Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Periodontal disease linked to low white blood cells in pets
By Lonsdale, T.·Published in Journal of Small Animal Practice·1995·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Periodontal disease and leucopenia
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with periodontal disease (gum disease) was treated with dental care and a better diet. Out of 14 dogs, 8 had low white blood cell counts, which can indicate health issues. After treatment, these dogs showed an average increase of about 78% in their white blood cell counts and reported feeling better overall. This suggests that improving dental health and diet can help boost the immune system in dogs suffering from gum disease.
People also search for: dog gum disease treatment · low white blood cell count in dogs · dog dental care diet
Abstract
ABSTRACTPeriodontal disease is rare in nature but widespread in domestic dog and cat populations. Unnatural diets are known to facilitate the buildup of oral microbial communities which then interact with host‐immune defences giving rise to periodontitis. Eight of 14 animals undergoing dental treatment and dietary change at a suburban veterinary practice were investigated and found to have low leucocyte counts. Follow‐up testing revealed changes averaging a 77·7 per cent increase with concomitant ‘subjective good health’. These findings serve to cast doubt on the commonly used haematological reference ranges where the subject animals may have suffered from periodontal disease. The demonstrated reversibility of white cell depression associated with periodontal disease should provide a focus for further research.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.1995.tb02807.x