Gingivitis and gum tumours

[Billysmum]

Last May when Billy had his annual check-up the vet saw that there were tumours on his gums. She said to keep an eye on them and then maybe they would need to be removed.

So we took him to the vet today (February) and now his bottom front teeth have disappeared altogether. However, the vet advised that they could not burn the gum in this place. There are only a couple of lumpy tumours near the back and she did not think they were a problem at the moment. She confirmed that the tumours are very likely to be benign and are a 'Boxer thing' which we knew already.

However, she did notice that he has gingivitis. In places his gums are very red and sore and even just touching there drew blood. So now he has a 2 wk course of antibiotics.

I hope his breath improves once the gingivitis is gone!

Also she advised a lanolin based cream for his crusty nose. I tried picking bits off today but made a little bit of it bleed - I felt awful - and stopped picking. Billy wasn't too keen either!

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

The gingivitis & bad breath will not improve until Billy has had a complete dental cleaning by the vet. It also sounds as though this is more gingivitis. The amount of bleeding and the loss of teeth sound more like periodontal disease (gum disease). After the cleaning and course of antibiotics the bleeding will go away and yes he will have sweet breath once again. But you will need to maintain it with a good diet, and good hygiene. There are lots of products out there for dogs to chew to help clean their teeth but you will also need to brush them at least once a week (more if your Billy will tolerate it).

FYI: the presence of gum disease increases the risk of heart ailments. Bacteria in the mouth are attracted to the heart and areas of defect in our body (also artificial joints and such). The bleeding of the gums allows for the bacteria to enter the blood stream and head right for the heart.

Not trying to be preachy...I work in a dental office and it is the same with people. I also had a boxer with cardio myopathy who required extra good hygiene due to the severity of her condition.
Lots of luck to you & Billy.

Dora & the Zoo Crew
P.S. Where in the UK do you live? I lived at RAF Lakenheath for 4 years & loved London and everything else British!

 

[Aimee]

This interests me. Baxter has the same problems as Billy. Our vet recommended the same protocal as Billysmum's vet. The tumors in the back are benign and the gum overgrowth I was told would just reappear so at his age, surgery was the worse of the two evils. My vet also stated that surgery could also cause the bacteria to "travel" so her recommendation was brushing and giving bones to stimulate the gums. I've been wanting to have a dental done on Baxter but she is dead set against it. I've been thinking of getting a second opinion because I know that teeth and gum health directly affects overall health but I am worried about the things she has mentioned. At Baxters age, I'm not certain what approach to take. Baxter is raw fed but his breath can still knock someone out. Any advice?

 

[Adelle]

Our first boxer 'Hooligan' had the same problem and had surgery twice in his life to remove the excess gum tissue that was growing over his teeth. The first time he had surgery he was 4 or 5 and again when he was 7 or 8. We were told at the time that the teeth underneath the gums could very easily get infected and rott and that surgery was our only option :( Both surgeries were quick and easy enough and he was back to normal the next day.

We would also try to get him to chew things to help but he never had much interest in them.

 

[jaimie]

My girl Britnee had the same problems with her gums. It was called hypertrophic gums. She had the benign lumps, swollen gums, etc... We had them burned off (the ones that were in problem areas like right inbetween her two front teeth where her bite was) then we also had a dental done on her once. I do not suggest the dental, Brit had problems afterwards because all the bacteria that was stirred up. But, I would get them removed it they needed to be, she had it done twice.

I offered her bones to chew among other things but she was not interested. I would just leave them until there is a problem.

Jaimie

btw: the bad breath will not go away unfortunately, you can try everything in the book, but it didn't work.

Bless you my angel Britnee

 

[BXR RYD]

I am going through this as we speak with my 5 yr old Cooper.
His front teeth are almost out of sight and I noticed the other day that he had swollen & bleeding gums (read bleeding gums thread)
He has a vet appt this Saturday and I talked to the vet as well just to make sure he could wait til Saturday and the vet told me not to panic. My vet specializes in the boxer/bulldog breed and I really trust him. He said there are OTHER ways to deal with this then surgery.
I understand what you are going through and will advise what my vet tells me. It should be interesting to see what he tells me and we can compare notes.

Hang in there!!!

 

[Billysmum]

We were told at the time that the teeth underneath the gums could very easily get infected and rott

As Billy's front bottom teeth are completely covered I asked this question. The vet said that it would do the teeth far more harm to burn off the gum and damage the teeth that way and that she did not expect them to rot inside the gums.

The tumors in the back are benign and the gum overgrowth I was told would just reappear so at his age, surgery was the worse of the two evils.

As the tumours are not affecting his eating, he is 7 in 2 wks time, and he has a slight heart murmur, the vet felt that surgery would not be beneficial.


Billy does like to chew nylabones or rawhide but lately he's been bleeding alot and hasn't wanted to chew. Once the antibiotics do their work and the gingivitis is gone he may be happier chewing on something.

Thanks for the replies, it's really helpful to be able to discuss the problem with others who are experiencing it too.

By the way, Dora - I live in Bedford which is about 50 miles north of London - not so far from Lakenheath although I have never been there. I have been to the Center Parcs in Thetford Forest and that is nearby isn't it?

 

[Aimee]

With February being Pet Dental Month, I talked with the vet tonight about both Baxter and Lexi's teeth while I was in with Lexi. Baxter is going back for a recheck next Wednesday so that she can look at his teeth and gums and provide her opinion of what is going on in his mouth (he saw the other vet last time). She made a strong recommendation to us that I had never heard or thought of before. She recommended that we buy a water pik and use that on their teeth and gums! Has anyone ever heard of doing this with their boxer or used a water pik on their boxers before? She said a lot of the problems with Boxers is that they tend to get the gum overgrowth and then the food gets stuck in and around the lumps and bumps and this is what ultimately causes the problems. I'm going to go out and get one as crazy as it sounds and see how it works! This came about when I made a comment about how I wish I could floss their teeth She actually said I could but that she recommends a water pik instead :D

 

[Mandy1155]

I worked at a vet clinic and one of the vets used to say that. I brush with a doggy electric tooth brush abot 3 times a week. Clarice is 2.5 and has puppy beautiful teeth still. I hope I can keep it up forever.

Faust is almost 8 and had a dental about 1.5 years ago. He has not tartar since I have been keeping up with the brushing and all have good breath.

 

[Jan]

Markus is 10 and he still has pearly white teeth and good breath.

Aimee, let us know how the Water Pik works. I wonder what Markus would think of that. :rolleyes: