Dogs over the age of ten are most likely to be identified with mouth cancer; however, it can also arise at any age. Some types immediately spread to other body areas and form at an alarming rate, even getting to the underlying bone. In this article, we will discover some signs that might indicate your dog has mouth cancer and the potential methods for therapy.
What is mouth cancer in dogs?
The mouth of our dogs is made up of multiple forms of cells, including skin, fibrous, and bone cells, similar to the human mouth. The existence of cancer in any of these cells triggers them to mutate and proliferate uncontrollably, leading to tumors that can infect and invade surrounding healthy tissues.
While some cancers progress slowly and are unlikely to metastasize, others can promptly travel from one area of your dog’s body to another. Melanoma, squamous cell cancer, and fibrosarcoma are the three most frequent forms of oral cancer in dogs. You can ask a veterinary internal medicine specialist to learn more.
What are the symptoms of mouth cancer in dogs?
Mouth cancer in dogs generally shows up with the following indicators:
- Too much drooling
- Loose teeth
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
- Blood coming from the mouth
- Dental pain
- Bad breath
- Weight loss
- Swollen or flawed parts on the face
- Noticeable mass in the mouth
- Difficulty chewing or drinking
How do veterinarians treat dog oral cancer?
Mouth cancer in dogs is commonly treated with surgery. Your pet’s cancer may be treatable by surgery if it is detected early enough and the tumor is in an effortlessly accessible location. Some dogs with advanced situations of mouth cancer may need thorough surgical extraction of their jaw to eradicate the disease.
After surgery, your veterinarian may provide radiation treatment or immunotherapy to help eliminate cancer cells and speed up the healing process. If your dog’s oncologist can not eliminate the lump surgically, considering its advanced level or area, radiation therapy may be used rather or along with surgery. Dogs getting radiation therapy for mouth cancer might experience short-term mouth irritation, including redness, inflammation, and ulceration; nonetheless, these symptoms normally subside within a week. Consider the puppy doctor in Charlotte to help you with this surgical treatment.
What does dog oral cancer look like?
Mouth cancer can manifest in a variety of ways depending on where they have grown; however, they most frequently show as lumps or swellings anywhere in the mouth, most frequently on the periodontal and top of the mouth. These lumps tended to hemorrhage and rupture, making the patient prone to infection.
The dimension, kind, placement, and strength of your dog’s tumor all contribute to how it feels and looks. However, tumors in the mouth can be darker in color than the surrounding cells or non-pigmented, and they might appear soft swellings or more cauliflower-like in shape.
How long can dogs live with oral cancer?
Several factors, including the tumor’s spot, its development stage at diagnosis, and the dog’s general health, impact how long a dog with mouth cancer can expect to live.
Surgery can successfully treat a tumor if it is detected early enough. Unfortunately, mouth tumors in dogs are commonly misdiagnosed until the cancer has spread. Many of these dogs have a life span of 12 months after diagnosis with correct treatment, at which point euthanasia is the most gentle choice. If you notice something different in your dog’s teeth, don’t hesitate to bring them to a dog dentist.