TOA PAYOH VETS PTE LTD
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Blk 1002, Toa Payoh Lor 8, 01-1477, Singapore 319074.  Tel: +65 6254-3326, 9668-6468, judy@toapayohvets.com, 99pups@gmail.com
 Focus: Small animals -dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, pet rats and mice, birds and turtles      
October 02, 2020 
 
A LARGE CHEEK TUMOUR & 15 ROTTEN TEETH IN AN  OLD DOG
Case study written in 2010
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)
 
Oral tumours do form in some dogs and people when their mouths and teeth have been infected for many years, owing to poor oral hygiene.

A large cheek tumour due to poor oral hygiene for many years grew larger and larger. It became infected. The young lady bought in the dog for treatment. Old dogs are always high anaesthetic risks and some vets do turn such cases away.

To ensure a good clinical outcome, the dog should be given a short duration of anaesthesia for dental extraction. 15 rotten teeth were extracted. Then another anaesthetic to excise the tumour at another time. This must be clearly explained to the owner who might be thinking that the vet is out to fleece her by doing two surgeries instead of one.

There will be vets who do everything at one go. If the old dog dies, then it is bad luck to the owner. After all, she had signed the "Surgery and Anaesthesia Consent Form" and had understood the risks. The owner still had to pay. But death of an old companion on the operating would never be forgotten or forgiven by the owner or family members. 

In this case, the oral tumour is badly infected and rotting. It would be foolish to try and excise it after extraction of 15 rotten loose teeth. The wound would not heal well and the outcome would be unsatisfactory.

The pictures of the case are below:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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