Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Saliva test for oxidative stress in dogs with gum disease
By Schroers, M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary dentistry·2025·Veterinary Faculty, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Saliva Malondialdehyde Concentration of Dogs With and Without Periodontal Disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs undergoing dental cleanings had their saliva tested for a substance called malondialdehyde (MDA), which is linked to oxidative stress, to see if it could help diagnose periodontal disease (PD). The results showed that while dogs with PD had higher average MDA levels compared to healthy dogs, the difference was not significant enough to be useful for diagnosis. This means that measuring MDA in saliva isn't a reliable way to tell if a dog has periodontal disease. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings remain the best way to manage your dog's oral health.
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Abstract
The study investigated whether malondialdehyde (MDA), a biomarker for oxidative stress, can be used as a viable parameter in dog saliva for the diagnosis or early detection of periodontal disease (PD). Saliva MDA concentrations were measured preoperatively in dogs diagnosed with PD during dental prophylaxis and compared with those of dentally healthy dogs. 35 dogs were included in the study. The average MDA concentration was 270 ng/ml (range 27-633) in the dogs without PD (n = 10) and 183 (36-833) ng/ml (ng/ml) in the dogs with PD (n = 25). The maximum MDA concentration in the study group (PD ≥1) was 833 ng/ml, which was significantly higher than in the study group (PD = 0) (p<0.05). The study showed that salivary MDA concentrations could not distinguish between healthy dogs and those with PD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38693764/