How Long Can dogs live with oral cancer?

Sadly, dogs who are diagnosed in later stages may only live for another 6 months to year. Left untreated, the prognosis for dogs with oral cancer is very poor with an average survival time of 65 days.

How long can a dog live with oral squamous cell carcinoma without treatment?

In dogs without negative prognostic factors, the median survival time reported is 21 months. Radiation therapy is more often considered following surgery in the management of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Sarcomas are considered resistant to radiation therapy.

Is mouth cancer in dogs fatal?

Dogs are prone to many abnormal growths of the tissue inside the mouth and gums. Many of these are benign (not cancerous), although they should be removed to prevent further growth. However, malignant (cancerous) growths may also appear, and if not treated swiftly may spread throughout the body, causing fatal illness.

Is oral cancer painful in dogs?

These tumors may look small but may extend deeper into the tissues than expected, invading the underlying bone. “Oral pain is usually apparent, especially in dogs with tumors that have extended into the underlying bone.”

What kind of oral cancer does a dog have?

Six percent of canine cancer is of the oral cavity and oral tumors are the 4th most common cancer in dogs. Oral tumors are more common in male dogs.

Can a tumor be removed from a dog’s mouth?

If a tumor is caught early when it can be completely removed, surgery may be curative. However, oral tumors in dogs are often not diagnosed until after they have already metastasized.

When to euthanize a dog with an oral tumor?

However, oral tumors in dogs are often not diagnosed until after they have already metastasized. With appropriate treatment, many of these dogs live for around 6-12 months after diagnosis, at which point euthanizing a pet becomes the most humane option available.

When to use SRS for oral cancer in dogs?

Due to its ability to deliver high doses of radiation with sub-millimeter precision, SRS is an ideal option when a complete resection of the tumor through surgery is not possible. For example, Pet Hero Snickers was a 12-year-old Shih Tsu that was diagnosed with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma.