Thursday, February 1, 2007

Mouths Wide Open February 1, 2007

Mouths Wide Open

When was the last time you peeked inside your dog's mouth? Not just a quick look, but a close inspection of the palate, gums, and all those soft, pink surfaces.

If you're thinking, "I never even thought of doing that," consider the fact that about 1 in 20 dogs with oral tumors gets lesions in his mouth first. And these often go unnoticed, because people rarely look for early signs such as discolorations and tiny bumps and lumps. Delays in detection make oral tumors difficult to treat, so be sure to do a spot check whenever you brush your pet's teeth.