Chronic Periodontal Issues in Dogs/Greyhounds

by David Wolf, NGAP Director
Posted May 27, 2016

We have called this brindle male Stefan. He arrived at our facility May 2016. One of the things we do upon arrival is evaluate the condition of their mouth. Photographs indicate the extreme plaque and tartar buildup as well as the lining of what we would describe as bacteria laden muck along the gumline. Since he has just arrived, we would not put him under an anesthesia protocol to begin correcting his dental issues. But as with many other greyhounds we were able to place him on a prep tale and ultra sonically clean his tooth surfaces exposing his extensive root exposure on both his upper and lower teeth giving the gum tissue time to heal before we brought him into surgery. In the interim he was placed on clindamycin 150mg two times per day. Approximately three weeks after arrival he was brought into surgery to be neutered and have his dentals done. It happens that he was a cryptorchid (testicles not descended). After the neutering procedure he was moved into the area that could only be used for dentistry. They began the extraction of the left side of his mouth. When the left side was just about being complete and his total anesthesia time was about two hours and 15 minutes we ended the surgery, planning to come back in approximately three weeks to do the other side. Certainly if he were kept under anesthesia we would well be into four hours which we did not want to. The next morning, when he got up he was fed normally and ate normally. He had some swelling on the left side of his jaw but it was not significant. He had no bleeding. Unfortunately they did not take photos at the time of closure. The photographs taken two days after show the healing process is well underway.