[Oral carcinoma in 34 dogs]

In a retrospective study, the epidemiologic data, treatment results and survival times of dogs with an oral squamous cell carcinoma in the period 1983-1996 have been reviewed, using the data base of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. The etiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma in dogs is unknown. For various reasons, such as extent of the disease, active treatment was undertaken in only 22 out of 34 dogs. Two dogs were lost during follow-up. Sixteen of the remaining 20 dogs who underwent surgical treatment for their oral squamous cell carcinoma were alive, one year postoperatively, apparently without tumour. Postoperative radiotherapy may even improve the survival rates.