Hematological and Biochemical Evaluation of Dogs Undergoing Treatment with Veterinary Dental Gel for the Reduction of Plaque and Dental Calculus

Background: Periodontal disease affects a large proportion of dogs, causing both local and systemic symptoms. Several studies to identify alternative approaches for plaque reduction and removal have been conducted. Recently, Tropiclean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel was introduced as an adjuvant to aid in plaque and calculus removal. This product is formulated using Aloe vera, green tea, and mint; however, studies on the toxic potential of this product have not been performed yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Tropiclean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel product on hematological and biochemical profiles in dogs undergoing 90-day treatment with the product.Materials, Methods & Results: Per manufacturers' recommendation, the product should be used daily for 30 consecutive days, and subsequently, as maintenance at two to three times a week. In this study, 48 dogs with periodontal disease who received prolonged daily treatment for 90 consecutive days underwent hematological and biochemical evaluation. During the 90 days’ treatment duration, the animals were examined daily to identify the presence of adverse effects; and changes in halitosis were reported. At pre-treatment time-point, 5 mL of blood was collected via cephalic or jugular vein puncture in EDTA tubes for determining the complete blood count (CBC), and in tubes without EDTA for the urea, creatinine, and ALT levels; in addition, for comparison, blood was collected after 90 days’ treatment. At post-treatment time-point, the hematological and biochemical analyses showed significantly lower total leukocyte count as compared to that at pre-treatment (P < 0.01); comprising lower neutrophil count as the cell type involved (P < 0.05). The other parameters showed no statistically significant differences, demonstrating an absence of the products’ effect in terms of alteration of these profiles. All the dogs showed absence of apathy, vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, or abnormalities in the mucosal color; in addition, all showed improvement in halitosis; of which, 39 showed improvement at 1 weeks’ treatment duration.Discussion: In the present study, the analyzed parameters were used to determine the hemolysis, leukocytes or platelet abnormalities, renal function, and liver injury. The kidneys and liver are organs that are closely linked to the metabolism and excretion of drugs; hence, their functions are often altered by the toxic effects of some substances. Despite the reported toxicity of Aloe vera, in the present study, there were no changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters in the dogs undergoing treatment for 90 days, except for the reduced total leukocyte count with differential reduction of the neutrophil population, indicating the products’ safety at 90-days’ treatment duration. The hematological and biochemical results were corroborated by the result of the absence of abnormal clinical signs at daily evaluation. In the dogs included in this study, the reduction of halitosis was associated with the reduction of the leukocyte count related to the bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties of the active ingredients of Aloe vera such as opirocatechol, cinnamic acid, ascorbic acid, and p-coumaric acid which were reported in the field of dentistry; and with regard to green tea, catechin galatoepigallocatechin (EgCG) may be responsible for the bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects. Thus, the product at 90 days’ treatment duration showed safety, without changes in the hematological and biochemical profiles in the participating dogs

Occurrence of Dental Disorders in Dogs

Background: The anatomy of the canine oral cavity and its variations should be understood to facilitate clinical and surgical approaches. Several conditions can be identified during inspection of the oral cavity, including persistent deciduous teeth, enamel hypoplasia, gingival retraction, tooth abrasion and mobility, absence of dental elements, and periodontal disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence of dental disorders in dogs older than one year, from the microrregion Ilhéus - Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil. Materials, Methods &Results: A total of 74 dogs were evaluated immediately prior to surgical procedures for periodontal disease treatment. After visual inspection and examination with a millimeter probe, the dogs were classified into three groups according to the degree of periodontal disease. All other findings were recorded on an odontogram. Of the 74 dogs, 23 were classified as mild periodontal disease (mean age, 3.6 years), 26 as moderate periodontal disease (mean age, 5.7 years), and 25 as severe periodontal disease (mean age, 9.7 years). There was significant correlation (0.7 p ≤ 0.01) between age and severity of periodontal disease. Fifteen of the 74 dogs did not present any other dental disorder than periodontal disease. Of the remaining 59, nine showed a single dental problem, and 50 had more than one dental problem. Six dogs (of the breeds Pinscher, Yorkshire Terrier, and Lhasa Apso) had deciduous teeth. Of the nine deciduous teeth, all were canine (dental elements 104, 204, and 304). Ten dogs had dental fractures and of the 11 fractured teeth, three were canine (dental elements 104 and 404). Dental wear was observed in 25 dogs (154 teeth). Of the evaluated dogs, seven showed furcation defects and 10 had teeth mobility. Dental absence was observed in 47 dogs.Discussion: In the present study, increased age had a positive correlation with the degree of periodontal disease; this is consistent with reports in the literature, which indicate severity of periodontal disease increases with advancing age. In one of the three cases of enamel hypoplasia, the dog owner reported that the dog presented clinical signs compatible with distemper before the teeth changed, corroborating studies that showed that this virus can act on the enamel cells causing hypoplasia lesions. All the deciduous teeth found were dental elements 104, 204, and 304, consistent with literature reports that these teeth are among the most frequently affected by this condition. In the present paper, of all the teeth examined, the canine teeth presented the majority of fractures. Canine teeth are used for grasping and tearing food, and defense, and are more vulnerable to fractures. Dental wear was observed in many dogs in the present study, presenting as loss of dental surface caused by friction, abrasion, or erosion from a variety of causes. Dental wear may be considered as a physiological process as long as it does not compromise function. Dental mobility is an important clinical sign of periodontal disease and generates pain and discomfort to the patient; in the presence of advanced periodontitis, there is a marked loss of periodontal tissues, including alveolar bone, which is an irreversible process. As the dogs evaluated in the present study were older than one year, any absent teeth could be verified as being due to periodontal disease. In conclusion, disorders of the oral cavity have high prevalence in dogs and must receive special attention to be properly diagnosed and treated

