SCCD is strongly association with dark coat colors in a number of breeds. Black Standard poodle dogs are at high risk for SCCD, but light coloured dogs, including white and cream are, known to be, unaffected. Although the light colored Standard Poodles have the causal variant at the same frequency as the black Standard Poodles, they do not get the cancer because it is thought that the mutation that is associated with the light coat colour prevents the SCCD causal variant from increasing risk of SCCD.

Squamous cell carcinomas in dogs often appear as a white skin mass or a raised lump on the skin, in the nail beds of the toes, or in the mouth. The mass may bleed or ulcerate as the condition progresses. In dogs, squamous cell carcinomas are the most frequently diagnosed carcinomas.

The variant is a Copy number variation (CNV)

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or actinic keratosis is a malignant tumor of epidermal cells in which cells show differentiation in keratinocytes (it is the major constituent of the epidermis, constituting 95% of the cells found there). It accounts for 5% of all cutaneous tumors found in dogs.

These tumors generally grow slowly, but are aggressive in nature. They, however, do not metastasize to the regional lymph nodes. They are usually found in those areas within the epidermis where there is a dearth of pigmentation, hair or a very sparse hair coat. The peak incidence of squamous cell carcinoma in the dog is between 6 and 10 years of age.