A French bulldog puppy has spontaneously regrown his jawbone after part of it had to be surgically removed after vets discovered a cancerous tumor.
It’s believed to be the first reported case of its kind when the pup’s jaw regrew just eight weeks after undergoing the op.
Tyson, who was three months old, was diagnosed with cancer when he was scheduled for surgery on a cleft palette last year. Veterinarians at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service said it was a rare type of malignant skin cancer in dogs.
Luckily, the disease did not spread to other parts of the dog’s body, so they removed the left side of his jaw.
When he was brought in eight weeks later, vets found the animal‘s jaw was regrowing. This phenomenon has been recorded in human children before, but it has never been noted in a pup, writes LiveScience.
A case report published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science said the regrowth likely occurred as vets preserved a significant amount of periosteum, the thin membrane covering the bone surface during the surgery. The membrane is made up of blood vessels, nerves and cells and helps bones heal and grow.
Lead author Alexandra Wright who led Tyson’s care said: “This was likely imperative to the regeneration of new bone.”
“More has to be done to understand the likelihood of this occurring in other dogs and if a specific age range makes a difference,” the dentistry and oral surgery resident added. “But this case documents a very positive surgical outcome in a life-threatening situation.”
They believe if a larger part of the jaw was removed it may not have grown back. The authors also believe the early detection of the tumor played a vital role.
Tyson’s new jawbone is functional but it’s not complete. It is missing teeth and the mandibular canal – which contains blood vessels and nerves. But it’s the same length as the right side, and won’t cause it to be pulled towards the center.
Also, there is no sign of the cancer returning, either.
His owner, Melissa Forsythe said: “We had no idea his jaw would grow back.
“He was the best patient.”
