Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How age affects gum disease bacteria in Japanese dogs
By Hirai, Norihiko et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2013·Department of Pharmacology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Correlation of age with distribution of periodontitis-related bacteria in Japanese dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that older dogs are more likely to have dental issues like gingivitis and periodontitis (gum disease) compared to younger dogs. In a group of 176 Japanese dogs, none of the dogs under 2 years old showed signs of gum disease, while many middle-aged and elderly dogs did. The older dogs also had a higher number of harmful bacteria in their dental plaque. This suggests that as dogs age, they are at greater risk for dental problems, highlighting the importance of regular dental check-ups for older pets.
People also search for: dog dental disease symptoms · gingivitis in older dogs · how to prevent periodontitis in dogs
Abstract
We analyzed the distribution of 11 periodontitis-related bacterial species in dental plaque collected from 176 Japanese dogs divided into young (less than 2 years of age), middle-aged (2-7 years of age) and elderly (more than 8 years of age) groups using a polymerase chain reaction method. Clinical examination revealed that no dogs in the young group were affected by periodontitis, whereas the rates for gingivitis and periodontitis were high in the middle-aged and elderly groups. In addition, the total numbers of bacterial species in the middle-aged and elderly groups were significantly greater than in the young group. Our findings suggest that age is an important factor associated with the distribution of periodontitis-related bacteria and periodontal conditions in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23485527/