Disease Ontology ID: DDTO:0000846

Disease Description: Overgrowth of the gum tissues.

Inherit Mode: -

Disease Symptom: The gums show an overgrowth that is starting to threaten some or all teeth and the growth looks abnormal to normal mouth/gum development ; Inflammation as a secondary infection from bacteria and food debris trapped in pockets of gum tissue; Growth (shaped like bunches of grapes) formation of tissue forming along the gum line ;Deep redness in the gums rather than a healthy pink colour ;The teeth (or tooth) is completely covered by gum growth ; Bleeding from the mouth when eating.

Disease Cause: Idiopathic and breed disposition gingival hyperplasia create difficulties in preventing reoccurrences as the cause of this condition is unknown; Medications that cause GH fall into three main categories as follows; Immunosuppressants – These are a type of drug that suppresses your dog’s immune systems; cyclosporine is a common drug to treat allergies, prednisolone and prednisone steroids, and chlorambucil which is used for chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer are all classed as immunosuppressants; Calcium channel blockers – These medications are used to prevent calcium entering cells within your dog’s heart and blood vessels and are used for cardiac disease treatment; the drugs include diltiazem, amlodipine and verapamil; Anticonvulsants – These are medications used for seizure disorder treatments and include potassium bromide, phenobarbital and levetiracetam (Keppra).

Disease Diagnose: Gingival hyperplasia in your dog usually begins around middle age. It can begin in one area of the gum, and grow to completely cover all your dog’s teeth. Your veterinarian will inspect the mouth and gums of your pet, often during an awake exam. He will be checking the color of the gums (healthy is pink) and looking to assess if there is any redness, inflammation or overgrowth within the gum tissue. The confirmation of this condition is confirmed by an anesthetised examination. GH is noninflammatory, but inflammation caused by bacteria can lead to inflammation and periodontal disease as a secondary process. If this has happened with your dog, he will need x-rays to determine the extent of the periodontal disease.

Treat Method: There are two main ways of treating this condition. The first is by medical means, while the second method relies on surgery.

Breeder Advice: -

Disease Description Source: Link