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My dog has inflamed, red gums. What should I do to help him?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Beagle | Male | neutered | 10 years and 7 months old

My dog has a slightly inflamed gum. What can I do for this?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on July 16th, 2017

I'm sorry to hear that Tobias has inflamed gums! Without being able to examine him or at least see a photo of the problem, it's hard to say what might be causing this. He may have an infected tooth, a growth of some kind, or generalized periodontal disease. Most of these problems will require veterinary attention to address properly, so I would recommend having him examined by a vet as soon as you are able to so that the problem can be treated. In the meantime, you can try using an over-the-counter dental rinse for dogs if you like - Vetoquinol Dentahex rinse is a good choice for general oral health. This will not treat the underlying problem that is causing the inflammation, but may help to make Tobias a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    This inflamed gum might be due to gingivitis, which can be common in senior dogs. The best thing you can do is have Tobias seen by a vet for it, as this cannot be treated at home. He likely needs a dental cleaning, scaling, and polishing to treat it. Dogs like humans also need regular dental care to keep their teeth in the best condition, and your vet is the person to do this. I would have him seen by a vet on Monday to discuss getting this dental procedure done :-)

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