The purpose of the present study was to assess the number of pathological dental changes and anomalies in dogs. The incidence of dental diseases was investigated in radiologically examined 139 males dogs and 120 females dogs, aged seven months to 15 years. There were 235 purebred dogs and 24 mongrels. The oral cavity was clinically examined and radiographed. The incidence and extent of oligodontia, periodontitis, dental fractures and rotations, persisting deciduous teeth and supernumerary teeth were recorded. It has also been established that 30% of dogs presented more than one anomaly. The incidence of oligodontia equalled to 45.17%, peridontitis 44.40%, fracture 19.30%, tooth rotation 11.59%, persisting deciduous teeth 5.40% and supernumerary teeth 3.86%. Our results have shown that incidence of dental changes and anomalies differed significantly between dogs of different age groups. The highest incidence of oligodontia, tooth rotation, retained deciduous teeth and supernumerary teeth was observed in the youngest age group (p < 0.001), dental fracture in the mid-age group (p < 0.001) and peridontitis in the mid-age and oldest age group (p < 0.001). Considering the hereditary nature of the anomalies such as congenital oligodontia, tooth rotation and retained deciduous teeth, dog breeders should provide for a timely X-ray examination and, in case of these anomalies, exclude the affected dogs from further breeding.
Oligodontia, periodontitis, tooth fracture, tooth rotation, retained deciduous teeth, supernumerary teethThe results of analysis of pathological findings in dogs of all ages have shown that diseases and anomalies of the oral cavity are the most frequent ones. Among these changes, clinically diagnosed gingivitis is the most common (H a r vey 1996; Smith 1985). According to a research carried out by H a r vey et al. (1983), the most frequent radiologically diagnosed change was periodontitis, which was found in 95% of dogs over 2 years of age.The number of radiologically observed dental changes is increasing every year. There are different reasons for their occurrence. For example, greater care for animals, an ever increasing number of purebred dogs and more stringent cynological rules are only some of the factors contributing to more frequent dental examinations.The purpose of the present study is to assess the number of pathological dental changes and anomalies in dogs, which can be diagnosed radiologically, together with the incidence thereof, by age categories.
Materials and MethodsThe study was carried out on patients at the Department of Roentgenology, Ultrasonic Diagnostic and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb. During a four-year period, 9 016 dogs were examined radiologically, 259 of them were sent by veterinarians and cynological judges for an X-ray examination due to various dental anomalies. Of this number, 235 dogs belonged to 23 breeds and 24 were mongrels. Only
