[Case report: oral malignant melanoma in an 11-month-old Dobermann]

Oral malignant neoplasms are very common in old dogs. The prognosis of oral malignant melanoma (MM) for long-term survival is poor, because of early metastasis and delayed diagnosis. Oral MM in immature dogs is rare. A case of oral MM in an immature dog is described. The diagnostic workup includes radiographs of the tumor and thorax, a cytologic examination of the regional lymph nodes and a biopsy of the tumor. The therapy with the best chance of success is the radical surgical excision of the tumor.