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Oral Cancer in Dogs and Cats
Posted on 02/14/2012 | Comments and Reactions
Oral cancer is very rare in humans but very common in dogs. It has been estimated that 7% of all cancers in dogs is oral in nature. That is extremely high. There are four major cancers that make up the majority of cases we routinely see.
First is Fibrosarcoma. Fibrosarcomas are malignant tumors with a tendency to grow to quite a large size, invade deeper structures such as tendons, fascia, and muscles, and ulcerate the epidermis. These tend to be like an octopus and grow tentacles into surrounding tissues. These cancers are aggressive and we treat aggressively. If caught early, we can treat with surgery and radiation/chemo therapy.
Second is Squamous Cell Carcinoma. This is not nearly as aggressive as the other cancers can be but is still a very serious cancer. If it occurs towards the front of the mouth, it is not nearly the problem as when it is near the tonsils, throat or other lymph nodes. Treatment has a high success rate if caught early.
Third is Melanoma. Melanomas can be very aggressive if not treated early. Oral melanoma and other oral cancers can present as a pigmented or non-pigmented fleshy masses anywhere in the mouth. Melanomas have a very bad reputation for metastasizing early. This makes long term survival poor. Once again, early and aggressive treatment is the main option on this cancer.
Fourth is Osteosarcoma. This is a cancer of the bone. While more common in the limbs, it can be found on occasion in the mouth (upper or lower jaw). Since it too metastasizes, chest xrays should also be taken to make sure other areas are not highly involved. We do a simple biopsy and then send it to the lab for verification.
Oral osteosarcoma is treated with greater success then limb or other bones osteosarcoma. The average survival of dogs after surgery is around a year to a year and a half depending on what part of the oral cavity is affected. Surgical removal must be complete to prevent recurrence. We see it reoccur on occasion but it is not common to do so. Radiation and chemo have not proven to lower reoccurance. Good removal of all affected bone is the best treatment.
I cannot emphasize enough the need for early detection and treatment. It is the key to higher survival rates. Taking your pet to a veterinary dentist is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment. Your primary care physician can be the best doctor in the world but you don’t go to him or her when you have a tooth problem. Veterinary dentists limit their practices to oral related medicine and are uniquely qualified to handle everything from cleanings and diagnoses to the most complex oral problems. Because I-20 is a 24 hour animal hospital we can provide care round the clock if your pet needs hospitalization.
Dr. Bloom is a veterinarian who has completed a three year residency of additional training in dentistry so she can be qualified to handle these complex problems. There are less than 100 vets nationwide with her qualifications.
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