Symptoms of Enlarged Gums in Dogs
It is important to monitor your dog’s eating habits and pay close attention to the appearance of their teeth and gums because symptoms are not always noticeable until the disease has progressed. Remember, if caught in the early stages, this disease is highly treatable and will not put the dog through unnecessary extra procedures. Symptoms include:
There are two main types of enlarged gums in dogs:
Diagnosis of Swollen Gums in Dogs
Upon scheduling an appointment, the veterinarian will view your dog’s teeth and gums at each check up. If you suspect a dental issue with your pet, do not wait for the annual visit to have the problem looked at. Dental disease can progress rapidly.
When discussing the swollen gums with your veterinarian, you will be asked for a brief history of the time leading up to the problem. Your veterinarian will ask what type of food you feed your pet, and will want to know when you first noticed the bad breath and redness in the gums. If you have noticed any behavioral changes in your dog, be sure to advise the veterinarian.
She will perform a visual exam of your dog’s mouth and will point out to you the problem areas where gum recession may be present. She will check for abscesses of the teeth and will perform a palpation of the neck and glands to rule out swelling or lumps.
If infection is present, antibiotics will be prescribed to prepare the mouth for a dental cleaning. Blood work will be ordered to confirm that your dog does not have an underlying problem that should be addressed before the dental appointment is made.
Treatment of Enlarged Gums in Dogs
Treatment of enlarged gums depends almost entirely on the severity and progression of the gingivitis. If caught in the early stages, a professional oral cleaning above and below the gumline complete with scaling the teeth, brushing and polishing will remedy any problems. It is also a good idea to have a sealant applied to the teeth to help keep bacteria at bay. Routine maintenance will further prevent future recurrence. If the cleaning does not take care of the problem, further evaluation will be needed to check for an underlying immune system dysfunction or another cause such as Diabetes. For more advanced cases and periodontitis, there may be a need for antibiotics to treat the infection. In severe cases that cannot be remedied by cleaning, the teeth will be extracted.
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Dog Swollen Gums | Gingival Hyperplasia
Gingivitis is a medical term that refers to inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is the earliest, and only reversible stage, of periodontal disease.
Stomatitis refers to a more generalized inflammation of the mucous membranes within the mouth and may involve the gums, tongue, inner surfaces of the lips, and/or the floor and roof of the mouth.
Gingivitis may be caused by a bacterial infection from plaque bacteria on the teeth and is usually associated with poor oral hygiene. When bacteria enter into the small space between the gums and teeth, known as the gingival sulcus, they may cause an inflammatory reaction. If gingivitis is left untreated, bacterial infection can progress to tooth supporting structures and result in tooth loss (periodontal disease).
The cause of stomatitis in dogs is unknown but may be caused by a hyperimmune (over reaction) response of the gum tissues to bacterial biofilm.