Dental disease is among the most frequently diagnosed conditions in companion animals with an incidence close to 90%¹²³ of all patients. Dental disease is often thought to be a disease of the older pet but 70% of cats and 80%⁴ of dogs have some form of periodontal disease by two years of age. Small and toy breeds are particularly susceptible.

Dental disease is frequently underdiagnosed, partly due to lack of owner awareness and partly due to a lack of outward clinical signs. For these reasons, treatment and management of dental disease often occurs late in the disease process.

Dental disease is progressive with both local and systemic effects occurring. Bacterial plaque develops hours after eating and initiates the inflammatory cascade resulting in chronic inflammation and infection of the oral structures. If left untreated, plaque mineralises into calculus (tartar) within three days. Subgingival plaque is the most pathogenic and causes periodontal inflammation. Assessment and treatment must extend under the gumline. Severe periodontal disease can result in a variety of local effects including oronasal fistulas, mandibular fractures and ocular infections.

Periodontal infections have been linked to a variety of systemic diseases including cardiac, liver and renal disease.

Early diagnosis and treatment along with ongoing homecare is vital for successful management of dental disease.

Speak to your Forte Healthcare Territory Manager about Dentihex; an adhesive dental paste for cats and dogs containing 0.2% chlorhexidine.

👉 For more support go to Dentihex Pet Dental Health Month resource hub.

References:

1. Fernandes, J. (2012)Dental disease in dogs and cats: epidemiology and diagnosis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 42(6), pp. 1123–1136.
2. Queck, C.L., Marshall, M.D. and Gorrel, C. (2018); Prevalence of periodontal disease in dogs and cats attending veterinary practices. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 35(2), pp. 70–77.
3. Stella, J.L., Bauer, A.E. and Croney, C.C. (2018) A cross-sectional study of periodontal disease prevalence in companion animals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, Article 98.
4. Marshall, M.D., Wallis, C.V., Milella, L. and Colyer, A. (2014) A longitudinal assessment of periodontal disease in dogs and cats. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 31(1), pp. 20–28.