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My dog has a gum bump on their canine tooth. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

I noticed this bump on the gums of my dog's canine tooth, what could it be?

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 10th, 2020

This is a condition called gingival hyperplasia which is just extra gum growth. At your pets next dental cleaning have the vet take a closer look underneath the excess gum. If the gum needs to be shaved away, then the vet can do that at the time of the cleaning to help prevent an accumulation of tartar underneath.

Best of luck with your pet moving forward. Take care.

23Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 20th, 2018
This could be overshooting growth of the gum (gingiva hyperplasia), a tumor, or inflamed gingiva. If it is growing I would have it examined by a veterinarian. The vet may want to take a tissue sample to check what kind of growth this is and whether there is any need to remove it.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 2nd, 2018
I am afraid this looks like a tumor, or severe overgrowth of gingiva. This could also be just a hyperplasia of bone. Your vet may want to take an xray to check whether there is bone involvement. Your vet may also want to do a biopsy to determine whether this is malignant or not. There is nothing you can do at home until your vet has diagnosed the condition.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on January 29th, 2021
Hi and thanks for your request.
This is very likely to be an epulis, a benign gingival growth which unfortunately is very vascularized and can bleed copiously.
A small biopsy can easily confirm this clinical suspicion.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 7th, 2018
Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Gingival hyperplasia is usually benign so am aspirate don’t needed in these cases, just surgical removal of the extra gum. However if your vet feels the tissue looks abnormal, this is then classified as a gingival mass. In which case surgical removal and sending the tissue off to the lab for analysis would be the next best step towards finding out if the mass is benign or cancerous.
Perhaps you can resubmit your question with a photo of the growth so that we can at least give you an opinion of whether this looks like excessive gum growth (hyperplasia) which isn’t of concern, or a suspicious gingival mass that should be further tested.
I hope this helps! Best wishes and take care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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