Gingival enlargement (GE) is an overgrowth of the gums that can lead to tooth loss, impaired chewing and eating, and mouth ulcers. Treatment involves surgical removal of the excess tissue, followed by a painful recovery. In dogs, this dental disease occurs most often and with greatest severity in Boxers, indicating a breed genetic predisposition. The etiology of GE is poorly understood, and a typically late age of onset hinders elimination of the disease through selective breeding practices. The goal of this study is to identify genetic risk variants for GE through genome-wide association study and genes/pathways dysregulated in GE-affected tissues through transcriptome analyses. It is expected that the results of this study will lead to a genetic test to reduce the frequency of GE over time, as well as new avenues for treatment and improved diagnosis.

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