Mouth Sores

[Guest bry736]

This is my first post so pls. be patient with me. I have an 11 yr. old greyhound named Blue Lady. She has redness on her gumline on the right and left side of her upper jaw. There is also an ulcer on her inner lip. We went to the vet. today and other than an abcess, think it could be cancer. What do I do? Other than radiation, the vet said that there is no surgery available for this. If it indeed is cancer, what can I do to prolong her life as painfree as possible. My heart is breaking. We have had her for only 3 short but absolutely wonderful years. Any and all replies are greatly appreciatedl

Mav

[Burpdog]

How can they diagnose something without a biopsy?

 

I would not panic yet and get a second opinion. Where are you located?

[turbotaina]

I agree with Burpdog. Also, have your vet consider stomatitis. Although it's more common in cats, greyhounds can and do get it. A friend of mine (who is also a GTer) has a dog with it.

[Guest bry736]

How can they diagnose something without a biopsy?

 

I would not panic yet and get a second opinion. Where are you located?

In Sask. Canada. The vet said having it diagnosed doesn't make anything different. She would have to undergo anesthetic and the cancer would still be untreatable.

[patricia]

How can they diagnose something without a biopsy?

 

I would not panic yet and get a second opinion. Where are you located?

In Sask. Canada. The vet said having it diagnosed doesn't make anything different. She would have to undergo anesthetic and the cancer would still be untreatable.

Sending my many prayers.

A diagnosis of cancer can not be made without a biopsy. Our Flash had a large red mass on the gum line that was NOT cancer. Please keep us updated.

[Guest bry736]

How can they diagnose something without a biopsy?

 

I would not panic yet and get a second opinion. Where are you located?

In Sask. Canada. The vet said having it diagnosed doesn't make anything different. She would have to undergo anesthetic and the cancer would still be untreatable.

Sending my many prayers.

A diagnosis of cancer can not be made without a biopsy. Our Flash had a large red mass on the gum line that was NOT cancer. Please keep us updated.

Is there a treatment for this type of cancer, if that is what it ends up being?

[Guest Hotdogs]

It could be stomatitis. You may want to try L-lysine, a natural, essential amino acid used to reduce inflamation and fight viral infections. In addition, use Oxyfresh gel on the sore spots and see if there's an improvement--it wouldn't hurt to try. You can find l-lysine in just about any vitamin section of any grocery or drug store. Your vet may carry Oxyfresh gel, if not, you can buy it off the internet, just google, Oxyfresh pet products and you should be lead right to it.

Good luck

[Burpdog]

You remove what you can without being too invasive. Without biopsying the gum etc., you can't diagnose a thing. Also, as someone mentioned, stomatitis. You need a different vet Do you have one close?

[Guest bry736]

It could be stomatitis. You may want to try L-lysine, a natural, essential amino acid used to reduce inflamation and fight viral infections. In addition, use Oxyfresh gel on the sore spots and see if there's an improvement--it wouldn't hurt to try. You can find l-lysine in just about any vitamin section of any grocery or drug store. Your vet may carry Oxyfresh gel, if not, you can buy it off the internet, just google, Oxyfresh pet products and you should be lead right to it.

Good luck

I will go to the health food store this aft. How much should I give her. She is 52 pounds. I know where to get the gel. Do I just apply to the teeth or over all that is red. Do I do this after each meal, as well as brushing?

Thanks

[Guest trevdog]

I'd get another opinion, it could be a host of other things, like an epulis, tooth infection that is making her gums irritated, etc.

[Burpdog]

I will go to the health food store this aft. How much should I give her. She is 52 pounds. I know where to get the gel. Do I just apply to the teeth or over all that is red. Do I do this after each meal, as well as brushing?

Thanks

 

Please get a proper diagnosis. You already have one vet saying possible cancer. That is not something I would mess around with.

 

She might need a biopsy, she might need antibiotics, she might need mouth wash. The problem is that we cannot tell how bad it is and my concern is that by delaying a diagnosis, you could be wasting valuable time.

