Bichon F's question about Gingival Hyperplasia

Question

My 14 year old Bichon may have Gingival Hyperplasia.  Her gums on her front teeth are almost completely covering those teeth.  She has a little bleeding but seems to be eating ok.  However I am afraid of putting her thru surgery because of her age & prior health issues.  She had Liver Cancer a couple of years ago but has completely recovered from that.  Her liver enzymes still elevate but the Vet/Surgeon said  because of the cancer she will also show higher than normal liver enzymes the rest of her life even though she has fully recovered.  My concern now is her teeth/gums.  Is there anything that can be done without surgery?  I currently brush her teeth/gums 2-3 times per week with an extra soft toothbrush and with Organic Coconut Oil.  Any advice you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Accepted Answer

There aren't any treatments for Gingival hyperplasia other than to surgically remove that gum tissue  Given her health history, age and condition, it may be best to just monitor her eating and make sure that she is comfortable.  She may need to eat a soft diet at this point.  Since I cannot examine her, this is best to discuss with your veterinarian, as they know her health history, but the risks of surgery may outweigh any benefits.

Gingival Hyperplasia in Dogs