Can You Tell If a Mouth Growth Is Malignant From How It Looks?
by WKChyc
(Colorado)
With the vet's permission, I was allowed to try alternative holistic treatment for my dog. we hich I had been doing since 7/17/2012. I gave her a supplement of ip-6 inositol and uncaria tomentosa, and drops of ip-6inositol and silver hydrosol. The growth looks and feels slightly smaller, but hard to say accurately. She is eating gnot as much in pain/tolerate it (?), and seemed mostly her usual self.
I've enclosed a few pictures for you to see if you can tell the type of oral cancer she has, and i realise I may be askioo much from a visual look from photographs. Would you say that if malignant, how fast would she start to deteriote, would the growth diminish in size or shift (?). How fast does malignant cancer grows? Perhaps the type of oral cancer she has is benign, would surgery be recommended then.
My dog is wonderful, sweet, loving, playful, very smart as she learns very easily, and somewhat of a Diva too. It breaks
Please give me your advise, and I'll not hold you to it, as as nyyhing that can save her life is a blessing. Thank you. How can one tell what type of oral cancer it is, is there a texture, colour or symptoms that one can go as a guideline?
We can hear how much you love her, and we’re so sorry you’re facing this. Unfortunately, no color, texture or photo can reliably tell what a mouth growth is. Cancers and benign growths can look alike, and only a sample examined under a microscope can say for sure.
A swelling under the tongue has some non-cancer causes too, such as a ranula (a fluid-filled swelling from a blocked salivary gland) or an abscess. Changes in size can happen with inflammation, and a growth that seems smaller isn’t necessarily cancer that is shrinking. Malignant tumors grow at different rates, so it’s hard to predict how quickly things might change.
A fine-needle aspirate is often inexpensive and can be done by a general vet, so it may be worth asking about before deciding the outlook. Veterinary schools, low-cost clinics and charities may also help. Please let your vet know about every supplement, since products like silver can have side effects. See a vet promptly if she can't eat or drink, drools heavily, bleeds from the mouth, or has any trouble swallowing or breathing. Whatever you decide, pain relief, soft food and lots of love will keep her comfortable. See signs of oral cancer in dogs for growths that look similar.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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