, however, just hours before our scheduled six-months vaccine, we were told that there is a nationwide shortage of the drug. The manufacturing company personally told me of the back order, with no specific availability date. Do you have suggestions for alternative Rx protocols to keep the immune system boosted? Many thanks!🌻
Hi Vicki,
Oh goodness! I am so sorry this shortage is putting a stop to your girl’s treatment protocol. I am glad you said something so others will know there may be issues in obtaining this medication for the time being. Unfortunately, I don’t know what other protocols would be the next best option. This is probably best answered by a specialist/oncologist. A holistic veterinarian or one that practices more Traditional Chinese Medicine may have suggestions for supplements or herbal therapies that could help boost the immune system and keep things in check. I pray you can find the answers you need to help maintain your girl’s quality of life. Wishing you both the best for a long and happy future.
I know this is several months after you posted but when I found out there was a nationwide shortage I called over 10 oncologists in my area until I could find one that had it. I was successful in finding one and begged them to get me in quickly which they did. My dog was able to get the four doses and now sadly, the mass has grown back. I hope that doesn’t mean the vaccine didn’t work. The oncologist told me it was a possibility it could grow back. 🙏🏼 hoping for positive results.
Hi, My boy is usually very strong and energetic and people even doctors don’t believe he’s almost 15! He was recently diagnosed with a large Melinoma mass on his tongue. we did radiation therapy which went well and started the Melinoma vaccine immediately after. After the 2nd shot his hind legs started slowly getting weak and unstable and he moved slower. He just got the 3rd shot and was significantly weaker especially in his hind legs. I recently read another article about this happening to someone else and the dog recovered after a few months… Anybody have a similar issue?
Hi Jenn,
This is such a strange situation. I have not heard of this happening in other dogs, but I don’t have much personal experience with the Melanoma vaccine either. I am glad you are reaching out here and hoping someone will see your comment and have some great information to share. Have you talked to your vet about this hind end weakness? I would see if they can discuss your dog’s case details with a veterinary oncologist. Hoping the vaccine treatment will be successful and offer your pup many happy days ahead. Best wishes to you both!
My dog just received his 2nd shot today. Immediately there was weakness in the rear leg that received the injection. We didn’t see these signs from the 1st shot. I will be monitoring closely.
Hi Scott,
This is so strange! Since your dog saw immediate weakness and only in the leg that received the injection, I am suspicious that this may be due to the location of the injection. In some instances, if a medication is injected close to where the femoral nerve runs down the leg through the muscle, then it aggravates the nerve causing a mild and temporary numb feeling which looks like paresis/paralysis. This numbness tends to resolve on its own over several hours or a day or two. We always try to avoid the femoral nerve, but some dogs don’t read the textbook, and their nerve may be located slightly away from where it is expected. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am curious to see if we will have more readers start to mention hind limb weakness after receiving the melanoma vaccine. Hoping your boy will recover quickly and praying his cancer will respond favorably to the treatment.
Hi, quick update, after 3 days he is 100% back to normal. Thanks.
Hi Scott,
That is such great news! Thanks for the update!
My Chihuahua had her 1st shot and had a similar reaction. It was like she was walking drunk and started a tick in her neck. We are waiting an extra week for her second shot. She quit eating and had severe diarrhea. She only weighs 6 lbs so this was concerning. We finally got her to eat chicken, and she is finally spunkier and walking quickly with her tail back up after a week.
Hi Brenda,
How strange! I am glad your girl is feeling better and is continuing to improve. Thank you for sharing your experience! The more we know the better we can advocate for other senior pups.
My schnauzer mix was diagnosed with digital melanoma in June 2020. He started his vaccine series in August of that year ( it was difficult to get oncology appointment because of Covid). It will be 3 years in June since his diagnosis and he remains cancer free at 15 years and 4 months. The challenge now is to decide how to manage his other age-related health issues!
