My Mastiff has an epulis on his bottom jaw between his canine and incisor teeth. Apart from the fact that it looks ugly it is getting bigger and I want to get it removed but am worried about putting the dog under anaesthetic. Has anybody else 's dogs suffered with one of these and if so how did you deal with it. The dog does not appear to be in any pain or discomfort but he must be as this thing gets bigger and pushes his teeth, the vet has also looked at this and advised not to have it surgically removed.

Can anyone help?

I've never seen it so the only info I can give you is that it is a benign growth which is quite common in Boxers. Bacteria and debris trapped between the teeth and gums can get into the gum and cause gum disease. It can get so big as to literally cover the teeth!

It is usually removed when it starts to get big but unfortunately often reoccurs.

Regards John

Hi I once knew a shepherd line that had it, very uncommon in GSD but there u go. It does require a general to get rid , but the only thing is that it does come back, theu say that once it has been cauterized the homeopathic remedy calc fluor given 1 x weekly for 3 months keeps it a bay, it does look awful, but it does not cause any pain as far as I am aware of

Thank you everybody for your replies. Just to let you know the epulis was removed under general, it had grown so large very quickly that it was pushing the dogs upper teeth apart. These are not a common occurrence in a Mastiff and I am sad to hear that they can return - are there any preventative tips ? I certainly do not want my baby to go under a general again even though the whole procedure took less than 20 minutes (the epulis was seared off and cauterised) as it is now 43 hours since the op took place and he has still not fully recovered from the anaesthetic.

Only just seen this thread - one of our Cockers had an epulis removed from between her front two teeth about a year ago. She has a gap where it was but it has not returned (so far). They are not common in Cockers either - I hadn't seen one before but I think they are quite common in Boxers? Anyway, don't think there is anything you can do to stop one coming back - just be vigilant & check your dog's mouth regularly.

Jane