Oral measurements for dogs

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What are oral masses in dogs?

Oral masses are visible swelling in your dog’s mouth. It is important to note that not all cases of oral mass are cancerous. In fact, most cases are benign diseases.

As a pet owner, it’s important to check your dog’s mouth regularly, as early treatment can give your dog a happier, longer, and more fulfilling life. Half-yearly check-ups are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.

Types of oral masses in dogs

Benign tumors in dogs include:

• Peripheral odontogenic fibroids (POF) are the most common oral masses in dogs. These tumors usually occur individually, are not aggressive and grow slowly. But they can get pretty big.

• Acanthomatous ameloblastomas are benign as they do not metastasize, but they are very aggressive locally and can invade the bone and displace local structures such as the teeth.

• Odontomas are not as common as the others and usually arise from the same cells that form teeth. These tumors grow slowly and are more common in younger dogs.

The types of malignant tumors include:

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  Melanoma is often pigmented and very aggressive and has a high rate of metastasis, as it has already spread to the lungs and lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis.

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  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) often appears red due to its inflammatory and ulcerative nature. It most often penetrates the underlying bone.

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  Fibrosarcoma is similar to SCC. These tumors are often locally aggressive but metastasize slowly.

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  Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is more common in the tubular bones than in the jaw. It acts aggressively and can metastasize to the lungs and other areas.

Other oral masses in your dog’s mouth may be due to poor dental hygiene. Periodontal disease causes inflammation and pain and often results in gingival hyperplasia (excessive gum growth), which can often be mistaken for a mass. Tooth cysts can develop due to unbroken baby teeth or oral papillomatosis, a virus that is transmitted from one (usually young) dog to another and results in the formation of wart-like growths in the mouth.

Symptoms of oral masses in dogs

Not all oral masses are cancerous. Fortunately, the mass in dogs is usually found to be benign. Just because it doesn’t metastasize (spread) elsewhere in the body doesn’t mean it won’t cause your dog significant discomfort or pain.

You may notice a mass in your dog’s mouth that is next to a tooth, on the gums, on the inside of the lip, at the back of the throat, or even under the tongue. Sometimes the mass can ulcerate (the skin becomes inflamed and raw) or become infected.

Other signs include:

• Bad breath

• bleeding from the mouth or bloody saliva

• drool

• Swollen face or facial asymmetry

• The face or mouth with your paws or rubbing

• Jaw rattle

• Resistance to opening or closing the jaw or brushing your teeth

Difficulties with eating, withdrawing from food, and losing weight can occur in advanced stages of the disease when the tumor has grown excessively or is ulcerated or infected.

Causes of oral masses in dogs

Most oral masses in dogs occur for reasons that are not well understood. Several factors have been associated with certain tumours, including:

• Alter

• UV damage (or other environmental triggers)

• DNA mutations

• genetics

Certain dog breeds are predisposed, including:

• Retriever

• Dackel

• Boxer

• Schäferhund

• Schottischer Terrier

• Pudel

It has been shown that other masses, such as papillomas, are caused by the canine papilloma virus.

How vets diagnose oral masses in dogs

Since the biopsy is performed under anesthesia, a series of dental X-rays is also usually recommended and performed. X-ray images of teeth are useful to determine the extent and bony involvement of the tumour, as malignant masses often invade the underlying bone and/or displace surrounding tissue, such as the teeth. X-rays of the teeth are also necessary to determine the presence of cysts, which often displace other structures but do not penetrate the bone.

Other tests that may be useful for staging and treatment include:

• Blutbild

• Röntgenaufnahmen der Brust

• Ultraschall des Abdomens

• Aspirate/Biopsy of local lymphocytes

• CT/MRT

Treatment of oral masses in dogs

Treatment depends on the type of tumor, but surgery is required for most oral masses in dogs, including dogs with gingival hyperplasia. It is important that the mass itself is removed along with sufficient surrounding tissue to prevent local recurrence of the mass. Sometimes this may include the removal of the tooth (or teeth) or even part of the jaw, often in the case of malignant diseases.

Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may follow when the intervals are close or in cases where surgery could be risky, such as in dogs with concomitant conditions that would preclude them from surgery, or in dogs where metastasis is significant. Some tumours, such as melanoma, may require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to treat them.

Cases of oral papillomatosis often do not require any therapy at all, as many cases resolve spontaneously within a few months. Surgical removal, laser ablation therapy, or certain medications may also result in regression.

Restoration and treatment of oral masses in dogs

Your dog is often released with pain relievers, suggestions for a gentle diet, and instructions not to chew toys while healing.

Unfortunately, melanomas have the worst prognosis overall, as they are highly malignant and have usually already spread at the time of diagnosis. Most dogs succumb to the disease within a year.

Prevention of oral masses in dogs

Obwohl orale Massnahmen nicht vollständig vermeidbar sind, können Sie die Wahrscheinlichkeit erhöhen, dass Massen frühzeitig erkannt und angemessen behandelt werden, wenn Ihr Hund routinemäßig medizinisch versorgt und halbjährlich untersucht wird. Als Tierhalter können Sie Ihrer Sorgfaltspflicht nachkommen, indem Sie Ihren Hund täglich zu Hause mit regelmäßigem Zähneputzen, Kauen, Feuchttüchern oder Sprays und Gelen zu Hause versorgen. Dies ist der beste Zeitpunkt, um das Maul Ihres Hundes zu untersuchen und nach Anzeichen einer Entzündung oder Tumorbildung zu suchen.

Beitragsbild: iStock.com/Shironosov