**8. Conclusions**

110 A Bird's-Eye View of Veterinary Medicine

DXA estimates for bone mineral content were significantly different among turtles with intestinal artifact scores (ANCOVA; F2,50=3.12, p=0.05). Bone mineral content was not different between turtles with zero and moderate levels of intestinal sand (T=1.12, p=0.52), as well as between turtles with moderate and heavy levels (T=1.62, p=0.25). A significant difference was found in mean BMC between turtles with zero and heavy levels of intestinal

Fig. 8. Least square means of log-transformed DXA estimates of bone mineral content for turtles with no sand, moderate sand, and heavy sand in the gastrointestinal tract. Significant differences (P<0.05) are indicated by different letters. Data are presented as mean ± 1SE. DXA estimates for lean tissue mass were not significantly different among turtles with

**No Sand Moderate Sand Heavy Sand**

**ab**

**b**

Fig. 9. Least square means of log-transformed DXA estimates of lean tissue mass for turtles

The effects of intestinal artifacts on estimates of fat mass followed similar trends to lean tissue mass. We observed a no significant effect of intestinal contents on DXA estimates of

with no sand, moderate sand, and heavy sand in the gastrointestinal tract. Data are

different intestinal artifact scores (F2,50=1.73, p=0.19; Figure 9).

**a**

artifacts (T=2.48, p=0.04; Figure 8).

**1.0**

**1.1**

**1.2**

**Log BMC**

**1.3**

**1.4**

presented as mean ± 1SE.

fat mass (F = 1.76, P=0.18; Figure 10).

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry can effectively quantify lean tissue, fat, and bone mineral mass in humans and most animals. As a result of its high degree of precision and accuracy, it has proven useful for research in fracture risk and healing, obesity, metabolism, pathology, and nutrition. Despite the plethora of potential and realized uses for DXA in veterinary research, the use of DXA remains restricted, primarily, to the human health industry or animal research. Currently, a number of limitations exist that prevent the

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#### **9. Acknowledgment**

We thank the Oklahoma State University Department of Nutritional Sciences for providing logistical support and access to their DXA equipment.

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**Part 2** 

**Clinical Attention in Pets** 


**Part 2** 

**Clinical Attention in Pets** 

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**7** 

*Brazil* 

**Periodontal Disease in Dogs** 

*Federal University of Viçosa,* 

Fábio Alessandro Pieri, Ana Paula Falci Daibert,

Elisa Bourguignon and Maria Aparecida Scatamburlo Moreira

Periodontics is a science that aims to study the periodontium and the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases, in order to promote and restore the periodontal

The periodontium is the set of adjacent structures to the teeth that provides them with support and protection. These structures are: gingiva, cementum, alveolar bone and periodontal ligament (Harvey & Emily, 1993; Roman et al., 1995; De Marco & Gioso, 1997;

Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease in dogs with up of 80% of animals affected (Riggio et al., 2011). This disease is progressive and involves two stages: gingivitis (reversible) and periodontitis (irreversible, but often controllable). It is caused by plaque buildup on teeth. The plaque is a smooth membrane, adhesive, contaminated with saliva bacteria and debris. Bacteria and bacterial products cause inflammation of soft tissue. The plaque becomes mineralised to form calculus, which migrates into the gingival sulcus, causing additional inflammation, loss of periodontal ligament, bone loss and ultimately

Medical problems that affect the oral cavity should be identified in its early stages, so that the animals can be treated before showing serious secondary systemic disorders related to malnutrition and/or infections (Pachaly, 2006). One should also be aware of ways to prevent the disease, as animal tooth brushing and the use of antimicrobials as an adjunct in

As in most domestic mammals and in humans, dogs have diphyodont dentition, featuring two sets of teeth, a deciduous or primary and a permanent, although edentulous at birth

The oral anatomy of dogs has subdivisions and similar structures to those of humans (Figure 1), differing in the shape of the cavity, which also varies between breeds (Roza, 2004), anatomy and quantity of teeth and in the teeth apex (Harvey & Emily, 1993). Dogs

**1. Introduction** 

Clarke, 2001).

health (Harvey & Emily, 1993; Roman et al., 1995).

tooth loss (Ford & Mazzaferro, 2007).

**2. Dental anatomy of dogs** 

(Harvey, 1992).

periodontal therapy (De Marco & Gioso, 1997).
