| Cancer is a very un-predictable disease even | | | | |
| in dogs. You can't really tell which dog | | | | Symptoms of oral cancer are usually bleeding, |
| breeds will be susceptible to cancer forming | | | | persistent growth of the cancer cells, pain, |
| in or on their bodies, and there is virtually | | | | change in how they eat, weight loss, and |
| nothing you can do to prevent the cancer from | | | | lethargy. Let's look at weight loss and |
| forming if they are genetically predisposed | | | | eating patterns first. If you dog is |
| to the disease. There are several types of | | | | experiencing pain in the mouth generally they |
| cancer and in this article we are going to | | | | will not want to eat the dry hard food. |
| look at oral cancer. There are two areas in | | | | They typically begin to avoid the food even |
| which oral cancer can form: in the mouth or | | | | when they are hungry. They may even start |
| in the nasal cavity. Each area has its own | | | | eating soggy pieces that have landed in the |
| symptoms to look out for and can be deadly if | | | | water bowl. Not eating of course will lead |
| left untreated. We are going to look at both | | | | to the weight loss. This is typically the |
| cancers and help you with treatments so you | | | | first symptom or symptoms that you will see. |
| can understand what your dog may have to go | | | | You may also see the masses if you check your |
| through. | | | | dogs teeth on a daily basis. The bleeding |
| | | | will usually result the longer the illness |
| In the oral cavity a dog can grow tumors or a | | | | goes on. This is usually towards the last |
| mass that looks like a lump. These lumps can | | | | stages of the disease where death could be |
| form on the gums or in the bone in the mouth. | | | | imminent. They can choke on the blood as |
| If they form on the lips, gums, or skin | | | | well as experience lethargy due to blood |
| around the mouth you will be able to | | | | loss. |
| recognize them a little easier. With bone | | | | |
| cancer in the mouth it is hard to see the | | | | Once you have realized your dog's health has |
| symptoms when they first appear. With oral | | | | deteriorated you should seek a vet. They |
| cancer in the mouth you will usually see a | | | | will offer you three or four methods of |
| black formation that is small at first and it | | | | treatment depending on their facilities and |
| will continue to grow. There may be a couple | | | | what has worked best in the past. Usually |
| of spots of black lumps depending on the | | | | the first option is surgery to remove the |
| progression of the disease. When the disease | | | | masses from the gums or nasal cavity. They |
| progresses these lumps can make the gums | | | | will suggest the removal of bone for the bone |
| bleed, the teeth fall out, and they can | | | | cancer in the jaws, but this can be extremely |
| spread. You should also realize that some | | | | expensive and difficult as they have to |
| types of oral cancer can be benign, which | | | | reconstruct the jaw once they have removed |
| means they are not harmful to your dogs | | | | the mass. Radiation is another choice |
| health. In most cases the cancer is | | | | offered. It works to minimize the growth of |
| malignant and can result in death. For nasal | | | | the cells as well as kill the mass that has |
| cancer the dog will form these lumps in the | | | | already formed. This is usually the best |
| nasal passages. It can be difficult to see | | | | method if you do not want to undergo surgery |
| these lumps as they can be further back in | | | | for your dog. |
| the nose than just at the tip. | | | | |