Oral Tumours are a pet parent’s worst nightmare. These tumours can be found in the mouth of dogs and can either be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Most often these oral lumps are harmless, however it is important to get them checked as soon as you detect them and seek veterinary advice to take necessary corrective action.
Understanding Oral Tumours in Dogs
Oral tumours are lumps or masses that are formed inside the mouth – jawbone, cheeks, tongue, gums, lips or hard or soft palate. Sometimes these lumps or tumours are benign (non-cancerous) and grow slowly in the mouth not causing much harm or spreading. While others can be cancerous spreading slowly and affecting the jawline soft tissue and potentially spreading to the lymph nodes and other organs like the throat, lungs or other organs.
Types of Oral Tumours in Dogs
| Benign Tumours | Malignant Tumours | |
| Growth rate | Slow | Rapid |
| Local invasion | Minimal | Invades bone and skin tissue |
| Metastasis | No | Yes (lymph nodes, throat, lungs etc) |
| Treatment outlook | Can be removed with surgery | Depends on stage, type and margins |
Symptoms of Oral Tumours in Dogs
Early Signs to Watch For
● Breath smells bad continuously (persistent halitosis)
● Excessive drooling more than usual
● Difficulty chewing food or spills or drops kibble/food while eating
● Continuous bleeding from the mouth or gums
● Unusual growth or swelling on the gums, lips or jaw
● Loose teeth without obvious dental disease
Advanced Symptoms of Oral Cancer include:
● Facial swelling or asymmetry
● Marked difficulty eating or refusing food
● Weight loss and muscle wasting
● Visible jaw changes, deformity, or pain on opening the mouth
● Difficulty swallowing or choking episodes
Call your trusted vet for a thorough investigation and evaluation if you notice any of the advanced symptoms of oral cancer.
Causes and Risk Factors of Oral Tumours in Dogs
It is difficult to pinpoint the actual cause of oral tumours in dogs. However, there are factors like age, breed, genetics, environmental factors and chronic inflammation that could increase the chances of dogs becoming susceptible to cancerous tumours.
Dog Breeds More Prone to Oral Tumours
Larger dogs like boxers, golden shepherds, golden retrievers, mastiffs etc are suspected to be more prone to oral tumours than other dogs. However, irrespective of age, breed or size, all dogs should be monitored and pet parents should be attentive to any unusual growths, bleeding or swelling around the mouths and take immediate action.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Oral Tumours
Vets perform a multi-step process where they physically examine and evaluate the sample tissue, check what type of tumour and the spread by diagnostic imaging. Here are some of the tests that the vet will use to diagnose the affected area in the mouth.
Tests Used for Diagnosis:
● Physical examination
● Biopsy
● Advanced imaging (CT or MRI)
● CT and Chest X rays
Treatment Options for Oral Tumours in Dogs
Surgery for Oral Tumours:
This is the surgical removal of the tumour. It means surgically removing the tumour and the surrounding gum tissue, affected teeth or partial jaw if the tumour has invaded the jaw bone.
Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy
● Radiation therapy: Radiation is required to remove part of the tumour that couldn’t be removed completely by surgery. This therapy also helps to reduce the chances of the tumour from recurring.
● Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy: Chemotherapy is done selectively based on the type of tumour and metastatic risk; melanoma may be treated with specialised immunotherapies at some veterinary clinics.
*With early detection, many dogs need less extensive surgery like chemotherapy and radiation and have a quicker recovery rate too.
Supportive Care During Treatment
Vets offer necessary drugs and pain medication that should be given in a timely manner for quick recovery and relief for your pets. Apart from that it is important to also follow a balanced and nutritional diet of soft foods for easy digestion. Avoid any rough play and chewing of balls, bones or solid substances until your pet fully recovers. Ensure that you follow-up with your vet to check progress, healing of the operated area and overall health of your pet.
Prognosis and Survival Rate
This depends on various factors like the type of tumour, which stage, size of the tumour, how much it has spread, whether it has been removed completely or there are remnants, whether it has metastasized to other parts of the mouth or organs. Benign tumours can be removed surgically and cause no issues. While malignant tumours require multiple rounds of surgery to remove all traces of the tumour.
How to Prevent Oral Tumours in Dogs
It is difficult to prevent oral tumours completely, however you can be vigilant and control it from spreading by taking immediate corrective action. Here are some ways you can stay on top of things and ensure your dog is safe from any tumours.
● Regular brushing, dental chews and professional dental cleaning practices must be followed to maintain your dog’s oral health.
● Thorough dental checks at home and checkups during your vet visits must be conducted.
● Nutritious and well-balanced food with regular exercise must be followed everyday.
● In case of any irregularities or mouth changes, prompt action and evaluation must be performed.
Tips for Checking Your Dog’s Mouth at Home
Gently lift your pup/dog’s lips to evaluate their teeth, gums and inner cheeks. Look for any abnormal growths or lumps in and around the mouth. Check for bleeding or discoloration of the gums, tongue or palate. Notify your vet in case of any persistent foul breath, bleeding, swelling or moodiness or reluctance to eat.
When to See a Veterinarian
In case of any obvious signs like swelling, bleeding, growth or lumps in or around the mouth, you should quickly get an appointment with your vet. If there is bleeding that refuses to stop. If your dog is having trouble eating–licking, swallowing or chewing their food.
Don’t wait till things get worse, get an early evaluation to reduce distress and anxiety and keep your pet safe from harm, pain and suffering.
FAQs
Can oral tumours in dogs be benign?
Yes. Quite often tumours or masses in dogs are benign (non-cancerous). But, since it’s difficult to tell the difference between benign and malignant tumours, it is best to get it checked to rule out any possibility of it being cancerous.
What does a tumor in a dog’s mouth look like?
Tumours are like red lumps in the mouth. They could also look like large ulcers or swelling on the gums. There could be bleeding but it is not necessary that all look the same way or bleed. Hence it is important for your vet to evaluate and share important findings.
Are oral tumours painful for dogs?
It depends on where the tumour is, the size and how much it has spread. Your dog will show you he is in pain by refusing to eat or not allowing you to touch his face or mouth.
Can oral cancer in dogs be cured?
If the cancer is found early, is small and can be removed completely it can definitely be managed. However, it would be difficult to cure advanced or metastatic cancers – however it can be treated to control it from spreading and improve the quality of life.
Conclusion
Oral tumours can either be benign or malignant. With early detection, quick action can be taken to reduce extensive surgery like chemo and radiation. So, it’s vital that you check your dogs on a regular basis to ensure good dental health. During your pet’s annual check up, ensure their mouth is checked too for any unusual growths or lumps. If you see any suspicious growth in or around the mouth, do not hesitate to visit your vet to put your worries at bay.