My dog has just turned 10 and at our last visit, the vet said he has epulides on his gums. It looks quite shocking; there’s so much excess tissue growing from the gums and it's starting to cover his teeth. They’re benign tumours, but they can be very invasive and might require surgery to remove them.
Has anyone else experienced this with their dog? If so, how did it progress?
In my dog's case, I think it's developing really quickly because I check his teeth every now and then and I hadn't seen anything until now!!!
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If you've really lost faith in dry food, you should know that the best diet for your dog is BARF, also known as raw feeding. It’s a diet based on both the eating habits of dogs in the wild and their anatomy as carnivores. This diet consists of raw meat, offal, and meaty bones, along with very small amounts of fruit and veg, oils, and other natural supplements.
This diet 100% meets a dog's needs, and it’s the first step towards a healthier pet.
And contrary to what people often think: it doesn't make the dog aggressive at all, it’s not THAT complicated or time-consuming, and most importantly, it works out cheaper than dry food—or at the very least, about the same price!
The only condition is being able to store a bit of meat in a freezer, and ordering online and/or knowing how to find good deals at local butchers.
If you’d like more info on this, feel free to ask me any questions, I’d be happy to help. You can also, and more importantly, take a look at this site: http://www.tribu-carnivore.com/barfnew/
I’m switching to it myself soon, as soon as I’ve got a freezer! :)
Right, I think that’s about everything. Good luck, and above all, don’t panic—if it’s nothing serious, everything will be fine. Oh, and if you want to be completely convinced by the grain-free or BARF approach (which I’ll admit looks like a bit of a fad, but it really isn't!), you can read the book *Toxic Pet Food* by Jutta Ziegler; she's a vet and it's a very easy, informative read: https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2016/05/18/ziegler-jutta-toxic-croquettes/ziegler-jutta-toxic-croquettes.pdf
From what I know, Goldens are quite prone to tumours and cancer. Well, in any case, every one I’ve ever known has had them.
As for the dry food, I’m not really familiar with Simpsons. However, regarding the grain-free principle, I can promise you: there’s no way it causes cancer. If you look at it logically, how could the absence of grains in kibble cause cancer? So, if anything, it might just be that specific brand.
What I’d suggest is definitely switching brands (at least to rule it out), but sticking with grain-free ranges. Personally, I’d recommend either Orijen (you won’t find better) or Carnilove. Both of these are potato-free, unlike Simpsons, and potatoes are known for being difficult to digest.
I really must stress the importance of staying grain-free; the presence of grains can really make things worse.
I’ll use my own experience as an example—it’s just one case, but still. I had a six-year-old Cocker Spaniel; she was in great shape, though a bit anxious. She was fed dry food full of grains, with very low-quality meat and a huge amount of carbs (nearly 50%!). Last summer, she started to go downhill, and after a month of watching our poor girl waste away, the vet (who I’m still incredibly angry with, by the way) finally gave us a diagnosis: bowel cancer. Despite an operation that removed the entire tumour and a month of chemo, the cancer came back and we lost her.
I can’t directly blame the kibble, but I think the poor quality was a major factor that made things worse; it likely worsened the cancer and hindered her recovery. Now, for my dogs, it’s the end of rubbish food! There are too many "mysteries" when it comes to ingredients and manufacturing conditions.
That’s why, in my opinion (for what it’s worth), you shouldn't go back to food with grains. It’s likely to put even more strain on the dog and create the perfect conditions for cancer and other health issues.
I’ve scrolled back through the posts in the thread and couldn't find any mention of Golden Retrievers, but I’ve noted it now.
We only ever had one in the family and he had two cancers that were "treated", before the severity of a third led the vet to suggest putting him to sleep at the age of 7. He was a lovely KC registered Golden called Nageur.
Having researched the diet side of things quite a bit, I really don't think there’s a link between a grain-free diet and these recurring cancer problems. If there is a common thread, it’s far more likely to be down to the breeding lines than the food.
To get back to your question: if I were you, I’d get a second opinion from another vet before doing anything; especially before agreeing to surgery for a dog of that age with that kind of medical history.
Getting the advice of one or more vets will help you make the best decision for your dog’s health and well-being.
As mentioned above, he’s a Golden Retriever, and I’ve read that this issue is known in certain breeds, including Goldens... they don’t know the cause of the problem...
About two years ago, I switched my dog over to grain-free food (Simpsons) and the problems started just a few months after that... first the malignant mammary tumour, then this winter before Christmas, a tumour at the base of the tail (it’s a hepatoid gland tumour) and now this benign but far from harmless gum tumour... so I’m starting to have my doubts, even if it might be completely unrelated...
I’m on good terms with the breeder, who is very reputable, so I’ve sent her an email to ask if she’s ever come across this issue with her Goldens before...
Thanks @Mariegame for the article, I didn't spot it when I was searching online.
Thanks @Toofsy for sharing your story. Was the tumour only affecting some of the teeth? Because with my dog, it’s affecting nearly all of them to some extent, and on some, it’s already grown almost as high as the teeth themselves! I honestly don’t know how he manages to eat without it hurting him!
My dog has already had surgery for a mammary tumour (even though he’s a male) and a tumour under his tail, near his bum, both of which were cancerous... I’m even more worried now about how things will develop with his gums... he really didn't need this on top of everything else!!!
Hi there, here’s an article that might help shed some light on things: http://www.vetup.com/articles-veterinaires/82-royal-canin-alimentation/430-tumeur-cavite-orale-chien-chat#.WVdhL9PyhE4
I should warn you though, putting a dog under anaesthesia isn’t something to be taken lightly, so do make sure to ask your vet to weigh up the pros and cons before making a decision (the risk-benefit ratio).
Hi there,
I once had a 6-year-old dog who had an acanthomatous epulis (diagnosed via biopsy) in her mouth. The tumour grew very quickly, reached the bone and made it quite brittle. We had to have a hemimandibulectomy done (removing part of her lower jaw), but she lived a very happy life for over seven years with part of her jaw missing. Her tongue just used to hang out whenever she opened her mouth, which actually made her look quite sweet...
I don’t think yours is necessarily the same thing, but I was told at the time that with an epulis, you need to make sure it's completely removed, as these tumours often come back if the surgery isn't thorough and they can become quite a problem.
Best of luck with everything, especially for your pup.
