My 12 year old crossbreed Holly has had a sore mouth for a while. Her gums and the insides of her cheeks get quite red and sore. We took her to the vet about it last year and she was put on antibiotics which cleared it up, but once she'd finished the course the soreness came back soon after. We took her back a couple of months ago and she had a dental, her teeth were quite dirty so they were cleaned but none needed to be taken out. She was put on antibiotics and again, the soreness cleared up.
But now it's back again. I'm not sure what we can do about it now, obviously she can't be on the antibiotics for the rest of her life. I have been keeping up with using logic gel on her teeth but it doesn't seem to make a difference. She used to chew bones in her youth but now she wont because it hurts her mouth.
Does anyone have any ideas about what we can do for her?

Hi Cutewolf
I don't have much experienct of this, (except with people) but I would think about treating her naturally, give her plain bio yoghurt which will help soothe her mouth and if you can get some colloidal silver and spray it into her mouth and add it to her drinking water.  Whatever you are cleaning her teeth with could cause soreness of the mouth, I know toothpaste which contains SLS is known to cause mouth ulcers and soreness, so an sls free toothpaste for your dog would be best. I don't know if logic gel has sls as an ingredient but if it has that could be one of the problems.

As you say you don't want her to be on antibiotics long term, which could also cause mouth ulcers.  Try here for the colloidal silver: http://www.ag4all.co.uk/  you have nothing to lose as you can use it for lots of things.  And you could try www.neemgenie.co.uk for a neem product for her mouth.

Thanks, I will try the yoghurt and look into colloidal silver.
I don't think Logic contains SLS, the reason I use it is because it is enzyme based and therefore brushing is not required. Brushing hurts her and I imagine would just make it worse.

Does this effect her in the winter at all?  Or more spring/summer?

It's all year round

This just seems to be getting worse. We'll be making a vet appointment soon.

My sister tripped over her this morning and must have knocked her mouth - she tried to bark earlier but cried out, also did the same when trying to eat (and so she gave up eating). I think it is painful for her to open her mouth. I tried to have a look but she cried out and snapped at me.
Hopefully it will ease off a bit and she'll be able to eat soon.

I'm also having an argument with my mum who insists she needs her booster vaccinations! She hasn't had them in a couple of years on my insistance (at her age I very much doubt she needs them anymore) so our vet will insist on restarting the course. Obviously she's not in the best of health so hopefully any vet would refuse to do it anyway.