Hi Lynne,
What a wonderful outcome! Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Wishing you and your senior guy the best!
my guy is a Schwarzenegge mix.. I’m gad to hear. My Oscar is 12. he was diagnosed in March 2023 with toenail melanoma. it was removed. Tomorrow he will get his second shot (Oncept). The shot is EXPENSIVE. Pet insurance may help. We canceled ours with Nationwide during Covid-19; they could not pay our claims due to lack of staff. Unfortunately, we canceled our policy; now we have a $3,000 bill. Not including the removal of the digit. I don’t want to focus on the cost. I just hope I can get more than 8 months. Understandably, doctors won’t commit to a time-line. 🙏
Hi Daniel,
I am sorry your senior guy has been diagnosed with this terrible disease. Praying the Oncept will work its magic and your sweet boy will respond favorably to treatment. Wishing you both the best for many happy days ahead. Bless you.♥
Hi Lynne,
That is awesome, you are very lucky! What is the diagnose for your dog? can you please share with me ? I wish my boy get 5 more years too!
My Leo Sheperd mix almost 11, diagnosed with digital melanoma in August 2024 UC Davis vet clinic. He started his vaccine in this September completed 2.
He had surgery on 8/15/24 amputated his digit and biopsy did not show any mitosis and I took him to the regular Oncology visit on 9/12/2024 they just checked his leg lymph node close to the knee, they saw a spread, Ultra sound showing, no spread to his belly and lungs. He had surgery again on 9/23/24 removed the lymph node. Oncologist suggested to add 6 more months of chemo(Temozolamide) with ONCEPT vaccine.
All the best for your dog and you!
Padma
Email:[email protected]
Dear Padma,
I hope your sweet boy will have many happy years ahead. Best wishes and bless you both. ♥
My Dog had all vaccine shots, but they did not work.
These vaccines take 10 weeks to kick in to have the immune response. My oncologist said my dog immune system had not been trained to do the job even though he had 10 weeks plus time.
I am devastated. After surgery and six radiations, the cancer spread to his lungs.
Dear Otto,
I am so sorry the vaccines did not work for your pup. My heart aches for you that your dog is losing his battle with this tragic disease. Try to make the most of the time you have together and give him all the treats and love. My thoughts are with you as you face difficult decisions ahead. Bless you both. ♥
I’m struggling with the costs related to these vaccines. $8k for vaccines to add an additional 5 months or so seems extreme (especially after spending $5k on the first two surgeries, CT scans, etc.) It’s a lot all at once. Seems the benefit is another boat for the doctors, or the drug makers. The fact that it actually takes 10 weeks to start making a difference, if that is true, is a fact absent from the mouths of the doctors I’m speaking to. I love my dog, truly I do. I’m struggling so hard with what the right thing to do is, and I realize only I can make that decision. Just never thought I’d have to. Thought the end would be simpler, sudden, in his sleep. Fantasy land I guess.
Hi Michael,
I am sorry you are in such a difficult situation with your dog. I understand how the cost of medical care can be a burden and I wish medications and treatments were cheaper to obtain for patients and veterinarians alike. Please know that just because these vaccines have been recommended does not mean this is the only good way to ensure your pup’s quality of life. Palliative care can be a great option and there are many veterinarians who specialize in this area. My heart goes out to you as you navigate this tough path. Wishing you strength and clarity in your decision making.
Our Scottish Terrier was diagnosed with Melanoma in December 2022. We noticed him chewing on his hind paw, and took him to the vet the day after we saw an abnormal looking growth on his toe. That was Friday and on the following Tuesday, he had the toe amputated. and X-rays of his lungs. When the pathology came back two weeks later, we were told he had Melanoma of the Toe. Fortunately our vet had gotten clear margins with the amputation. It took two weeks to get an appointment with an oncologist. They did more X-rays, an ultrasound of his abdomen, and a biopsy of his lymph nodes. Everything came back clear, so he began his first Oncept vaccine the next day. He has received three of the four vaccines to date and has not had any side effects. His fourth Oncept vaccine is scheduled for Feb 28th. He turned eight years old the day after his toe was amputated. We are hoping his body will respond to the treatment and we can have him with us for a few more birthdays!
