05/21/2026
🐶 This is Scarlett, a 4-year-old FS Australian Shepherd mix. She had an oral mass by her left lower canine tooth. Can you tell she had part of her jaw removed for treatment of that mass?
🩺 The gingival mass Scarlett had was a Canine Acanthomatous Ameloblastoma (CAA), which is the second most common type of odontogenic tumour in dogs. Although this is a benign tumour and does not metastasize, it is often locally invasive, can destroy adjacent tissue and alveolar bone, and cause tooth loss, necessitating early diagnosis and surgical intervention. Conservative management with simple marginal excision is generally non-curative and associated with a high recurrence rate (91%). Therefore, complete surgical excision with 5mm margins of clinically normal tissue is required for cure. In Scarlett’s case, this involves the removal of teeth 303 to 305. The surgical site was radiographed to confirm the extraction of all tooth roots, and the excised tissue was sent for histopathology to confirm clean margins.
☺️ Many pet owners are concerned about how their pet will look or how their lives will be affected after a procedure like this. In fact, most patients look the same and adapt exceptionally well once the surgery site is healed! Last week, we saw Scarlett back for a 2-week post-op recheck. Her surgical site was healing well. Her family said she is happy and comfortable, living her normal life like nothing had happened!
