Abstract
Periodontal disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis, is one of the most common inflammatory diseases in dogs. However, the current presence of canine periodontal disease is unknown in Japan. Using simple assessment methods, the present study evaluated the prevalence of dental plaque/calculus, which was not a direct cause of periodontal disease but is a contributor, and gingivitis in 202 household dogs. In addition, we also evaluated the scores of dental plaque/calculus and gingivitis, which were indicating stages of progression, with some factors such as ages. Overall prevalence of dental plaque/calculus was 94.6% and the prevalence was significantly higher in ≥10 years group (100%) rather than in ≤3 years one (83.0%). Overall prevalence of gingivitis was 70.8% and the prevalences of gingivitis in groups of 4-6 years (82.6%), 7-9 year (76.2%), and ≥10 years (95.2%) were significantly higher than in ≤3 years group (22.6%). The scores of dental plaque/calculus and gingivitis were also significantly increased in other groups rather than in ≤3 years group. These findings indicate that routine dental care to prevent periodontal disease has not been performed adequately in household dogs. Therefore, due to the owners are required to reconfirm the importance of routine dental care for their animals, the role of companion animal nurses is essential for client education.
