Severe canine gingivitis in cats

Although severe gingivitis is common in cats, it is far rarer in dogs and often associated with mucocutaneous disease. Recently, a German vet from had a case of severe gingivitis in a seven year old, female neutered, Schnauzer. Apart from the gingivitis, which had been treated with a variety of antibiotics, the dog was in good general health with a normal appetite. The teeth were perfect and there was no biochemical evidence of systemic disease.

Histologically, the epithelium was oedematous with exocytosis of cells from the submucosa which had a dense, band-like infiltrate of plasma cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils.  The hyperaemic submucosal blood vessels had a perivascular plasma cell infiltrate.  This lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis is a pattern of inflammation, not a disease with a single aetiology.

These cases are often persistent, despite prolonged antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatment.  Most are thought to be infected, particularly when ulcerated, so lack of response to antibiotics may be the result of anaerobic or yeast infections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low power view of gingival submucosal and perivascular infiltrate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High power view of mucosa

 

 

Tip of the Month

We recognise that writing a history may be time consuming, but if you are able to condense your case file notes into a brief synopsis of the relevant history, treatment, response and your clinical differentials, this would help us enormously.

Thank you

  

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Formula for diluting Formaldehyde in order to fix samples correctly

10% Formalin = 4% Formaldehyde (‘Formaldehyde’ is 40%)

Take Formaldehyde and dilute 1:10 with buffer in order to keep the pH 

level alkaline