Answer

I am sorry to hear about your dog. There are a number of possible causes for what you describe.   The first would be a tooth root abscess. If you look in his mouth you may find the teeth look quite rotten, there may also be a foul odor, or even a cracked tooth. Even if the teeth look normal, there can still be an abscess at the root (under the gums).

Another option is a tumor or cyst growing in the jaw bone or gum tissue. These tumors can be quite aggressive, growing rapidly and eating away at the bone in the area. It is better to have these taken care of as soon as possible.

The final option is a mass growing under the skin (but not associated with the jaw bone itself). In order to determine the type of mass (benign or maligant) you will need to have your vet take a little sample of it with a small needle.

If the mass is under the jaw and near the neck it could also be a swollen lymph node or salivary gland.

In a dog this age, I would not put off going for a consultation with your veterinarian.

Dr. Beth

Expert:	Dr.Beth
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Answered:	12/14/2008

Dog Veterinarian

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota