An oral mass refers to a growth in a dog s mouth or surrounding head region.
Growth on roof of dog s mouth.
Sometimes the growth is hiding under the tongue and can only be seen when the dog keeps the tongue to the side.
Oral tumors can be found in the dog s lips tongue gums and lymph regions surrounding the mouth.
Any dog may be susceptible to an epulis tumor.
While not all growths masses are cancerous oral tumors can become malignant and fatal if they are not treated early and aggressively.
Assess your dog s risk.
Oral masses malignant and benign in dogs.
Often one big cause of alarm is a bump on the roof of the dog s mouth right behind the top front teeth.
An epulis is a firm pinkish and irregular growth found on the gum of middle aged dogs about 8 years of age on average.
In a normal healthy dog there s a little lump that s located on the roof of the dog s mouth right behind the top two upper middle teeth which by the way are known as the incisors.
It can occur in any dog breed but most commonly in brachycephalic breeds i e breeds with a flat face such as boxers.
They are usually firm smooth and similar in color to the gums.
Melanomas the malignant melanoma is the most common form of malignant growth in the mouth of the dog which develops due to an abnormal growth and division of the melanocyte cells.
If your dog s incisive papilla appears large see your vet consider your dog s breed though.
According to veterinarian dr.
Medium to large breed dogs are affected most commonly.
Signs of epulides in dogs.
However some dogs are more prone to this tumor than others based on their breed and age.
By learning your dog s risk of an epulis you can be more proactive in monitoring your dog s health and looking for any signs of malignant growth in your dog s mouth.
They tend to grow very quickly often involving the underlying bone and some varieties readily spread to other areas of the body.
A growth in the mouth of your dog is defined as either malignant cancerous or benign noncancerous.
Epulides are more common in middle aged dogs.
As long as the mass is small there are few clinical signs.
Malignant melanomas tend to appear on the lip gum and soft palate and also sometimes on the tongue itself.
Epulides are growths that form between the dog s teeth.
Sometimes the lump is in the back of the mouth or on the roof of the mouth.
Some describe this little lump as being diamond shaped and hard to the touch.
A dog with an epulis may show one or more of the following signs.
Diagnostic tests are the most accurate way to determine the origin of the growth and to decide on the best plan of action.
Normally a dog s incisive papilla doesn t give any problems.
