I think my dog has an epulis on the right side of his mouth, does anyone have any experience of their dogs having one of these and if so what did you do? 

Thanks

Mine had one which appeared last year. It grew on the side of a molar between the tooth and the lip. My vet said to watch it and take him back if it appeared to be getting sore. My dog is 12 so didn't want him to have an unnecessary GA. The vet would have considered removing it if his teeth had needed a clean (which they didn't). It grew bigger and covered the whole tooth, but when I checked it a couple of months ago it appeared to have got a 'neck'. The next time I checked, it had fallen off :)

Daisy

On an otherwise healthy dog, they will need surgical removal.
The overgrowth will cause a very unhealthy mouth with huge pockets for food to get trapped and bad teeth to form.

In extreme cases the dog will find it difficult to eat.

I'm now not 100% sure that's what it is (but I'm no expert!) as it looks as if it's about to fall off.  I'll keep my eye on it over the next few days and see how it goes.  It is only small and so is in no way troublesome at the moment but if it grows he'll be having it removed as I don't want him to have an unhealthy mouth as his teeth are gleaming at the moment.

They grow more as they age and often look like they are hanging by  a thread.
Have a look at

http://www.boxerwelfarescotland.co.uk/pages/epulis.php

> On an otherwise healthy dog, they will need surgical removal.

> The overgrowth will cause a very unhealthy mouth with huge pockets for food to get trapped and bad teeth to form.

In some cases, perhaps - in my dog's case an op wasn't necessary - fortunately. The epulis caused him no problems while it was there. He is in perfect health and could have had an op if it had become necessary. Just wanted to point out that not all epulis need surgery :)

Daisy

My Jozi had one, and it was removed along with the upper incisor that it had cracked.  they can become locally invasive into the bone, so are best removed.

Hi,
I found one on mine when he started to drool blood when chewing, it was fast growing as I check his mouth whenever I clean his teath. It's shape was similar to a cauliflower and took him to our vet the next day, I was advised that it should be removed asap and he went in the following day. It was removed, the wound cauterised and it was sent away for biopsy. The results thankfully came back negative. I should take advice from your vet and not leave it to chance. I now check his mouth regularly, Good luck.

> The overgrowth will cause a very unhealthy mouth with huge pockets for food to get trapped and bad teeth to form.
>
>

In my boys case he bacame quite slobbery as well... we had his taken away, it was sent for analysis all ok. Was advised it may grow back but has not so far.

> It's shape was similar to a cauliflower

That's like Jozi's was.

My bitch had one removed last year, she was perfectly alright after the op and the epuli hasnt come back

> Was advised it may grow back but has not so far.

We were given the same advise, which is why I make sure to check his mouth so as too catch it early. I did a previous post asking if people had experince of them and had they come back, thankfuly I don't remember any replies where they hand - so keep my fingers crossed. Best wishes.

He's booked in for Tuesday, it's only pea-sized but I'm sure he'll be best without it and I don't want it to grow and cause further problems.
I am slightly anxious about the anaesthetic as he's already had loads due to snapping both cruciates :-(

Wishing you 'both' all the best for Tuesday, anaesthetics are a concern but I'm sure he will be fine.

Good luck GP.

Im sure all will be well.

Well George is home safe and sound and minus said lump.  The vet advised it should be removed as as it was on a thin stalk it was likely to catch and bleed rather than one that was more firmly 'rooted' so to speak.  Short, quick op to remove it and only one tiny dissolvable suture so hopefully he should be fine now. 

Are there any anaesthetics that suit some dogs more than others as whenever he's be anaesthetised at this vets he's is really 'wappy' and almost paranoid the evening he returns home but when he had much longer ops for his knees he has been absolutely fine?

Don't know about anaesthetics, but really pleased that George is home safe and sound with you. All the very best.

he may of been given a heavy sedation if it was a quick snip and one stitch. They can take a lot longer to wear off where full ga with profofol and isoflurane is short acting and gets out of the system quicker.

So for a major op like his knee he would of had a ga, but this quick snip may of been a sedation, just a possibility

Glad he is home and well :)

If he was first traquilised with ACE ...Acepromazine it may explain why he's more spaced than before.

There is anecdotal evidence that boxers should never be pre-med with ACE because it can cause a very slow heart beat.

Well he's been back today as he just was not himself and they've admitted him and keeping him overnight on fluids as they think he is very dehydrated.  He's had some fluids over the afternoon and has perked up apparently but they want to keep him in as they are still running.  They don't seem worried about anything else so hopefully that's a good sign...all this because of a tiny lump on his gum, I kind of wish I hadn't bothered now :(

Tooolz...are there any other recommended pre-meds instead of ACE?  If he has been given this is he likely to recover or does it cause more long term damage?

> Tooolz...are there any other recommended pre-meds instead of ACE?  If he has been given this is he likely to recover or does it cause more long term damage?

Any modern pre-med except ACE is preferable.Did you ask if this was given?

No long term damage has been reported just acute reaction whilst under sedation.

Sorry your boy has taken his little bit of surgery badly but its a timely reminder that some breeds have special anaesthetic needs.

He'll bounce back I'm sure.Try not to worry.

Just being picky, but it's usually abbreviated to ACP ...

Acepromazine (acepromazine maleate, acetylpromazine, ACE, ACP) is commonly used in veterinary medicine as a tranquilizer or pre-anesthetic agent.

You say Tomatoes - I say Tomaitoes....

Most work on this side-effect was written up in the US where ACE is the common term.

Cheers guys.  I think he just felt 'off' and not like drinking so he must have gone for about 36 hours with no water (including pre-op nil by mouth time as he chose not to have any even though there was water there for him to drink the evening before) hence the dehydration.  The last time my mum spoke to the vets they said he looked 'more like a dog now' as he looked pretty rotten and sorry for himself before the iv fluids. 

We'll have to see what tomorrow brings but the vets seemed to think it was just a case of dehydration.

ACP...ah yes I remember that when I used to work at a vets.  If he has to have any future anaesthetics I'll specifically ask for this to be avoided.  I will ask my Mum to enquire tomorrow if that is indeed what they used.

>Acepromazine (acepromazine maleate, acetylpromazine, ACE, ACP) is commonly used in veterinary medicine as a tranquilizer or pre-anesthetic agent.

Assuming we're all in the UK, the official name of the licenced drug is ACP. As I say, just being picky, but that's the name that'll be on the notes. When in Rome, and all that. :-)

Well he came home yesterday and is bouncing around like his usual self so it looks like he just hadn't taken enough water on and needed supplementing, daft dog, but I'm glad he's back.

One more thing...he now has tear stains and pink feet whereas he had none before all this, could it be related to the anaesthetic or perhaps the IV fluids he was given?