My dog's nose is bleeding & she has a mouth bump. Is it cancer?

At 13 years of age, a nasal tumor would be most likely. A tumor typically would cause bleeding out of just one nostril. Other possibilities would be a severe bacterial infection, tooth root abscess, nasal foreign material (I've seen dogs that had toy stuffing in the nose), or fungal infection. Unfortunately anesthesia for nasal scoping and often CT scan is usually necessary to get a diagnosis.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The lump in the mouth is an epulis, which is a benign or malignant growth on the gum. The nose bleed may not be related to the epulis, it may be a sign of other problem, like low platelet count, foreign body, polyp or mass within the nasal cavity. If the nasal bleed is severe, and has been going on for more than a few minutes, you should take Pharoah to your nearest vets as en emergency. If the bleeding has stopped now, you need to monitor your dog at home today and get him checked by your local vets tomorrow.

To be honest, it sounds like your vet has done a lot to rule out the most common causes of this noisy breathing starting with the least invasive procedures first (medications in case it was a respiratory infection). Given that there has been no improvement in his symptoms, the fact that they have gotten worse, and the fact Jones is a Lab, I would be thinking it's cancer as well. Unfortunately, cancer is common in Labs. You can see if your vet will take an x-ray of his nasal passages. That will be show if there is a tumor in his nasal passages, and it may be less expensive than the biopsy. I am sorry :-(

I think you need to get a second opinion from another vet, preferably one who has a rhinoscope and can actually look into your dog's upper respiratory passages. By examining the nasal passages with a rhinoscope one will be able to see whether there is a tumor present or more plant debris or foreign material that may need to be removed and so stop the constant infections and bleeding. Your vet may be able to refer you to a relevant clinic.

Hello there! This is most likely a benign lump called a histiocytoma, which is a common condition that shows up on the face and paws in young dogs. This can only be confirmed by a veterinarian, by considering the size, shape, location, and the age of your dog, it's the most likely cause. I recommend a visit to your vet so that they may offer a definitive diagnosis. They will give Nikki a full exam, and most likely they will obtain a small sample of the cells inside the mass with a small needle. This is called a fine needle aspirate, or FNA. These cells will be examined under a microscope so that the vet can rule out other, more dangerous tumors. Histiocytomas most often spontaneously resolve on their own, but it can take weeks or months to go away completely. Some owners prefer to have them surgically removed, which is usually curative. If Nikki starts scratching at the lump, or if it becomes irritated or starts oozing, a visit to the vet is definitely in order as it could cause an infection. Good luck, and I hope Nikki recovers well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be an abscess. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

I recommend getting her in to see your vet right away. The location alone of this growth is in danger of occluding her breathing, as evidenced by the coughing. Anything in the mouth and/or tongue will bleed, and there may be more bleeding that you aren't seeing because she is swallowing it. Please don't wait to get her seen. If caught early, there is a better chance of getting the growth surgically removed before it can spread or choke her.