Veterinarian Talks About Oral Tumors in Dogs and Cats

DISCLAIMER: We are a home euthanasia service; and focus on end-of-life care in pets diagnosed with terminal diseases. In this video our primary focus is on end-of-life questions we are commonly asked for dogs and cats with this specific disease. In our videos we only briefly discuss the diseases themselves, diagnosis and more common treatment options. Because Veterinarian medicine is always changing and improving with specific treatments for diseases, please be sure to continue to research your pet's diagnosis. There may be new and better treatments available through your Vet, Oncologist, and Veterinary Universities through clinical trials and research. As time goes on, and this video is unchanging, I also encourage you to check out disease specific forums for your pet's diagnosis for many times there will be continued recommendations on new treatments you can discuss with your Vet.
Because we run a full-time business, we are only able to check our comments section about once a month, we apologize for any delayed response. If you have any urgent questions or concerns for your pet, please reach out directly to your Veterinarian.
In this video, I talk about different types of oral tumors in dogs and cats, as well as the most common recommended treatments. I also talk about survival times, what to expect as the tumors progress, and when to consider euthanasia.

[@shereecorbett9085]

Found this video after getting the diagnosis for my 11 year old pug. This was so informative and you have such a calming presence in how you speak about this. Thank you for this video!

[@MrDurandal25]

14 year old blue heeler with a walnut sized tumor that often bleeds. Our local vet is a super nice guy, and we opted to let him live his best life by not try to cut it out as long as he can eat and rest without too much discomfort. It's been several months....and he's still with us......and is getting a bit more brittle all the time, but honestly......he over 14 now and would have been in far more pain just to have cut his jaw up. I hope he makes it a bit longer.....he's awesome.

[@c2jones]

With respect, doctor, these medical protocols (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) are the same, dated (ineffective) standards that have been administered for years. It's what hinders the prognosis and keeps it limited to abysmal levels. Even after these highly invasive procedures are performed, the tumor always (and I mean always) comes back. Most of the online articles are equally dated. But SCC animals, even cats, are living double the lifespans post-diagnosis as in the past. I belong to several forums in which pet parents are diligent (not settling for dated veterinary oncologist protocols) and seeking newer, more applicable treatments. You mentioned the immunotherapy in dogs (strangely omitting cats), but we have many in our groups that have met with curative results with clean scans and biopsies with cats. There are FDA-approved vaccines developed right from one's cat's own tumor and can be administered right through one's local oncologist clinic (once we educate the oncologist) at half the price and wear and tear on the cat than the standard protocols. Immunotherapy, electrochemotherapy (targeted to the tumor only), gene-transfer, nanotechnology, light therapies, pathway signaling, and of course, inhibitors like Palladia have shown exceptional results. Humbly, it's fair and productive to consider that these newer medical treatments are not only worthy of recognition, but are a significant part of crucial, lifesaving continuing education for such a dreadful disease. Please look into these. I can provide numerous, published clinical studies and true-life cases. 🐾🙏

[@SelenHirik]

Hello, my cat was diagnosed with SCC. So i want to learn about the experiences and cures. Could you please help me find those forums, groups? Thanks 🙏

[@c2jones]

@@SelenHirik I have responded several times, but my replies have been deleted.

[@natimarivelez]

My cat was just diagnosed with Bowens disease. He had a mass on the side of his cheek that turned into the size of a chestnut and we had it removed. They biopsied the mass and it turned out to be the diagnosis. He has other lesions around the chest, his paw… We are hoping to understand his life expectancy as the doctor has yet to call us after two weeks since the surgery. I had to call the clinic in order to have them forward me his lab results and I’m just trying to figure this out on my own until we get a call back❤

[@erikalaw9379]

Thank you so much for this information it has helped me so much and gave me more details then our vet and the oncologist . Thank you thank you thank you ❤

[@michelly44d]

Who can afford any thing that has to be done with animals. It’s hard and very sad no help is there for are pets I hate it

