Mouth Cancer in Dogs

Mouth cancer in dogs is more common than most owners realize. Read on to learn more.

Have you checked your dog's mouth lately?

It's an unfortunate fact that cancer is a fairly common disease in dogs, often occurring spontaneously in a pet's twilight years. It's also a fact that mouth cancer in dogs ranks as the fourth most common type of cancer your pet is likely to develop.

Although no type of cancer is without complications, mouth cancers tend to present a more immediate danger because of their location. Tumors often grow large enough to cause an obstruction, making it difficult for affected pets to chew and swallow. Surgical reduction of the growth is often necessary for a pet's survival, but it isn't always possible depending on the tumor's type and location.

It's another interesting yet alarming fact that dogs with dark mouth pigment, such as Chow Chows, are more likely to develop mouth cancer.

The good news is that not every tumor will blossom into full blown mouth cancer. Tumors can be divided into two main categories.

Benign tumors are non-cancerous growths that, in general, are easily removed by surgical means. These growths are usually well defined at the edges, without the type of invasive growth into bones and other tissues that is typically seen with malignant tumors. Benign tumors also don't spread to other parts of the body.

The most common type of benign tumor found in dogs is an epulid. These tumors can be found growing on the periodontal ligament.

Malignant tumors are cancerous, and are usually quite invasive to the area surrounding them, making surgical removal difficult, if not impossible. Malignancies also tend to metastasize, or spread by shedding cells, that migrate through the bloodstream to take hold and grow in other areas of the body.

Common malignancies include:

• Malignant melanomas: This type of tumor is the most common mouth cancer in dogs. It is very invasive, which makes surgical removal quite challenging. It also tends to spread rapidly, and so by the time an owner may notice something wrong with her pet, the cancer has probably already spread to other parts of the body.

• Squamous cell carcinomas: These tumors can grow quite aggressively but tend to remain in one localized area without metastasizing.

• Fibrosarcomas: These tumors are very similar to squamous cell carcinomas in that they tend to resemble a bit of red cauliflower and generally don't metastasize until late in their development.

• Acanthomatous ameleoblastomas: These tumors can be extremely aggressive, causing a lot a destruction in surrounding mouth tissues, but luckily they don't tend to spread.

Although it isn't yet possible to determine exactly what spurs the growth of cancerous cells in a dog's mouth, there are a few theories.

1. Carcinogens may actually be inhaled by dogs as they sniff the ground and, generally, everything else around them. These known cancer-causing agents then have the opportunity to take hold and affect surrounding cells, causing the abnormal cell growth that results in cancer.
2. Dogs may actually consume carcinogens. A recent study found a possible link between some commercial dog foods and mouth cancer in dogs. Some brands actually include chemical preservatives and pesticides in their formulas that may also be carcinogenic, but further study will be required to confirm these early results.

Early detection is the key to increasing the success rate in the treatment of all mouth cancer in dogs. Sometimes it is already too late to help a pet who is only just beginning to show symptoms of being sick, so it pays to be diligent.

Owners should regularly check their pet's mouth for the following signs:

• Abnormal lumps or growths inside the mouth
• Abnormal overgrowth of the gums
• Bleeding from the mouth or other discharge
• Presence of sores or white lesions in the mouth
• Difficulty chewing and/or swallowing
• Pain in the mouth

Treatments for the various types of mouth cancers in dogs include:

• Surgical removal of tumorous growths
• Freezing of the tumor material, known as cryosurgery
• Radiation therapy at the site

More aggressive treatments may be supported by holistic therapies including giving herbal, mineral, and vitamin supplements.

It can be devastating for an owner to learn that her pet has cancer, but routine checks of your dog's mouth will help you find any abnormalities as soon as is humanly possible and just might increase your pet's chances for survival.

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