Mouth Tumor in a Dog

A tumor in a dog's mouth is not uncommon. Fortunately, most of these tumors are not cancerous, but will usually need to be surgically removed. Any time a tumor is detected in the mouth of the dog, he should be taken to a veterinarian for immediate diagnosis.

  1. Benign Tumors

    • The most common type of benign (not cancerous) mouth tumor in dogs is called Fibromatous Epulis. Although it doesn't spread to other parts of the body, it can continue to grow quite large and invade surrounding tissue and can even envelop one or more teeth. This kind of tumor begins in the gum line and is usually smooth and pink. Surgical removal is usually the only treatment.

    Malignant Tumors

    • Even though most tumors in a dog's mouth are benign, cancer in the mouth is still the fourth most common type of cancer in dogs. A tumor located on the tongue is usually malignant (cancerous). The type of cancer and the size and location of the tumor all factor in to treatment and prognosis. It is generally better if the tumor is in the front of the mouth and/or on the bottom jaw; this gives the dog a better chance that the cancer won't spread. Surgical removal is almost always recommended as well as radiation, chemotherapy or both.

    Surgery

    • Because benign and malignant tumors in the mouth tend to be locally invasive, surgical removal usually involves removing surrounding tissue as well to make sure as much tumor cells as possible are removed. This could mean up to several centimeters of the surrounding tissue is removed. The size and location of the tumor could also mean that teeth and/or parts of the jawbone are removed as well.

    Postsurgical Care

    • Soft foods will need to be fed to the dog for at least several days after surgery to allow the sutured areas to heal. The veterinarian will determine how long this is needed. The dog is not allowed to have bones, rawhide or chew toys during this time as well. If the dog doesn't want to eat or appears to be in pain when eating or if he has blood in his saliva, the vet should be contacted immediately.

    Detection

    • Early detection is important to catch the tumor and remove it before it is too large. This will reduce the chances of it spreading if it is malignant, and it will reduce the amount of tissue, teeth and bone that will need to be removed when the tumor is removed. It is best to do a monthly visual inspection of a dog's mouth to check for tumors. Also, excessive drooling, difficulty chewing and bleeding from the mouth are indicators of a possible tumor.