Mouth cancer is becoming very common among people nowadays, especially with the increase of smokers and drinkers among elderly people. But do you know that dogs can also acquire this type of oral illness? Just like liver cancer, kidney cancer and bone cancer, mouth cancer is also becoming increasingly popular among canines today.
Just like in people, canine mouth cancer can be seen in almost any part of a dog’s mouth, such as the teeth, fangs, tongue, jaws, gums, and can affect even their nasal areas. Canine mouth cancer is an extremely painful disease which plagues many dogs nowadays. They usually occur more frequently in older dogs, compared to young ones.
If mouth cancer among people occurs because of causes such as alcohol consumption and smoking, those found in dogs are different. Canine mouth cancer can be contributed to various risk factors, but it is believed that diet and hygiene contribute greatly to acquiring this type of disease.
There are certain foods which causes irritation and cancer growth in the mouth of dogs, such as those which contains carcinogenic substances. As for hygiene, dogs that do not receive proper mouth grooming, such as tooth brushing, are prone to developing cancerous tissues.
Since your dogs cannot voice out their ailments, it’s your responsibility as the owner to be sensitive to the health conditions of your lovable pets. Canine mouth cancers have various symptoms. These include:
* Mouth sores or lesions that don’t heal
* Loss of appetite because of trouble in swallowing and eating
* Hoarse-sounding barks and constant whining
* Loss of interest in exercise
* Trouble breathing
Canine mouth cancer is one of the common cause of death among these pets, but there are ways on treating this type of oral disease. Medications, radiation therapy and surgical procedures are common methods on curing canine mouth cancer. The treatment would usually depend on the gravity of the disease and the areas affected.
If you suspect that your pet has canine mouth cancer, it’s best to bring him or her to the veterinarian for a check-up. Early detection and treatment of mouth cancer can help save your pet’s life.