Clinical Signs of Oral Cancer in Dogs
Owners should regularly check their pets mouth for the following signs:
In order to make a diagnosis, your veterinarian will do a biopsy of the tumor, as well as perform other tests including blood work and X-rays, CT scans, or ultrasounds. The cost of a biopsy will vary depending on whether your veterinarian can easily do a fine needle aspiration or if surgery is required to get at the tumor to obtain a sample. You can expect to pay from $400 to $1,000 or more for the biopsy.
There are four stages of oral cancer that are based on guidelines from the World Health Organization.
According to the Pet Cancer Center, treatments for the different types of mouth tumors vary. However, the most effective mouth cancer treatments for dogs include:
Surgery is the most common treatment for oral cancers and is performed by a veterinarian who specializes in oral surgeries. Surgery can involve removing the tumor or part of the jaw that its attached to and then reconstructing the area surgically. It may also be necessary to remove teeth or gums as well as part of your dogs jaw and cheekbone if they have spread deeper into their mouth.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams of radiation to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue near them. A machine delivers this treatment directly into affected areas at regular intervals over several weeks until all infected cells are eliminated.
Chemotherapy involves injecting drugs directly into tumors while theyre still growing; this allows medications to reach areas that otherwise would be inaccessible through surgery alone.
More aggressive treatments may be supported by holistic therapies, including giving herbal, mineral, and vitamin supplements. Treatment can be expensive with the cost of removing one tumor running from $1,000 to $2,000, plus additional care costs, including blood tests, X-rays, medications, and more.
ONCEPT® Melanoma is a vaccine developed by Merial to help increase the life expectancy of dogs during stage II or stage III oral cancer. Unlike a vaccine given to prevent a disease from occurring, ONCEPT is given to dogs diagnosed with oral cancer in order to bolster their bodys immunity to cancer cells.
Merials research has found that the vaccine can extend a dogs life up to one to two years if the dog receives either surgery or radiation treatment, as well. ONCEPT can only be obtained from a veterinary oncologist, and the cost will vary based on your veterinarians schedule of fees, although you can expect the cost to be in the range of $2,800.
The life expectancy of a dog with oral malignant melanoma largely depends on when it is discovered and treated.
Dogs with oral squamous cell carcinoma have a very short life expectancy if the tumors are located in the tonsils.
If you have other pets in the home, there is no need to worry about the risk of contagion. Cancerous tumors are not infectious and cannot be passed from one pet to another, or to any humans in the household.
What are the most common symptoms of mouth cancer in dogs?
In dogs, the most common signs of oral cancer include: bad breath, excessive drooling, bleeding from the mouth, trouble chewing, obvious signs of oral pain, loose teeth, visible lump or mass inside of the mouth, swollen areas of the face, reluctance to eat and weight loss.
How Will Mouth Cancer Affect My Dog?
Mouth cancer can have a significant impact on the quality of life of your dog. These tumors come in many forms, sizes, and shapes. Some may even spread to distant parts of the body like the lungs. The tumors can develop as growths on the gums, tongue, or the hard or soft palate. Because of the high motion of the mouth, many of these tumors can become ulcerated or break open and begin bleeding. They can also develop secondary infections.
Mouth cancer can be painful for dogs and make eating difficult. Small tumors may extend much deeper below the surface of the gums and infiltrate into the underlying jaw bone. In severe cases, this can lead to fractures of the bone.
Signs of mouth cancer include:
How I Cured My Dog From Cancer Part 1
Just like people, dogs can develop growths in their mouths. These are called oral tumors, accounting for 6-7% of all dog cancers. Oral cancer in dogs is usually primary, meaning it arises directly from the mouth’s tissues. Some are benign but can be pesky, whereas some are malignant and need to be tackled quickly and aggressively.