Oral Swellings in Dogs

What causes oral swellings in dogs?

Oral swellings are never normal. There are many causes of oral swellings, including local trauma, infection, fluid accumulation, and tumors. If you see a swelling in your dog’s mouth, book an appointment to have your veterinarian examine your dog. Some oral swellings can be painful to touch, so to protect yourself from being bitten, do not touch the swelling.

Fig. 1: Benign tumor surrounding premolar tooth.Fig. 2: Swelling over broken cheek tooth.

What will my veterinarian do?

Your veterinarian first needs to determine the cause of the swelling. Unless the cause is obvious from a visual examination, diagnostic tests are required. Typically, diagnostic tests include intraoral X-rays (radiographs) and some form of cell or tissue sample of the swelling. Additional laboratory tests will also be performed, such as a complete blood count (CBC) and a serum biochemistry profile.

"Unless the cause is obvious from a visual examination, diagnostic tests are required."

Usually, a general anesthetic is required to obtain a sample of an oral swelling or oral mass. Various techniques are used to obtain cells from the swelling, such as a fine needle aspiration (FNA) or a biopsy. These cell samples are then analyzed by a veterinary pathologist to aid in the diagnosis. Your veterinarian will recommend the sampling technique best suited for your dog.

Fig. 3: Facial and eye swelling due to an oral tumor.Fig. 4: Swelling resolved following surgery (right).

What is the prognosis for my dog?

The ultimate outcome depends on the underlying cause. In the case of cysts, trauma, and infection, the swelling is usually cured with veterinary treatment. In cases of cancer, a biopsy will determine if the cancer is benign or malignant and how likely it is to respond to surgical therapy. More serious swellings, such as tumors, may require more advanced imaging such as a CT or MRI scan, and ultimately more extensive surgical interventions.