[Guest paulamariez]

Definitely get another vet opinion! I would venture to say that it sounds very much like stomatitis. I did a bunch of research on the internet on that because Bueller's been having significant problems with recurring gum infections, even though his teeth are not bad (no cavities or any pulled). I use the Oxyfresh gel on Bueller too and it works quite well. I would put it directly on your hounds mouth sore and I smear it right along the gumline. I smear Bueller's along his gumline and top of his teeth. It really helps freshen the breath as well. I've used it on many types of wounds on my hounds and it does a phenomenal job on healing them up. I agree with the other posters. There's no way a vet can diagnose cancer without doing a biopsy. Maybe what the vet meant was that cancer was a "possibility" not a definite diagnosis. If not, the vet was very wrong diagnosing cancer without a biopsy. It sounds a lot like stomatitis to me. That's what it is, red, irritated gums with mouth sores. There's medication that can treat it. I'll keep your precious Blue Lady in my prayers that it's something simple and easily cured! Tiger, Bueller and Domino are sending Blue Lady some get well doggie kisses! Extra ones coming from Bueller, 'cuz he says he's been in Blue Lady's shoes!

[Guest bry736]

Definitely get another vet opinion! I would venture to say that it sounds very much like stomatitis. I did a bunch of research on the internet on that because Bueller's been having significant problems with recurring gum infections, even though his teeth are not bad (no cavities or any pulled). I use the Oxyfresh gel on Bueller too and it works quite well. I would put it directly on your hounds mouth sore and I smear it right along the gumline. I smear Bueller's along his gumline and top of his teeth. It really helps freshen the breath as well. I've used it on many types of wounds on my hounds and it does a phenomenal job on healing them up. I agree with the other posters. There's no way a vet can diagnose cancer without doing a biopsy. Maybe what the vet meant was that cancer was a "possibility" not a definite diagnosis. If not, the vet was very wrong diagnosing cancer without a biopsy. It sounds a lot like stomatitis to me. That's what it is, red, irritated gums with mouth sores. There's medication that can treat it. I'll keep your precious Blue Lady in my prayers that it's something simple and easily cured! Tiger, Bueller and Domino are sending Blue Lady some get well doggie kisses! Extra ones coming from Bueller, 'cuz he says he's been in Blue Lady's shoes!

The vet said that even with the biopsy that there isn't anything to treat mouth cancer with. She said that it could be an abcess, but that would be strange, as it is in the same spot on both sides. Blue had her teeth cleaned in Feb. and they are looking good, her weight and appetite has also been normal. I think that they were leery putting under again, with her age. Could you post any links that you used for stomatitis & I will get some further info.

Thank you for your kind words.

Mav

[ahicks51]

The vet said that even with the biopsy that there isn't anything to treat mouth cancer with. She said that it could be an abcess, but that would be strange, as it is in the same spot on both sides. Blue had her teeth cleaned in Feb. and they are looking good, her weight and appetite has also been normal. I think that they were leery putting under again, with her age. Could you post any links that you used for stomatitis & I will get some further info.

Thank you for your kind words.

Mav

 

That depends upon the type of cancer; there is a curative vaccine available for oral melanoma. It works well about 1/3 of the time, and prolongs life another 1/3 of the time. For the remaining 1/3, it does little or nothing. But those data are a year or two old; they may be better by now.

 

See also:

 

http://www.petcancervaccine.com/melanoma/oral.shtml

[Burpdog]

OK - I am back to you do not have a diagnosis, so experimenting with otc treatments are costing you time. It may be nothing to worry about, but then again it may! Since you do not have a proper diagnosis, how can a treatment plan be devised?

 

Doesn't your adoption agency have vets to recommend? Can you at least email Ohio State?

 

greyosu@osu.edu

[turbotaina]

But you need a biopsy to find out if it is cancer or not. If it's not, whatever it is may very well be treatable. I'd go to another vet.

