Page 945 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
47

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Periodontal

Disease

Ellen I. Logan
Robert B. Wiggs
Dale Scherl

Paul Cleland

“Because periodontal disease is the most common problem
affecting dogs and cats of all age groups, programs to prevent
periodontal disease should be considered among the
most important prophylactic services we can offer.”
Gregg A. Dupont

priate and effective means of daily plaque control and oral
INTRODUCTION health maintenance for dogs and cats.
The steps in promoting oral health in dogs and cats include:
Primary oral diseases can be subdivided into conditions affect- 1) controlling plaque, the cause of periodontal disease, 2) as-
ing the tooth, the periodontium or other oral tissues (Table 47- sessing the level of plaque control necessary to prevent gingivi-
1). Diseases that affect tooth structure (Figure 47-1) may result tis in each patient, 3) determining each pet owner’s ability to
in lesions of the periodontal apparatus, oral mucosa or both. control substrate accumulation and selecting methods most
Diseases affecting the periodontium may result in exfoliation of likely to ensure compliance, 4) feeding a food with an appropri-
teeth. Additionally, primary diseases of other organs may cause ate texture and nutritional profile and 5) recognizing that oral
oral lesions and are important considerations in formulating health may affect systemic health; therefore, a healthy oral cav-
differential diagnoses. Furthermore, oral disease can contribute ity may affect longevity and quality of life.
to diseases of other organs and body systems.
Periodontal disease is the principal cause of tooth loss in dogs
and cats. Food can influence periodontal disease through con- CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
trol of plaque and thus is the primary focus of this chapter. Oral
health is achieved through professional care and effective Prevalence of Periodontal Disease
homecare; however, compliance is a significant issue in veteri- Periodontal disease is the most common disease of adult dogs
nary dentistry (Box 47-1). Traditional methods of plaque con- and cats. As early as 1899, Eugene Talbot described “interstitial
trol such as toothbrushing may be difficult for clients to accom- gingivitis or so-called pyorrhoea alveolaris” found in dogs at
plish.Therefore use of an effective dental food can be an appro- necropsy (1899). In 1939, Wright noted that “the incidence of