[Dree16]

Hi there,
Penny is 5 1/2 year old boxer, and she has pretty big epulis growths in her mouth.
They do have a high chance of growing back, but I wanted to check if anyone has had them removed and the cost of it?
My regular vet can do it for around 1500$ but may not be able to remove the ones that have grown into the bone. If I went to a specialist that would do a bigger surgery and remove all including the more difficult epulis growths but that could cost 4-5k and it will eventually grow back.

The caveat is that she also has a heart murmur, so it’s a little scary to put her under. So I may also have to do an echo test to get approval to move forward ( this is around 700$)

I just want to do the safest option… thoughts on the regular surgery at the vet or the specialist or costs… are the quotes I received in and around the ball park?

They don’t bother her right now and she’s eating fine, I just don’t want them to get to that point where they will.
Thanks all!!

 

[[email protected]]

This sounds like a hard decision health and money wise. I think if it were me I would start with the heart issue and determine how much the murmur is affecting the function of her heart you are going to need a baseline evaluation to determine if there are any changes in the future that will affect her. I had a male Boxer once that had a low grade murmur it never affected him even as he aged and it never got worse but some do. Maybe they could just remove the worst ones instead of the whole mouth? Are any bleeding when she eats? Maybe by removing a few at a time it will require less sedation.

 

[Joeponds]

Dree, Imo I would not touch her mouth unless she was bleeding or had trouble eating.

 

[Joeponds]

Dree, Imo I would not touch her mouth unless she was bleeding or had trouble eating.

If you do decide on doing the surgery, No acepromazine,usually the vet go to for sedation. Boxers do not tolerate it well.

 

[Dree16]

This sounds like a hard decision health and money wise. I think if it were me I would start with the heart issue and determine how much the murmur is affecting the function of her heart you are going to need a baseline evaluation to determine if there are any changes in the future that will affect her. I had a male Boxer once that had a low grade murmur it never affected him even as he aged and it never got worse but some do. Maybe they could just remove the worst ones instead of the whole mouth? Are any bleeding when she eats? Maybe by removing a few at a time it will require less sedation.

This sounds like a hard decision health and money wise. I think if it were me I would start with the heart issue and determine how much the murmur is affecting the function of her heart you are going to need a baseline evaluation to determine if there are any changes in the future that will affect her. I had a male Boxer once that had a low grade murmur it never affected him even as he aged and it never got worse but some do. Maybe they could just remove the worst ones instead of the whole mouth? Are any bleeding when she eats? Maybe by removing a few at a time it will require less sedation.

Thanks- no they don’t bleed, but they are pretty big. Good call on just removing a few at a time. Might go that route. They are a little inflamed right now so the vet gave me some antibiotics. I have a recheck on the 30th and she will assess to move forward or not (with the ecg, bloodwork etc).

 

[Dree16]

If you do decide on doing the surgery, No acepromazine,usually the vet go to for sedation. Boxers do not tolerate it well.

 

[Dree16]

Hi Joe! Have you heard of another alternative to that? I’m in Canada, not sure if there are different “approved” medication vs the US as their are for human medication.

 

[Dree16]

Dree, Imo I would not touch her mouth unless she was bleeding or had trouble eating.

No bleeding but pretty big- they will eventually be an issue for her teeth:

Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18

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[[email protected]]

Goodness! Those things are big it’s a wonder they aren’t bleeding!

 

[Joeponds]

Agree, the biggest I've seen, as for the sedation ask your Vet about it.

 

[Kaco Boxers]

Those need to be removed. $1500 is good pricing but make sure the surgery is being done with a laser.

If the murmur is a grade 3 or higher, I would have that echo done prior. I’d it’s a grade 1/2 then I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[owlsnest]

Hi there,
Penny is 5 1/2 year old boxer, and she has pretty big epulis growths in her mouth.
They do have a high chance of growing back, but I wanted to check if anyone has had them removed and the cost of it?
My regular vet can do it for around 1500$ but may not be able to remove the ones that have grown into the bone. If I went to a specialist that would do a bigger surgery and remove all including the more difficult epulis growths but that could cost 4-5k and it will eventually grow back.

The caveat is that she also has a heart murmur, so it’s a little scary to put her under. So I may also have to do an echo test to get approval to move forward ( this is around 700$)

I just want to do the safest option… thoughts on the regular surgery at the vet or the specialist or costs… are the quotes I received in and around the ball park?

They don’t bother her right now and she’s eating fine, I just don’t want them to get to that point where they will.
Thanks all!!

Hi there,
Penny is 5 1/2 year old boxer, and she has pretty big epulis growths in her mouth.
They do have a high chance of growing back, but I wanted to check if anyone has had them removed and the cost of it?
My regular vet can do it for around 1500$ but may not be able to remove the ones that have grown into the bone. If I went to a specialist that would do a bigger surgery and remove all including the more difficult epulis growths but that could cost 4-5k and it will eventually grow back.

The caveat is that she also has a heart murmur, so it’s a little scary to put her under. So I may also have to do an echo test to get approval to move forward ( this is around 700$)

I just want to do the safest option… thoughts on the regular surgery at the vet or the specialist or costs… are the quotes I received in and around the ball park?

They don’t bother her right now and she’s eating fine, I just don’t want them to get to that point where they will.
Thanks all!!

 

[owlsnest]

We took our Boxer mix to the UW Veterinary School, Dental vets. He needed extensive work, including three root canals, and a crown. There were several extractions, many teeth were ground down since he'd been abandoned in a crate for weeks. He was under anesthesia for 90 minutes, and had been high risk due to fast-kill HW treatment. So wonderful to see him able to play with toys, and balls when his mouth stopped hurting. The cost was a little over $3,500. They see quite a few complicated rescue dogs.

 

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That poor dog! Bless you for helping him. Just another reminder of how neglectful and cruel people can be. We are bracing for severe cold in our area today can’t help but think about all the pets that will be outside tonight