[@alicewells4832]

This is very interesting to me because my baby had the worst cancer in her mouth that he can't could ever have and she suffered so much oh it was horrible and at the end it was just the same as it is if she had treatment but anyway I did find this interesting and try to tell everybody

[@Libertarian370]

I have a very much loved 18 year old cat with oral cancer ...breaks my heart the time is almost over.he is five months in still active eating and drinking he does paw occasionally at his jaw is there a natural remedy I could give him to alleviate his discomfort

[@arhodes2866]

Thank you

[@jennifergribbins4560]

We noticed my dogs breath got extremely bad- like sewage. We took him to the vet and was diagnosed with

[@daryldaniels7742]

Thank you for this video. We have an 11 year old Chihuahua and just diagnosed with malignant melanoma in the jaw region. She is active healthy eating and regular weight I see her shifting her head around a bit but other than that no other issues at this time.The vet is sending us to the Oncologist in 2 weeks. This answered many of my questions that has been eating at me. This is going to be a tough road It does not appear that this type of cancer is going to stay put in the mouth region does it? Bit lost and feels not real but thank you for your time and honesty. One last question...Diet. Should I stay away from certain foods at this point and as progression moves forward? Sugar??? She loves pupachinos from Starbucks 😊

[@user-ec7xw5um4w]

Thank you so much for this information. I am long time health care worker. So, I enjoy doing the EBP research. In the immunotherapy discussion, name of med? What is the approximate costs for surgery and immunotherapy treatments (Western US)? Or, where is a good place that I can look for more information on the topic? (The most recent EBM article I came across was dated 2022.) I am so appreciative of your video because it helped provide a foundational base where I feel like I could have an intelligent conversation with my rural vet?

[@Dr.Tracy-vet]

For dogs the immunotherapy injection for melanoma is commonly known as Oncept. This is a targeted DNA vaccine. For cats with oral tumors, it is more complicated getting- usually you have to go through a college/university or Oncologist where they have more cutting-edge experience and knowledge. I don't want to say it is new in cats, but it is new enough that most (especially rural) community practice veterinarians do not have access to it. Also to be honest, most rural vets do not have access to even Oncept- most vets will refer you to an oncologist for this option. Unfortunately, it is cost prohibited for many families- Oncept pricing varies from clinic to clinic depending on their charging protocols and can run up to $800 per visit. Most recommendations are 4 vaccines given two weeks apart. I have been told that for the vaccines for cats they are constantly researching new breakthroughs and it seems to be changing/improving, but as far as I know you will not be able to find it unless you are at a university, or more cancer specialized clinic. For more info for the melanoma Oncept vaccine in dogs- just key word Oncept- it has been out long enough there is lots of info online. For cats, I would recommend going through some of the college sites like college of Vet Med Illiniois, or the university of florida : research.vetmed.ufl.edu/feline-rna-nanoparticle-vaccine-against-oral-squamous-cell-carcinoma/ Hope this helps... many times asking the question, you will also get others in this discussion linking you to forums that they have found helpful.

[@kkdiva225]

Dr. How can i find you?

[@susansweetser4963]

Is there anything to help a spendel cell tumor

[@Dr.Tracy-vet]

If this is a question for a dog, the vaccine recommended called Oncept is approved currently for melanoma cancers. They are always researching and looking for new treatments for most cancer types, and you may be able to find a clinical trial for spindle cell tumors looking at electrochemotherapy, or even research with treatment of Palladia which is an oral medication given at home. However usually the best place to get the new cutting-edge therapy is through a oncologist at a Veterinary University hospital. Clinical trials, if you are lucky enough to have a Veterinary university or referral Vet Oncologist in your area is one of the best places to start. If you are unable to get access to a clinical trial, have the conversation with your vet on what treatment options are in your area... many times they can consult on your pet's case with an oncologist to get the best and most current recommendations that they have access to in their practice.