An ‘Epulis’ is an old term that vets use for a lump on the gum. The word means ‘growth on the gingiva’, which describes where it is, but not what its nature is. The nature of ‘epuli’ vary between inflammatory lesions, hyperplastic lesions, and tumours (both malignant and benign). This is why a biopsy, often before attempting full removal, is recommended. If the lump is cut off at the base, potentially not all the affected tissue will have been removed and the lump may grow back.
Peripheral Odontogenic Fibroma (POF) is one of the most common benign oral tumours in dogs. They originate from the periodontal ligament tissue, which is what holds the tooth in place. Without removing all this tissue, the mass will grow back, and can sometimes get to a very large size, making it difficult for the dog to eat.
To fully remove these tumours, the tooth (or sometimes teeth) next to the mass, along with some amount of bone, needs to be removed to prevent it re-growing. Depending on where the tumour is in the mouth, the surgery can be challenging.
At Oakhill, we are happy to take cases for tumour removal, where a biopsy and histology has already confirmed the diagnosis. We are also happy to take on cases that have an oral mass and require
an initial biopsy, however please contact us first as there is no ‘one size fits all’.