My dog has a bulging gum growth. Does he need a vet if he fears them?

Hi, While I can’t say with certainty without an exam, I would strongly recommend having this gingival mass evaluated by a veterinarian. In many cases these are benign gingival hyperplasia (just meaning excessive tissue), but other times these masses can be malignant cancer. Therefore, catching it early will make a difference in the potential success of treatment. I hope Kosmo just has some hyper plastic gum tissue! Best of luck.

This could be gingival hyperplasia. It is an overgrowth of the gum tissue. It is typically a benign condition. Bulldogs are one of several breeds that have a predisposition to the condition. You would need to have this confirmed by your veterinarian with a physical exam. In severe cases, the excess tissue is trimmed away. It can increase the risk of periodontal disease since food, hair and other debris can get caught up under the tissue.

This looks like it could be a growth and it's clearly bothering him if he's biting at it. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment.

This looks like an epulis, a fairly common benign tumor in dogs. It occurs more often in short faced dog breeds. I recommend getting it checked by your vet to determine what kind of growth it is and what needs to be done about it. Your vet will do an exam, lab work, possibly imaging depending on if you vet believes they need it. Based on these results your vet will be better able to tell you what is going on and the best course of treatment.

Poor girl. This is unfortunately an oral mass and should be tested by your vet soon to determine if this is cancerous or benign (non-cancerous). Due to Sugar's age and breed there is unfortunately a higher risk of cancer, but we should know for sure after it is tested. It is good that it is the same color as the rest of her skin/gums, so that is promising. I hope that Sugar's test results come back favorable after your vet visit. Best wishes and take care!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Thank you for providing pictures! It looks like Sophie could have a growth of some sort there, either benign or malignant. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give your vet a call in the morning to make her an appointment. Best of luck, I hope this helps!