On Sugar’s last vet visit, it was confirmed that she has Epulis, a common oral growth in a dog’s mouth.
What’s an Epulis?
Epulis is a spongy looking growth that occurs along the gum line of a dog’s mouth. Epulis is the 4th most common oral tumor in dogs. As dogs age, some are prone to develop mass growth in their oral cavity. Epulis usually occurs in middle aged dogs, around 7 years old and older (senior years). It is not common in Golden Retriever but to breeds that have short nose and a muzzle like Boxers and Bulldogs.
What Causes Epulis?
There’s no known cause of epulis. Epulis is a common type of tumor that tends to recur. Most epulis is a benign tumor and does not spread to other areas of a dog’s body.
3 Different Types of Epulis
1. Fibromatous epulis is smooth and pinkish in color. It is usually located on the margin of the gums.
2. Ossifying epulis is a severe tumor that can be difficult to cure due a radical surgery that requires the removal of part of the bone.
3. Acanthomatous epulis affects the front part of the lower jaw.
This type of epulis is the most aggressive and highly invasive, so it is perceived as being a type of cancer.
How to treat Epulis?
Surgery is necessary to remove the epulis, especially if it is small. Also, a biopsy is recommended in order to determine what type of epulis and/or to determine if it is a cancerous mass. In some cases, teeth next to the epulis need to be removed and large epulis may need radiation treatment.
Have you checked you dog’s mouth lately?
Signs of Epulis
Most often dogs don’t show any symptoms of having epulis in their mouth. As a pet parent, you must frequently observe and monitor your dog’s oral health. As soon as any lumps, extreme bad breath, change in gum color, excessive drooling and bloody discharge coming out of mouth, consult and visit your veterinarian. It is imperative to educate yourself about your dog’s health. There are numerous resources online such as petmd, pet education and vet medicine. Also, establish a relationship with your dog’s vet. It is important that you trust your vet and comfortable in asking any questions.
At the moment, Sugar does not appear to have any discomfort. Her epulis does not interfere with her eating and/or drinking. Due to Sugar’s age and recent tongue surgery, her vet is not recommending removal of the epulis. As a concern pet parent, I continuously monitor Sugar’s mouth. Sugar is at her critical senior age of 13 years old and I have to be a vigilant pet parent for any health change occurrence.
Perform a regular routine check-ups on your dog’s mouth.
Glad da epulis is not botherin Sugar.
Good information for pet parents to be aware of and check for. Glad Sugar is doing alright with it, she is blessed with such a good Mom.
Great info and something to certainly check for, We hope Sugar continues to do okay.
Thanks for sharing this, Sugar! It’s always good to be aware and informed. So glad to hear you are not having an discomfort! Have a golden day!!
I hope Sugar continues to feel fine. There is always something I find on Ike and Kelly…a skin rash, a bump, a wart, you name it. It’s good to know what all these different thingys are and what treatment they need.
Oh, I have never heard of these before. So glad the one in Sugar’s mouth is not bothering her at all. Pet parents need to be vigilant in a lot of ways to be sure their pets stay healthy. Great post!
Happy weekend!
Oz
Really happy to hear that it’s not bothering Sugar. Putting any dog under anesthesia is worrisome, especially as they hit their golden years. Thanks for the reminder about keeping track of oral health. That’s an area I definitely need to improve upon.
We hope it doesn’t grow much or bother Sugar. Mom has her hands and face in our mouths every night when we brush our teeth. She got in the habit of looking around more when I had my lipfold issues, but now those are gone and that is a wonderful thing.
thank you for this important info. I am soooo glad that this isn’t something serious for Sugar.
Hope it doesn’t bother you Sugar. Mom checks all our body parts. Nutty
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
I am so glad this is not creating an issue for Sugar. Thank you for the reminder to check my own dogs, I did not know about this form of tumors. It’s so important to check our dogs over, especially when they are seniors like two of ours are.
