The occurrence of mast cell tumors in young Shar-Peis.

During 1991 and 1992, 802 case submissions diagnosed as canine mast cell tumors were submitted to the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Eighteen of these submissions were from dogs of the Shar-Pei breed. Of these 18 cases, 5 occurred in Shar-Peis less than 2 years of age, 4 of these were poorly differentiated, and 4 out of 5 occurred in the inguinal or preputial area. Three mast cell tumors (grade I) occurred in Boxer/Boxer cross dogs, and 2 tumors (grade II) occurred in Cocker Spaniels younger than 2 years of age. Of the 23,315 histopathology submissions, only 164 were from Shar-Peis and 57 of these dogs were under 2 years of age.