Pooch up a gum tree

DOG IN NEED OF SURGERY BEFORE DENTAL DISEASE CAN TAKE HOLD

- DR DAVID GRANT

My three-year-old crossbreed male dog was diagnosed with overgrowth of the gums. I noticed it a few weeks ago when he yawned right in front of me. My vet is going to remove the excess tissue. Is this a common procedure?

The disease is gingival hyperplasia, a non-cancerous overgrowth of gum tissue. It can be caused by chronic inflammation from underlying dental disease.

There are a few drugs that can initiate gingival hyperplasia as a rare side effect.

I have seen this occasionally in dogs being treated for allergic diseases with cyclosporine.

From what you have told me these causes are not likely in your dog.

Some breeds have a poorly understood genetic predisposition to develop gingival hyperplasia.

I have only seen these cases myself in boxer dogs, said to be the most commonly affected breed.

Other breeds mentioned in the literature are bulldogs, collies and Great Danes.