Sugar, thanks for a very important post. We will save it in our health-folder. I hope you will continue to feel good and it does not grow or bother you. Have a golden friday dear Sugar
I have never heard of this, thank you for the info!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Sugar what a valuable piece I
Of advice! Happy weekend
Hugs
Madi your bfff
Have seen lots of epulises… epuli? lol not sure on plural.. Am surprised to see it’s only the 4th most common oral growth. Would have though it might be #1! Glad Sugar’s epulis isn’t concerning.
Thanks for the information, i’d never heard of epulis. Take care Sugar! Glad it’s not interfering with anything.
~DZ Dogs
Great info! We didn’t know about this. Glad it’s not bothering you, Sugar. btw, we posted about our Oz Park walk today!
Your pals,
Diane and Rocco
We have never heard of that, so thanks for telling us about it. Mom is going to check out Phantom’s teeth and gums. We hope Sugar continues not to be bothered by this condition.
Woos – Phantom, Ciara, and Lightning
Thanks for the information; I’d seen them before but had no idea what they were. Oral care is an important part of your dogs overall health, couldn’t agree more. Glad to know it’s not bothering Sugar.
Good information to know. Thanks!
Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats
I’m glad that you are able to stay on top of Sugar’s health. I hope this new development doesn’t slow her down one bit! XXOO
While they are common and often not harmful, it’s still very important to get them checked out. Though I brushed Cheyenne’s teeth on a regular basis when she was alive, I suddenly noticed my other dog, Shiloh, licking at her mouth a lot more often and persistently. So I checked her out and noticed a small growth on her gums- so small I easily missed it even though I checked her out often. Took her to my vet who said not to worry, it was most likely an epulis (first time I had ever heard of them) and that as long as it didn’t grow or bother her, it was harmless. Just to be safe, we decided together to remove it and have it biopsied. My vet was stunned when it came back to be an extremely aggressive form of cancer- malignant melenoma. A collie/border collie mix, Cheyenne was not the typical breed to get either epulises or that type of cancer. But because we were vigilent in checking her over and being safe (and thanks to Shiloh telling us something was wrong!) we caught that very deadly cancer early. We had to remove half of Cheyenne’s lower jaw and go through some treatments to prevent the spread of the cancer, but in a few months she was deemed cancer free. When it was first diagnosed, we were told it had a nearly 100% fatality rate. So daily health checks are VERY important! Know what is normal and not for your dog, talk with your vet about anything odd, and even if you think it’s probably not a big deal, err on the side of caution- it could save your dog’s life!
I agree but it’s hard to know when to go against a vet and when you should take their advice.
good information to know.
We’ve been lucky to not have that in any of our dogs. I’m kind of paranoid about lumps and bumps on the pups and each of them get a weekly head to toe body check – on top of the daily petting and loving. It also helps to detect hot spots, small injuries, pests etc that might get missed (especially with their coats!).
Have a great Saturday!
Monty and Harlow
Like most of the others, I’ve never heard of an epulis. I’m always checking Callie & Shadow’s bodies for bumps and lumps — and calling the vet when I find one — but I don’t check their mouths as often as I should. This is a good reason to start! Just because they’re not common in Golden Retrievers obviously does not mean they can’t or won’t get them.
You take such good care of Sugar that I’m sure ANY change in her is almost immediately noticeable to you, so I’m not worried about her. Give her hugs and kisses from this Golden Fur Mom.
This was a great post bring awareness to oral health and that you need to be always checking your dogs mouth.
Great information! I am so glad that Sugar’s mass doesn’t seem to be serious! I check Rooney’s mouth on a daily basis, it is so important.
Glad to hear it isn’t anything to serious. Will check Cody and Sierra more often now.
I will be having my mouth checked more often. I hope that Sugar continues to feel fine. Bless her heart she sure has had her feel of mouth problems but I know that you will keep a check on things
I have not heard of those growths on the mouth of dogs. Thank you for such good information I will have to start checking.
Mica and Aspen
Augie had an epulis removed last year. It was near the front on his lower jaw, so it was obvious when he smiled. The vet said not to worry and that it wasn’t bothering him, but we opted to have it removed anyway. Well, after surgery he was like a new dog! Full of energy and very playful. So we think it actually WAS bothering him. Of course, he was 7 and not 13, so that made a difference in our decision to have it removed. Hugs to Sugar!