A French Bulldog Puppy Has Remarkably Begun To Regrow His Jawbone After A Tumor Removal Surgery, Marking The First-Ever Spontaneous Regeneration Case In Canines
In nature, there are few occurrences that can evoke as much awe and fascination as the ability of certain animals to regenerate lost or damaged body parts.
For instance, a French bulldog puppy has become a biological marvel after veterinarians discovered that the canine had started regrowing its jawbone. The phenomenon is believed to be the first-ever case involving a dog.
Veterinarians at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine diagnosed the three-month-old French bulldog named Tyson with a rare type of skin cancer in dogs in the spring of 2023.
They found a tumor on the left side of his jaw. Since the cancer had not spread, they decided to remove the affected area.
Eight weeks later, when Tyson was brought in for an examination, the veterinarians were shocked to see that his jaw had begun to regrow. While examples of this phenomenon had previously been observed in human children, it had never before been documented in a dog of any age or breed until now.
According to a case report published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, the reason for the regrowth likely occurred due to the veterinarians’ success in preserving a substantial portion of the periosteum during the surgical procedure.
The periosteum is a thin membrane that covers the surface of bones. It also contains nerves, blood vessels, and cells that help bones heal.
The authors added that the early detection of the tumor contributed significantly to the regeneration process.
They suggested that if a larger part of the jaw had required removal, the regrowth might not have taken place.
Paulina – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual dog
The report states that Tyson’s new jawbone is functional with no mandibular drift, a common issue after jaw removal surgery that causes the remaining intact mandible to be pulled toward the center.
His jawbone is missing certain anatomical features, such as teeth and the mandibular canal, both of which cannot be regrown because of the loss of progenitor cells.
Oral examinations confirmed that the cancer had not returned, and Tyson was able to eat and drink with ease.
In conclusion, spontaneous regeneration is unpredictable, and further studies are needed to understand the process, but at least we now know that the phenomenon is possible following jaw removal surgery in young dogs.
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