Dogs & Oral Cancer

Did you know that 6% of all types of cancers in dogs happen to be located in the mouth cavity?  In fact, this is the fourth most common type of cancer for canines.  Dogs that have oral cancer will have one of two types of tumors:  benign or malignant.

A benign tumor does not usually spread and can be removed successfully if detected and treated early on.  However, a malignant tumor is quite different as it can grow deeply into mouth tissues and spread to the rest of a dog's body.  In some cases, the spreading of a malignant tumor can occur quite quickly, which is why dog owners should seek immediate treatment from their veterinarians when their dogs have been diagnosed as having oral cancer. 

Once a dog has been diagnosed with oral cancer, a veterinarian will recommend the proper course of treatment.  Usually, the dog will have to go through a series of diagnostic tests and then surgery to remove the tumor.  If the cancer is serious, the dog's upper and/or lower jaw may need to be removed to prevent the cancer from spreading to other regions of the dog's body.

If you have additional questions about oral cancer and how you can make sure your dog is screened for tumors, seek help from a local veterinarian.