What is oral cancer?
Your dog's mouth contains numerous types of cells, like skin cells, fibrous cells, and bone cells (similar to your mouth). If cancer develops in the mouth, these cells change and start to divide without control. Tumors (groups of abnormal cells that form lumps or growths) develop and invade nearby tissues.
Some forms of cancer grow slowly and are less likely to spread to other areas of the body, whereas some cancer cells (malignant or metastatic tumors) are more aggressive and can quickly begin to spread throughout your dog's body.
The most common types of oral cancer in dogs are melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma.
What are the most common symptoms of mouth cancer in dogs?
The most common signs of oral cancer in dogs include:
- Bad breath
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Visible lumps or masses inside the mouth
- Swollen areas of the face and lymph nodes
- Excessive drooling
- Panting
- Obvious signs of oral pain, like whimpering or reluctance to eat
- Loose or missing teeth
- Reluctance to be touched on the head
- Significant weight loss
Oral pain is typically apparent, especially in dogs with tumors that have reached the underlying bone.
What causes oral cancer in dogs?
In most cases, it's impossible to determine the cause of canine oral cancer. However, a complex variety of genetic, hereditary, and environmental risk factors may be to blame. The disease is relatively common in dogs. Breeds with a somewhat elevated risk of developing mouth cancer include Akitas, cocker spaniels, Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, boxers, collies, golden retrievers, and Scottish terriers,
What does cancer look like in a dog's mouth?
If your dog has cancerous oral tumors in their mouth, they may appear as lumps or swollen bumps on the gums around the teeth, or on the roof of the mouth. That said, they can appear anywhere in a dog's mouth. These cancerous tumors will often break open and cause bleeding and infection.
Depending on the size, type, and location of your dog's tumor, as well as cancer's propensity to read, oral cancer tumours in dogs may be darker in colour than the surrounding tissue (pigmented) or non-pigmented. They can also appear as smooth lumps or may be more cauliflower-like in appearance.
The average age of dogs diagnosed with oral cancer is 11 years, although the disease can be diagnosed in dogs of any age. This is why it's important to understand the signs of mouth cancer and act quickly if your dog is showing symptoms.
You can find pictures of dogs with mouth cancer and various tumors in different stages by using your favorite search engine, but we strongly recommend booking an appointment with your vet for an exam if your dog is showing any signs of masses in their mouth or oral pain, since each case is different and symptoms may appear differently depending on numerous factors.
How is oral cancer in dogs treated?
Surgery tends to be the most successful treatment option for oral cancer in dogs. If the cancer is diagnosed in its early stages and the tumor is easy for the vet to access, surgery may even cure your dog's disease.
For other dogs, a vet may need to remove a large portion of the jaw during surgery in an attempt to eliminate all or most of the cancer cells.
While chemotherapy isn't generally considered effective as a treatment for mouth cancer in dogs, your vet may recommend radiation therapy or immunotherapy following surgery to help kill cancer cells and allow your pet to recover.
Radiation can also be used in place of surgery if the tumor is too difficult to reach or too advanced to be removed by your veterinary oncologist, or it can be used to supplement surgical treatment. Radiation for oral cancer in dogs can cause redness, inflammation or ulceration of the mouth in some cases, but these symptoms typically clear up about a week after the radiation is administered.
How long can dogs live with oral cancer?
Early diagnosis and treatment are the key to good outcomes. If a tumor is detected early, depending on the type of cancer and the location, there is a possibility that the tumor could be surgically removed, allowing your dog to live happily for many years.
However, if your dog's oral cancer isn't detected until the later stages, there is a higher risk that the cancer will have already spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. Sadly, dogs who are diagnosed in later stages may only live for another six months to year. Left untreated, the prognosis for dogs with oral cancer is very poor, with an average survival time of 65 days.
When it comes to diagnosing and treating dogs with mouth cancer, each case is different. General information about survival rates may or may not apply to your dog depending on their circumstances, and your dog's life expectancy, treatment options, prognosis, and outcomes will depend on a host of factors. Our board-certified veterinary oncologist at All Animal Clinic is here to help you navigate this issue every step of the way and provide advice, guidance, support, and treatment to support the best possible outcomes for your dog.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.