Oral complications of cancer therapy and their management

As the standards and client expectations for care of small animal patients with cancer increase, so does our awareness and understanding of the oral manifestations of complications associated with the treatment of these malignancies. This article has given an overview of some of the more common problems that can be anticipated when treating cancers, particularly those involving the head, neck, and oral cavity, and provided guidelines for the management of these problems when they do develop. In the future, as our management of these diseases becomes even more common, I would expect the veterinary dentist to play a vital role in the pretreatment evaluation, planning, and management of these animal patients.