Subgingival Hair in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs is the medical term for hair stuck in the gums, or hair packed between the teeth, and at times hair implanted in your bulldog’s soft palate tissue.
WARNING: Many bulldog owners and surprisingly many veterinarians are unaware of this condition thus overlook it.
Subgingival Hair in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs PRESENTATION
A tuft of hair: The most common location is hair stuck between the incisors and canine teeth of the upper jaw (mandible).
Redness & Periodontitis: rosy discoloration of the gums.
Draining tracts: at times, the deep tracks that lead to the nasal cavity
Swell & Inflammation: The gums will be puffed, red-purple, and inflamed.
Periodontal Disease: infection and abscessation.
Decay & Lose Teeth: Left untreated, the teeth and their supporting ligaments and bones will disintegrate.
Pain: chronic subgingival hair will lead to advanced dental disease, a condition associated with intense pain.
TIP: to find the subgingival hair, you must pick the upper gum
Subgingival Hair in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs CAUSE
The hair found impacted in your bulldog gums and palate is secondary to licking and grooming of hair body parts
There are several medical and emotional bulldog medical conditions that can lead to excessive obsessive licking and grooming, I listed below the most common ones:
BULLDOG GINGIVAL HAIR EXCESSIVE GROOMING & LICKING
Bulldog excessive grooming, licking, and biting of the paws or/and other hairy body parts can be due to:
Bulldog Subgingival Hair due to SKIN MITES:
- Bulldog demodex red mite: can lead to excessive itching.
- Bulldog Sarcoptic Mange: those mites are less common but cause severe pruritis.
Bulldog and French Bulldog Subgingival Hair due to ITCHING ALLERGIES:
Some of the most common bulldog and French bulldog allergies are listed below
- Bulldog Atopic Itch Allergic Dermatitis
- Bulldog Flea Allergy
- Bulldog Food Allergy
- Bulldog Contac Allergies
Bulldog and French Bulldog gingival hair due to ANXIETY:
As in humans, depression, stress, and anxiety can lead to a wide range of medical problems and abnormal behavior.
- Separation Anxiety bulldogs: anxiousness can lead to abnormal grooming activity
- Boarding & Daycare: both can be stressful and frightening experiences that lead to nervous grooming activity
- Boredom: lack of exercise and playtime can lead to anxiety to boredom, which could trigger excessive compulsive grooming.
TIP: BULLDOG COMPULSIVE OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOR: often lead to excessive grooming.
Subgingival Hair in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs DIAGNOSIS
TIP: An exam is critical, lab tests and imaging are usually not necessary.
BULLDOG GINGIVAL DENTAL EXAM:
PHYSICAL EXAM BY YOU: Pick the upper gums and visually examine the incisors, canines, and the gingival section between them.
DENTAL EXAM WITH SEDATION: often sedation is required for proper exam and evaluation because the hair might be in areas that is difficult to observe. Also, your bulldog might be painful and unwilling to open his/her mouth.
Once sedated, the mouth can be wide open, allowing hair to be found even when embedded deep in the gums, hidden behind the teeth, or stuck in the palate tissue in the roof of your bulldog mouth.
DENTAL PROBING: A probe can be used to evaluate and measure pocks and areas under the gum line but it usually requires sedation.
DENTAL RADIOGRAPHS: dental radiographs might be necessary to evaluate the health of your bulldog teeth and view diseased sections under the gumline (bone, pulp). Again, this procedure is performed under anesthesia
BULLDOG NASAL DISCHARGE: chronic sinusitis and purulent nasal discharge primarily localized to one naris should be a red flag suggesting a possible draining tract.
When a draining tract is connected to the nasal cavity, the flushing of the oral tract with a colored antiseptic solution will leak out of the respective naris.
Subgingival Hair in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs PREVENTION:
Bulldog Subgingival Hair is a secondary disease thus you must prevent the primery condtion.
BULLDOG GINGIVAL HAIR ALLERGY CONTROL:
Preventing biting, itching, and licking due to allergies should always begin with non-pharmaceutical, non-prescription, topicals and supplements therapeutics.
MEDICATED SHAMPOO & CONDITIONERS
BULLY ITCH RELIFE TOPICALS:
- V4B BULLY ITCH RELIEF SHAMPOO & CREAM RINSE CONDITIONER
- V4B BULLY ITCH RELIEF SPRAY
- V4B BULLY OATMEAL ALOE SHAMPOO & CREAM RINSE CONDITIONER
BULLY ANTISEPTIC SHAMPOO & GEL
- V4B BULLY ANTIBACTERIAL & ANTI YEAST MEDICATED SHAMPOO
- V4B BULLY MEDICATED WATERLESS ANTISEPTIC YEASTY GEL
- V4B BULLY ANTISEPTIC XS SHAMPOO
BULLY ITCH & ALLERGY RELIEF SUPPLEMENTS
- Dr. Kraemer’sBULLY FISH OIL OMEGA-3 EFA CHEWS
BULLY ANXIETY & STRESS RELIEF SUPPLEMENTS
- Dr. Kraemer’s V4B BULLY STRESSLESS CHEWS
- Dr. Kraemer’sV4B BULLY HEMP CALM CHEWS
BULLY ANXIETY & STRESS RELIEF
- EXERCISE: proper activity helps relieve stress
- PLAY: sufficient play & love will reduce stress and anxiety
BULLY DENTAL EXAM & PROPHY:
- ROUTINE EXAMS HOME: pick the lips, check the gums and teeth
- BRUSHING: teeth wiping and brushing can help remove hair and maintain healthy gums
- ROUTINE DENTAL PROPHY: preventive dental scale & polish, dental exam, and dental radiographs should be done once annually or every 2-3 years (depending on the pet)
BULLY DENTAL RINSE & WIPES
- Dr. Kraemer’s V4B BULLYAQUA WATER ADDITIVE & RINSE
- Dr. Kraemer’s V4B BULLY DENTAL WIPES
Wipe and rinse the gums daily, to help remove any trace of hair and debris from the teeth and gums.
Bulldog and French Bulldog gingival hair Dental Care DRUGS
- RX ITCH CONTROL: there is a wide range of oral and injectable medications such as Convinia, Apoquel, Cyclosporins, Antihistamines, and Steroids
- RX ANTISEPTICS: oral and injectable medication for secondary bacteria and yeast dermatitis
- RX ANTI ANXIETY: Benzodiazepines, Tricyclics, and SSRI
Subgingival Hair in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs TREATMENT:
DENTAL PROPHY: performed under general anesthesia and includes a scale, polish, and radiographs.
HAIR REMOVAL: manual removal that often requires instrumentation.
ANTIBACTERIAL: topical and oral
PAIN RX: NSAID anti-inflammatory and other analgesics might be required.
EXTRACTION: irreversible damage to the ligaments, bones, and teeth requires an extraction
Recommended by Owners Approved by Bulldogs
