They begin as small firm lumps which gradually increase in size breaking through the skin to form larger fleshy, ulcerated, bleeding masses.

The majority of perineal adenomas are not malignant (cancerous). They are more common in males than females by a factor of ten to one. The tumors are also sensitive to sex hormones and will stop developing or regress if the animal is treated with female hormone (estrogen) or if male dogs are castrated. There are however side effects of long term estrogen therapy which limit this method of treatment. Mostly these tumors are treated by either surgical removal, freezing or radiation therapy in combination with castration.