Gross, Growth in Dogs Mouth..Pix Included

[sugarsgal]

My dog came up with this gross mass in her mouth. It started off just looking like a canker or small abscess and then grew to this GROSS, hard mass. When it was smaller it did look like it was going away, so I kind of let it go, till hubby told me tonight and showed it to me. (He takes care of the dog stuff and I take care of the horse stuff) We can't get her to a vet till next Wednesday .. Any Ideas on what this is? or What I can do for her?






She is eating nromally if not more then normal (hard kibble) and she is drinking plenty of water. It doesn't seem to bother her at all. She isn't fevered or ill, she is quite her frisky, annoying self

Oh, she is a 5 1/2 year old Boxer

[jkj10209]

Unfortunately, I have some bad news last year at the vet clinic I work for we saw a similar case, a 7 year old lab ret. had a mass like this started out like an abcess then became a hard mass. We were able to take a scraped sample of the tissue and mail it to the TAMU lab for diagnostics, it came back malignant cancer and grew at an outstanding rate. It cause the dog to loose weight because he could not eat as easily and to have very bad breath. The vet recommended just making him comfortable, feeding canned high protein food adding water or mushing it up as needed and rinsing his mouth with a breath and teeth cleaner 2-3 times per day, we use CET Hexarinse. I think that this is something that you should not play around with and try to get into the vet sooner.
Boxer have a high incidence of cancer as well. Sorry for all the bad news and I hope that I am not right. My prayers are with your beautiful girl.

[sugarsgal]

Thanx jkj, I hope you are wrong too, but that is what my hubby thinks too

Moana has been through alot this year, we almost lost her once already. She had the uterus infection, now has hip damage (think doctor cut a nerve when he spayed her) and now this. AARRGG why do I not have luck with animals? I take great care of all of them and give them the best of everthing and this is what I get, A big kick in the

[jkj10209]

I realize that it does not seem fair but maybe these animals are given to you so they can have the best life possible! The family that had the lab ret. I discussed above a year before put down a border collie that they did everything possible for. She developed malignant cancer in her nose which spread to her eye and left her eye bloody with no vision and she could not breathe through her nasal cavity so we did a surgery and cut a hole in her throat in order for her to breath through this hole. She had chemotherapy, and tried several revolutionary treatments from Texas A&M vet school but nothing worked I felt so sorry for them but they gave both their dogs the best lives they could and this is exactly what you are doing.

I am guessing that the uterus infection was a pyrometra spay with puss in her ovaries? this is common in older females that is why spaying and neutering is so recommended as soon as possible if owners are not going to breed the animals and the hip problems may and may not be related to the spay surgery. Hip problems and athritis is VERY common and I have seen lots of boxers with hip problems. Even though every breed has its problems some just stand out.

Like westies and allergies or Labrador Retrievers and ACL problems anyways this is probably more that you wanted to know but I wish you luck with you girl and please post to tell me how the vet appt goes.

[sugarsgal]

Ya, she had pyrometra. We were going to breed her again but decided not to take the risk and hadn't had the chance to make the appointment to get her spayed. This struck so fast and so sudden but we learned from our mistake.

Her hips were fine untill she had the surgery and a friend that had the same vet spay her Boxer had the same problem but worse. Her's started out minor like Moey's then over 1 month time her's couldn't even stand up. Her Boxer had to be put down because if it. I also know another person that went through the same thing with her Cocker cross, again same vet


Thanx, and I will keep you posted

[jkj10209]

Strange that happening 3 times with the same vet. I would ask questions and probably never use the same vet for spay surgery again regardless of the breed.

[farmergal]

Well if this isn't a kick in the pants. Moana has been through so much and now this. I hope and pray it is just a tumor and that once removed she'll be just fine. Poor girl doesn't need more grief, you either.

Let us know what you find out. Keep your chin up. winging prayers your way.

[shayla]

Sugar-my Dal has that EXACT same thing happening.

In fact, a few years ago, she had a growth, exact same place on her upper jaw, and I too feared cancer.

Took it to the vet and found out it wasn't cancer (we had it tested), but just a type of growth which happens (I cannot remember what it's called though).

The only way to permanently halt the growth from recurring was to surgically remove a portion of her upper jaw. No way.

However, he did suggest removing the growth, which we did. He did say it WOULD come back. However, it varies dog to dog as to how long it would come back.

Dottie's has come back-growing fairly slowly, and her surgery was about 2 or 3 years ago (inexpensive surgery-about $150 or so).

Vet says it's not hurting her, and to just let it do it's thing until it becomes an issue for her to eat. At which point (for my own dog at least) either we'll have it removed again, or at her age (and health conditions), she'll end her time with us.

Sending good thoughts your way!!

[sugarsgal]

Thanx everyone, I appreciate all the help and prayers for Moana!!

If hubby gets back early on Monday he is going to take her to the vets then, if not it will be Wednesday.

Shyla, I don't blame you on not having her jaw removed. Quote "Vet says it's not hurting her, and to just let it do it's thing until it becomes an issue for her to eat. At which point (for my own dog at least) either we'll have it removed again, or at her age (and health conditions), she'll end her time with us."

My thoughts too!! We can really only do so much



I can't help but think along the cancer side of it. She is peeing all over the house now (not normal for her) and wants out side like every 30 miniutes.


I will keep everyone posted

Big, BIG hopes that it's nothing serious and will be easily fixed.

[shayla]

Sugar-when I got Dottie as a rescue, she had a MASSIVE growth beneath her tail, pressing on her anal opening. She also had an eyelash which grew inward to always sweep across her eyeball. I rescued her at the age of 7. I can't imagine having both of those issues and NOBODY fixing them for 7 years.

I also stressed the growth on her tail was cancer-it wasn't, but it did have to be removed because if it grew, it could hinder her ability to poop.

Few years later, along came the growth. Again, my concern about cancer. Nope, just a growth. Remove it and let nature take it's course.

My dog has some health issues and some mental issues (she "chews" on her back foot when she's bored/lonely, to the point hair will no longer grow back and there's some flesh missing). She's on Cosaquin for her arthritic hips (go figure-horse meds for the dog). Calcium as well.

She just keeps plugging though, and I bet your baby'll be the same.

Is it possible that she's got a UTI, which is making her pee all over the place?

My youngest cat recently was diagnosed with it, and I figured she was just mad at me and was peeing all over because I was gone so much and she was hacked off about it. Turned out she had a UTI. I was flabbergasted.

A vet visit seems in order, and until then, I've got my fingers crossed for you and your baby.

We love them as best as we can and how we can.

[Jadesmygirl]

Sheesh, Michelle, I can't believe it! What next!?

I have to say I totally agree with jkj though, that your animals are given to you so they do end up with the best life possible. Another might let things go or not care-but not you. So, really, thank goodness they are with you.

Poor Moana. Glad at least she seems to be feeling mostly ok. I will hope for the best!

[kballard]

I hope this doesn't turn out to be malignant. I'll be keeping Moana and you in my thoughts and prayers.

[sugarsgal]

No kidding, eh Heidi? I don't even ask that question anymore because more things just keep happeneing

Again, thanx for all the prayers for Moana.... once again!!

[jkj10209]

How did the visit to the vet office go? Any updates? Hope all is well.

[dogtribe]

Sugarsgal - How did vet visit go? Had a Beagle once that had something looked simialr to that. It was blocked saliva gland. Was so bad it would hang out side of dog's mouth. Vet opened with fine wire and was O.K. It did recur but just open up again and be O.K. for another 6 months or so. Hope maybe that is what you have here.

[dandeeqh]

Any update? How is she doing? How did the vet go?