My old dog has painful gums. How can I comfort her without surgery?

Question

12 year old shepherd with periodontal disease. Looking for a pain solution as her gums are very inflamed. Her hind quarters are failing as well so I don’t intend to put her through dental surgery and then healing. She is my world and I’m trying to make her comfortable for the remainder of her life. I don’t know if I have a day, a week or a year (wishful thinking). Any advice your can give would be greatly appreciated. Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | spayed | 90 lbs

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

If dental cleaning is no option then ask your vet to prescribe antibiotics for the gingivitis, and pain medicine such as carprofen. The antibiotics will kill the bacteria that cause the painful gingivitis and the carprofen will take pain away from the dental condition as well as some of her musculoskeletal problems. However, if there is a tooth root abscess, then the tooth needs to come out right away, as this is seriously painful and can cause sepsis with can actually be life-threatening.

My old dog has painful gums. How can I comfort her without surgery?

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