Mouth Cancer (Chondrosarcoma) in Dogs

Oral chondrosarcoma is such a rare disease that little is known about it and that includes the warning signs. Unfortunately, finding and treating the cancer early is essential to a successful recovery. There are two types of oral chondrosarcoma with different symptoms:

Primary Chondrosarcoma

• Large and hard mass in or around the mouth or nose
• No pain
• Coughing 
• Sneezing
• Drooling
• Bad breath
• Difficulty swallowing
• Weakness
• Deformity of the face

Secondary Chondrosarcoma

(depends on where the cancer originates)

• Limping
• Swelling of the affected area
• Painful hard lump
• Loss of weight
• Lethargy
• Runny nose/bloody nose
• Coughing
• Breathing difficulty 
• Extreme sleepiness

Types

• Primary oral chondrosarcoma is a type of cancer that originates in the mouth
• Secondary oral chondrosarcoma is cancer that has spread from another area of the body

The majority of primary oral chondrosarcomas have no known cause and just develop from healthy cartilage.Secondary oral chondrosarcoma spreads from another place in the body. 

Primary Oral  Chondrosarcoma

• Unknown 
• Large breed dogs such as the German Shepherd and Boxer are more commonly affected by oral chondrosarcoma 
• Middle to old age (5 years or older)
• Males are almost twice as likely to get oral chondrosarcoma

Secondary Oral Chondrosarcoma

• Spreads from another area of the body

The correct diagnosis of chondrosarcoma is usually pretty easy to determine by a veterinarian, but first a complete physical examination must be done. The veterinarian (or assistant) will get your dog’s vitals (weight, body temperature, heart rate, oxygen level, blood pressure, and reflexes. They will examine your dog’s mouth and throat with detailed precision to determine the size and structure of the tumor. A digital radiograph (x-ray) of the mouth, neck, chest, and head will need to be done to help the veterinarian get a clearer picture of the extent of the tumors. This will give the veterinarian a better idea of how far the oral sarcoma has spread and whether it is primary or secondary. In some cases, the veterinarian may need to get a CT scan, ultrasound, and MRI for details that cannot be seen on the x-rays. 

Some lab tests will need to be performed as well, such as blood work (CBC, blood gases, blood chemistry panel), urinalysis, oral swab culture, fine needle aspiration, and a biopsy of the tumor. With the test results, the veterinarian will be better able to decide on a form of treatment.