Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Teeth and Hearts


Veterinarians have long suspected that there is a link between periodontal disease and certain types of heart disease in dogs. Studies have shown that to be true for people but little research had been done in dogs. A veterinary epidemiology study at Purdue University that involved examining medical records of 118,000 (!) dogs has just been completed. 59,000 dogs with periodontal disease were compared to 59,000 dogs without periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is defined as disease of any of the structures that surround the tooth, primarily the gums (gingivitis) and the bony sockets. Each group was similar in age. The group with periodontal disease had a significantly more endocarditis (infection of the tissue lining the heart and heart valves) and cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle). It is suspected that bacteria from infected gums (gingivitis) and the other supporting tissues of the teeth including the bones migrate through the bloodstream to the heart and cause infection. Congestive heart failure from valve and myocardial disease is a major cause of death in dogs. Periodontal disease is present in 75% of adult dogs. Regular professional dental cleanings with appropriate treatment of periodontal disease has now been found to be an essential preventative medicine measure to prevent cardiac disease and extend life expectancy in dogs.