Gum recession in dogs, certain aspects of the course of the disease

Abstract

Given the importance of oral health in dogs and its impact on the general condition of animals, the study of oral pathologies is of great importance. This annotation looks at the pathologies that can cause gum recession in dogs and their possible consequences. Gum recession, or receding gums, is a serious condition that can lead to tooth loss and other serious complications. Periodontal diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and ulcerative gums are some of the leading causes of gum recession in dogs. Mechanical injuries caused by improper chewing or impact can also lead to damage to the gums and cause their recession. In addition, malocclusion and systemic diseases such as diabetes can increase the susceptibility to developing oral pathologies that include gum recession. The aim of the work was to find out the incidence rate, breed susceptibility of dogs to gum recession and to identify the most likely causes contributing to the occurrence of the disease. It was found that the diseases were recorded in dogs between the ages of 4 and 10 years, while various pathologies of the oral cavity were established, leading to gum recession. In particular, in dogs of the Yorkshire Terrier and Chihuahua breeds, we found the highest incidence rate, which amounted to 32 % of the total number of dogs with this pathology. Somewhat less – 20 % of the disease was recorded in dogs of the Pomeranian breed. It should be noted that, according to our research, dogs of the Maltese breed were the least susceptible to gum recession, where the incidence rate was at the level of 16 %. It should be noted that we have identified pathologies such as tartar, gingivitis and periodontitis as contributing causes of the disease among Yorkshire Terrier dogs. Instead, in Chihuahuas, it was tartar and periodontitis. And, in dogs of the Pomeranian and Maltese breeds, according to our studies, tartar can be noted as the cause of gum recession. In second place among the causes contributing to the appearance of gum recession was periodontitis, it was found in 64 % of the animals studied. And, in only 32 % of dogs, gingivitis can be considered the cause. It is worth noting that gum recession was most often reported in animals with a history of active oral hygiene, i.e. brushing teeth in everyday life. The following symptoms were observed in the animal: pain when chewing, severe gingvitis, the presence of tartar of varying degrees and bleeding from the gums after eating food.