Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
French Bulldog with tongue cancer causing neck swelling and breathing
By Turner, M A et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2026·Emergency and Critical Care Department, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lingual haemangiosarcoma in a French Bulldog: atypical clinical presentation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A one-year-old male French Bulldog was brought in with swelling under his jaw and neck that got worse over time. Initially, the vet thought it was an abscess from chewing on sticks and treated it, but the swelling returned. After further tests, they found tumors on his tongue and issues in his lungs. Sadly, the dog passed away, and a post-mortem confirmed he had a rare tongue cancer called lingual haemangiosarcoma. This case highlights that even young dogs can have serious conditions that might not show typical symptoms.
People also search for: French Bulldog tongue swelling · dog cancer symptoms · lingual abscess treatment · young dog with neck swelling · tongue cancer in dogs
Abstract
A one-year-old male entire French Bulldog presented with progressive submandibular and ventral cervical swelling. Initial treatment for a suspected lingual abscess secondary to stick chewing yielded only transient improvement. Despite both conservative therapy and surgical intervention, the dog's condition deteriorated, prompting advanced imaging. Bilateral lingual masses and pulmonary abnormalities were identified. Post-mortem examination confirmed a diagnosis of lingual haemangiosarcoma (LHSA) with multifocal metastasis and severe pulmonary haemorrhage. This is the first reported case of LHSA in a French Bulldog. This case illustrates the potential for atypical presentations of lingual neoplasia, especially in brachycephalic breeds where baseline oropharyngeal compromise may obscure or exacerbate clinical signs. This report emphasises the importance of including neoplasia in the differential diagnosis for persistent or progressive lingual swelling, even in young dogs and breeds predisposed to upper airway obstruction.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41871839/