boxer gums

Question
I have a 6 yr old boxer and during my checking her teeth last night I noted a large "overgrowth of tissue" over her r incisor. I looks and feels like gum tissue, does not look angry like a cancer but is quite large. Any idea?

Answer
Boxers are prone to 'fibromatous epulides', benign overgrowths of gum tissue.  If they get too large, they may interfere with eating; as well, food and hair can get trapped behind/underneath them, which can lead to gingivitis and tooth decay.  Surgical removal is generally successful in removing the epulides, but they often do come back.  Laser surgery is, in my experience, far less painful for the dog and heals much faster.

There is a protocol of Tagamet and Benadryl that some Boxer owners I know have used to shrink epulides; I have not tried it myself yet.

http://www.bavariasboxers.com/epuli.htm

(Be sure to read the cautions on the page, especially if your Boxer is on any medication.  You may want to discuss the protocol with your vet - be warned, it seems vets generally feel it won't hurt, but they rarely believe it will help until they see the changes with their own eyes.)