Hi Nancy,
This makes my heart happy! What a blessing your boy is doing well, and the surgery was a success. I am glad he was a candidate for the Oncept vaccine. I am hopeful this will be exactly what he needs to live a long and happy life. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Wishing you nothing but the best!
My 10 yr. Old golden retriever was diagnosed with amelonotic melanoma in Feb. of 2023. It was a small bump on the inside of her nose, and she was having a mast cell tumor removed on her chest wall, so I asked if they could remove that as well. The vet was very surprised that it was melanoma. She was referred to an Oncologist who prescribed Oncept. It is now 14 months into treatment and she is about to get her second 6 mos. Booster and is doing well. I was struck by another poster though, that mentioned hind end weakness, as my Dog also has experienced this. She seems to be getting stronger now, but she has had significant muscle wasting in her hind legs. Now I am concerned about her next booster. She struggles on stairs and rising from sleeping. This vaccine is administered on the inside of the hind legs.
Hi Pam,
I am sorry your girl is battling this difficult disease, but glad to hear she seems to be doing well and tolerating the treatment. I am just so surprised at these stories of hind limb weakness after receiving this vaccine. There has to be something to this! Please let your oncologist know about it and ask her to report these findings to the drug manufacturer. The only way we can get them to look into this more thoroughly is if we can make the drug company aware of these instances. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Praying your girl is on the road to recovery and wishing her many happy days ahead.
Our 10 year old female dachshund was diagnosed with oral melanoma in May of 2021. I think it was stage 2 and had not spread by the time it was removed. The margins were not clear though and they were not sure they got everything. We got the option to start the oncept vaccine after the surgical removal and decided to go for it.
This week she has just received her 3rd oncept booster. So she had 4 initial shots then gets a booster every 6 months. We are 22 months now since diagnosis and she is still cancer free! She will turn 13 in June.
She was a bit lethargic for a day after the initial shots but now she takes it like a champ and we notice no side effects at all.
We are so glad we had access to the vaccine and decided to try it.
Hi Vedette,
This is such an amazing story! What a blessing the vaccine has worked so well, and your girl has received the gift of extra years on her life! I can only imagine how thrilled you must be. Thank you for being willing to share your experience. I am certain this will be the ray of hope someone else needs while in a similar situation. Wishing you many happy days ahead. Bless you both.
Hi! How did you know she was cancer free? My dog had the melanoma removed and the vaccine but now the melanoma is back. I am hoping the vaccine will still prevent the cancer from spreading beyond the new tumor in his mouth. Happy you had positive results!
thank you so much. My dog just diagnosed with oral melanoma. trying very hard to get Oncept. no success as auburn is has no oncology appointments until December. Everyday counts. So sad.
Hi Betty,
I am sorry you are having such a difficult time getting in to see an oncologist quickly. I am not sure exactly where you are located in Alabama, but there may be a private specialty hospital near you that has an oncologist on staff. Also, would it be possible to drive to Mississippi State or University of Georgia? Praying for a positive outcome for you and your pup.
Hi! I want to know how I can get the vaccine, please. Because I have a senior dog with an agressive oral melanoma. She has an oncologist but we are from Perú, does anyone know how we could buy it?
Hi Camila,
I understand that you are worried for your senior dog and looking for ways to help fight this deadly disease. I am not sure if the Oncept vaccine can be purchased without a veterinary license. If you have not talked to your oncologist about this as a possibility, I highly recommend it. They may have contacts or ways to get this in Peru even if it isn’t widely available. Merial is the manufacturer. I looked on the website to see if I could find contact information for international customers and could only find a phone number for customers within the U.S. I am sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Praying for you and your sweet girl.