While periodontal disease (PD) is the most common canine oral pathology, its prevalence varies according to diagnosis methodology, breed, and age. We intended to increase understanding of canine PD by studying dogs that are managed in a specific way: pack dogs in Spain. They received a mixed diet (home-prepared food, commercial dry food, stale bread and bones). Thirty-two conscious individuals from two packs of dogs in Northeastern Spain (30/32 crossbred hunting dogs and 2/32 Siberian Husky; 26 males and 6 females; 27.75 ± 5.807 kgs; 5.48 ± 2.818 years) received visual dental examination for assessment of absent teeth (AT), dental calculus (DC) grade, gingival recession (GR), periodontal disease (PD), tooth fracture (TF), and dental attrition (DA). DC was the most prevalent oral problem (75%), followed by TF/DA (68.75%), AT (34.37%), GR (31.25%), and, finally, PD (15.62%). Low individual affectation values were found for AT, GR, and PD (<1 tooth/individual); mean DC grade per individual was 0.06 ± 0.063; and TF and DA were found in 1.63 and 4.72 teeth/individual, respectively. Low prevalence and extent of PD was attributed to diagnosis methodology, bodyweight effect, breed, and, ultimately, diet. Individuals affected by DC remained under veterinary surveillance due to PD development.

Tooth resorption (TR; progressive destruction of hard dental tissues) varies in prevalence according to population, age, and country (29–66.1%). Our objective was twofold: describing the TR clinical presentation in Northeastern Spain, and studying 34 blood parameters to ascertain potential systemic effects associated with TR. Cases (29; presented from September 2018 to May 2019) and controls (58) were considered. Non-parametric tests were carried out to compare cases and controls for each blood parameter; those showing significant differences were chosen for multiple regression analysis (binomial logistic and hierarchical multiple regressions). In case TR was detected in 130/870 teeth (14.9%), TR stage and type were correlated (p < 0.001). Increasing CREA values (p = 0.034) and decreasing BUN/CREA and ALB/GLOB values were associated with TR presence (p = 0.029 and p = 0.03, respectively). Increasing GLOB was associated with increasing severity of TR (p < 0.01). Type 1 TR (highly related to inflammation and periodontal disease PD) was the most frequently observed type; the association of TR and inflammation biomarkers (ALB/GLOB, GLOB) are explained by this fact. The concomitant presence of PD and TR in old cats would cause TR association with kidney damage biomarkers (CREA, BUN/CREA). When affected by TR, special care in these aspects must be provided to cats.

Distal radial and ulnar fractures in miniature- and toy-breed dogs are associated with high rates of delayed union, non-union, and refracture. This retrospective observational study evaluated the outcomes of simple distal radial and ulnar fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation using a locking plate in a non-rigid configuration. Ten fractures in eight dogs weighing less than 5 kg were included. Cases were selected according to predefined biomechanical construct criteria, including a plate bridge ratio > 0.7, plate span ratio > 10, plate working length > 40% of the plate length, and screw density < 0.6. The median radiographic follow-up was 224 days (range, 46–408 days). Radiographic bone healing was achieved in all cases, with a mean time to union of 53 days (range, 28–113 days), and healing occurred faster in skeletally immature dogs. Indirect bone healing with callus formation was observed in 7 of 10 fractures. Minor postoperative complications occurred in three cases and resolved with local treatment. No implant failures or refractures associated with previous screw holes were observed. A reduction in ulnar thickness was identified in evaluable cases, although this finding remained stable during follow-up and did not appear clinically relevant. These findings suggest that locking plate fixation in a non-rigid configuration provides reliable bone healing with a low complication rate in simple distal radial and ulnar fractures of miniature- and toy-breed dogs.

Mandibular fractures are a common injury in dogs and are associated with relatively high complication rates. The main goals of treatment are to provide stable fixation to promote bone healing, preserve the teeth and surrounding anatomical structures, and restore normal dental occlusion. Several treatment techniques have been described, including external skeletal fixation, bone plates and screws, interdental and intraosseous cerclage wiring, and dental splints used alone or in combination with cerclage fixation. However, all have inherent limitations. The objective of this study was to describe a novel intraoral fixation technique and evaluate its clinical application. The technique consists of a lingual arch anchored to the teeth or mandibular bone using cerclage wires and reinforced with bis-acrylic resin. Six dogs presenting with 11 mandibular body fractures, 10 of them opened toward oral cavity and with anatomically unfavorable configurations, were treated. The fractures were located rostral to or involved the alveolus of the first premolar. Ten fractures were open and potentially contaminated through the oral cavity, while one was closed. All patients achieved bone healing (mean, 70.8 days; range, 63–96 days). All patients recovered their pre-traumatic dental occlusion and showed no dental damage as a consequence of the intervention. The only complication observed in all cases was irritation of the oral mucosa at the contact points with the fixator. This resolved favorably within one week without antibiotic treatment. The potential advantages and limitations of the technique compared with existing fixation methods are also discussed.

Cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture in cats is less common than in dogs, and its optimal treatment remains a subject of debate. This study aimed to evaluate the application of cranial tibial wedge osteotomy (CTWO) as a dynamic stabilization technique in cats with CrCL rupture, describing the technical aspects and clinical outcomes obtained. Five cases with a confirmed diagnosis of CrCL rupture between 2020 and 2024 were included in this study. All patients were treated with CTWO using specific osteosynthesis locking plates designed for use in dogs and a complementary cerclage wire. Radiographic rechecks were performed at 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively, and clinical evaluations were performed 24 h, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively in every patient. Successful and complete bone healing of the tibial osteotomy was observed in every case. No intraoperative or postoperative complications related to implants or soft tissues were recorded. All cats achieved complete functional recovery without lameness at the last recheck six months after surgery. The technique was performed without significant technical difficulties, providing adequate stability and favorable clinical outcomes in all cases. These preliminary results support the use of CTWO as an effective surgical alternative for the treatment of CrCL rupture in cats. However, further studies with a larger number of cases and a longer follow-up are required to better evaluate its clinical application, outcomes, and influence on osteoarthritis progression in the long term.

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a painful inflammatory disease of the oral cavity in which partial-mouth or full-mouth extraction (PME or FME) is considered the standard treatment. However, longitudinal information regarding histopathologic and local immunologic changes after surgery remains limited. The aim of this pilot prospective study was to assess the clinical, hematologic, biochemical, histopathologic, and immunologic evolution of cats with FCGS following PME. Five cats diagnosed with FCGS were enrolled and followed longitudinally. Clinical response was assessed in the five cats using the Stomatitis Disease Activity Index (SDAI), together with hematologic, biochemical, and retroviral testing. Biopsies of the caudal oral mucosa were collected from three cats before surgery and 30 days after surgery for histopathologic evaluation using a previously described inflammatory scoring system. Immunolabeling of CD20, FoxP3, and IL-17 was quantified by digital image analysis. Clinical scores improved after PME, although the magnitude of the response varied among individuals. Persistent non-regenerative anemia and marked monocytosis were observed in cats positive for feline leukemia virus and/or feline immunodeficiency virus. Hyperglobulinemia was the most common biochemical abnormality. Histopathologic examination revealed moderate-to-marked lymphoplasmacytic inflammation associated with epithelial hyperplasia, edema, and, in the most severe cases, spongiosis and necrosis. Sequential biopsies demonstrated reductions in histologic inflammatory scores in two of three cats. CD20 immunolabeling decreased post-PME, whereas FoxP3 and IL-17 expression showed marked interindividual variability. This pilot prospective study provides preliminary observations on tissue changes in the early stages following PME.