Many types of skin tumors, both benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous), exist in cats and dogs.
Not all forms of skin cancer in cats and dogs are caused by sun exposure, but it can happen occasionally.
Also, cats and dogs with thin or light-colored coats are at a higher risk of sun damage over their entire bodies.
The commonly used diagnostic procedures for skin tumors are fine-needle aspiration cytology and tissue biopsy.
Depending on the tumor type and its level of aggressiveness, additional diagnostic tests can include blood tests to assess the pet's overall health, chest X-rays to check for lung metastasis, and abdominal ultrasound to check for metastasis to other internal organs.