Has anyone seen this before? Massively inflamed gums

[Jinx94]

Hi all, this is my parents' dog, Archie.

Dad's taking him to the vets tomorrow to get his swollen gums checked, but I wanted to see if anyone has come across similar. Dad spotted it last night and is pretty hot on noticing any changes as Archie is his pride and joy, and is around 12 years old. Archie has been to the vets twice in the last month, once for a kennel cough vaccine and once to check the status of his various lumps and bumps, this was not apparent at either of those visits.

Archie doesn't seem to be bothered by the swelling. He's eating normally and hasn't been fussing with his face/sneezing/showing any other behavioural changes. Dad says it feels squidgy, goes white under pressure and blood flow returns to it normally. Archie isn't any more bothered about his lumpy gums being prodded than he is when his teeth are normally checked.

Dad is very worried that it may be cancerous.

Any ideas?

 

[Thistle]

Could be epulis, generally harmless gum overgrowth and easily removed.

 

[AmyMay Again]

Perhaps severe gingervitis?

 

[Jinx94]

We'd be very happy with either of those!

It's gutting that our dogs don't live forever. We know that Archie probably doesn't have many years left, but facing the reality is so tough. I'm very worried about how my dad will be when Archie passes. I know he'll have my mum, but he tends to grieve solo and this will hit him like a freight train.

 

[Jinx94]

I did try to reassure dad that we don't need to jump straight to cancer, but I'm not sure how well it worked.

 

[scats]

I’d have said possible Epulis. My dog has just had one removed.

 

[Thistle]

@Jinx94 what did the vet say?

 

[Jinx94]

Sorry for the delay folks! The vet pushed the appointment back to tomorrow as they want to biopsy/aspirate/do something with it.

Dad said it translated as 'poke' - they live in Spain over the colder months. My parents' Spanish is pretty good, but there's definitely a bit of a barrier still when it comes to medical treatment for themselves or Archie.

Dad is feeling very reassured following your suggestions and having done a lot of googling about epulis.

I promise I'll let you know as soon as I get an update from them, thank you so much x

 

[misst]

It looks very much like my old JRT Tillys epulis. She had it removed at 10 but it came back and was quite large. Fitzpatricks soft tissue hospital removed it along with 4 teeth and a piece of jawbone to prevent recurrence 2nd time.

I was horrified and refused to do it at first but they showed me photos and recovery stories and said if we didn't remove it it would ulcerative and grow and she'd have pain, bleeding and end up pts as it would be horrible for her.

She had it done came home for a 2 week soft diet, stole a chicken foot on day 3 and never looked back.
If it is an Epulis and needs invasive surgery don't panic my little dog did so well and was much less traumatised than me!