 

Stomatitis

[Guest trevdog]

Run and get another opinion! I am surprised the vet is telling you this without a biopsy. Wouldn't you rather want to know for sure what you are dealing with before fearing the worst? I'd hate to waste time and money on something not knowing for sure what the diagnosis is plus all of the stress involved on your pup and yourself.

The vet saying this concerns me greatly....I'd go to someone else.

 

This coming from somene who has dealt with cancer in greys and people, you don't know for sure until a biopsy is done regardless of what it appears to be.

[Nichole]

I don't know if Turbotainia ( Meredith) was referring to me or not, but Kiaba's turned out not to be stomatitis. They thought it was. We even did a biopsy with no results. Go to the OSU newsletter of Spring 2007 and look at the picture of his mouth. This is what I was dealing with. Since he has been on a Chinese herb - Jade Lady - and changed diet he is under control.

 

I won't go into the whole thing, but his problems have to do with "hot" and "cold" proteins. No grains, soy, beef, venison or anything that is considered hot protein.

 

Nichole

 

 

[Guest Hotdogs]

It could be stomatitis. You may want to try L-lysine, a natural, essential amino acid used to reduce inflamation and fight viral infections. In addition, use Oxyfresh gel on the sore spots and see if there's an improvement--it wouldn't hurt to try. You can find l-lysine in just about any vitamin section of any grocery or drug store. Your vet may carry Oxyfresh gel, if not, you can buy it off the internet, just google, Oxyfresh pet products and you should be lead right to it.

Good luck

I will go to the health food store this aft. How much should I give her. She is 52 pounds. I know where to get the gel. Do I just apply to the teeth or over all that is red. Do I do this after each meal, as well as brushing?

Thanks

 

Don't assume that it is stomatitis, getting a second opinion is a very good idea. However, sometimes vets that aren't greyhound savvy miss a diagnosis, which as someone else said, is usually found in cats, but can sometimes occur in greyhounds. Take my advice with a grain of salt, Charlie and Suri are my first dogs as an adult and I adopted Charlie only two and a half years ago.

 

In the meantime, my dog is 58 lbs, so I would check with your vet, but the dosage that I give my dog is probably the same as what you would give your dog. I give her 500 mg of L-lysine per day. I bought in a pill form. I crush it using a pill crusher and mix with plain yogurt. I cover the sore spots really well with the gel, but it doesn't hurt to go over all the teeth.

 

 

This is a newsletter featuring stomatitis and greyhound oral health, there are pictures.

http://www.pups-without-partners.org/Newsl...ng-Summer07.pdf

 

There is more information, and pictures here:

www.familyvet.com/Cats/Digest.html

Look for:

"Plasma-cell gingivitis-stomatitis"

"Lympoplasmactic stomatitis"

 

Don't expect immediate results from the l-lysine, but I can say that my dog has an extremely sensitive stomach and has never had a bad reaction from taking it and the oxygel won't hurt either.

 

Sending you happy thoughts and hoping all goes well

Edited August 14, 2008 by Hotdogs

[Guest sheila]

I haven't read all the replies so I'm sorry if I am repeating anyone.

If it was me I would find another vet as the one you have doesn't seem all that interested or proactive with the diagnosis/prognosis he/she dispenses.

[Guest jerrybird]

I would definately get a second opinion. For the price of an office visit and examination, it will put your mind to rest about oral cancer and other problems.

[feemandvm]

I will go to the health food store this aft. How much should I give her. She is 52 pounds. I know where to get the gel. Do I just apply to the teeth or over all that is red. Do I do this after each meal, as well as brushing?

Thanks

 

Please get a proper diagnosis. You already have one vet saying possible cancer. That is not something I would mess around with.

 

She might need a biopsy, she might need antibiotics, she might need mouth wash. The problem is that we cannot tell how bad it is and my concern is that by delaying a diagnosis, you could be wasting valuable time.

Well said... I couldn't agree more.

 

Please get a 2nd opinion (is a referral to a veterinary teaching hospital an option... or to a dental specialist?)!!! Just trying different things to "see if they work" may turn a treatable problem into a non-treatable problem by delaying appropriate treatment!!!