Pupillary Membrane Persistence in a Feline

Background:Pupillary membrane persistence (PMP) is a congenital abnormality, which is not usually reported in felines. It is characterized by remnants of the fetal membrane that persist as filamentous tissue across the pupil. In general, this change does not cause any clinical symptoms. However, the filaments may either attach to the cornea and cause small opacities in it or attach to the lens and cause cataracts. In most cases, there is no visual impairment, so treatment is not prescribed. This report aims to describe a case of PMP in a domestic cat diagnosed at the Veterinary Hospital of the State University of Santa Cruz (HV-UESC). Case: A two-and-a-half-year-old mixed-breed castrated male cat was brought to the HV-UESC with dermatological complaints. Upon physical examination, the animal was alert with a body temperature, heart, and respiratory rate within the normal parameters for the feline species. The lymph nodes were non-reactive, and the coloration of the oral mucosa was normal. There was no ophthalmic complaint from the owner, nor any loss of visual acuity. In addition, the animal had moderate pruritus, redness, and alopecia in the region of the ears, head, neck, chest, and back. Bristle samples were collected for an optical microscope analysis and an infestation with lice (Felicola subrostratus) was confirmed. An endectocide containing selamectin (15 mg; single application every 30 days) was prescribed. During physical examination, filamentous tissue crossing from iris to iris through pupil was observed in both eyes. The eyelid, corneal, and pupillary reflexes were within normal ranges. An ophthalmic evaluation did not identify conjunctival hyperemia or episcleral vessel congestion, and the eyelid, corneal, and pupillary reflexes were determined to be within the normal range. A slit-lamp biomicroscopy did not detect any anterior chamber alteration besides the filamentous tissue previously mentioned. An examination of the fundus of the eye by direct ophthalmoscopy revealed that the crystalline lens, retina, optic nerve, and retinal vessels all looked normal with no other ophthalmic alteration. Thus, the diagnosis was PMP, and because of the absence of visual impairment or any other ophthalmic abnormality, no treatment was initiated. Discussion: Feline PMP is a rare condition. Since the present case, a few studies about this alterations in cats were found in the literature about. As in cats, this ophthalmopathy is uncommon in horses and cattle. The present report describes a case of PMP, a poorly described alteration in veterinary medicine, which was diagnosed by ophthalmic examination and slit-lamp biomicroscopy. As reported previously, PMP was an incidental finding during physical examination, since most animals with this alteration present little impairment of visual acuity. However, in some cases, membranous filaments may attach to the cornea and/or lens causing opacities and/or cataracts that may result in vision defects. This did not occur in the present case. In previous studies too, other ophthalmic alterations beyond PMP were not observed, thus corroborating the findings of our case. In the present case, as there were no other ophthalmic changes, it was not necessary to initiate any type of treatment. In conclusion, the lack of information regarding the epidemiology of PMP in cats warrants further studies of this alteration. Although infrequent in cats, this condition can easily be diagnosed in the routine examinations of this species