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Dog gum bump looks like a pimple: should I take my dog to the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Male | neutered | 3 years and 11 months old | 46 lbs

My dog has a bump on his gums that looks like a large pimple. Will it go away on its own or do we need to have it checked by a vet?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. B. DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Veterinarian

Published on July 8th, 2018

Thanks for attaching a picture. If it feels like normal gum tissue (soft, moveable) it is possibly due to contact from the k9 tooth above it (overgrowth of tissue from irritation). Do you see the same thing on the other side? If it is more firm, painful, red, or grew rapidly that would be more concerning and then it should be evaluated by your family vet. If you elect to monitor certainly have your vet take a look at his next annual visit. If the lesion changes (growth, etc.) certainly have your vet take a look at it sooner. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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    Answered By Catherine Stecyk

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 8th, 2019

    Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If it is hard to the touch, it could be a tooth, and I would recommend having Bailey seen by your regular veterinarian who can safely remove it. This is probably causing Bailey some discomfort by rubbing on the inside of her gums. Please do not try to remove this yourself, as the root of the tooth could fracture and remain in her gums, leading to infection. If it is soft like a mass, this should be sampled by your veterinarian to see what type of cells are present. I hope this is helpful!

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