The Effect of Heart Disease on Anesthetic Complications During Routine Dental Procedures in Dogs.

Dental procedures are a common reason for general anesthesia, and there is widespread concern among veterinarians that heart disease increases the occurrence of anesthetic complications. Anxiety about anesthetizing dogs with heart disease is a common cause of referral to specialty centers. To begin to address the potential effect of heart disease on anesthetic complications in dogs undergoing anesthesia for routine dental procedures, we compared anesthetic complications in 100 dogs with heart disease severe enough to trigger referral to a specialty center (cases) to those found in 100 dogs without cardiac disease (controls) that underwent similar procedures at the same teaching hospital. Medical records were reviewed to evaluate the occurrence of anesthetic complications. No dogs died in either group, and no significant differences were found between the groups in any of the anesthetic complications evaluated, although dogs in the heart disease group were significantly older with higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores. Midazolam and etomidate were used more frequently, and alpha-2 agonists used less frequently, in the heart disease group compared to controls. This study suggests dogs with heart disease, when anesthetized by trained personnel and carefully monitored during routine dental procedures, are not at significantly increased risk for anesthetic complications.

Area of desensitization following mental nerve block in dogs.

Regional nerve blocks are commonly used to provide analgesia for dental and oral surgical procedures. The purpose of this study was to demarcate the areas of the mandible that would be desensitized by application of the mental nerve block. Seven healthy mixed-breed dogs were anesthetized for an annual dental examination and professional teeth cleaning procedure. Bupivacaine HCl (0.4 ml/ m2) was administered at one middle mental foramen based on previously described techniques for the mental nerve block. A noxious stimulus was applied at 23 predetermined ipsilateral mandibular locations using pressure from a mosquito hemostat on the mucocutaneous junction (MCJ) and a dental curette on the vestibular mucogingival line (MGL) at the incisor canine, and premolar teeth; and, the mesial and distal aspects of the first molar tooth. A thermal stimulus using a refrigerant spray on a cotton ball was applied to the ipsilateral canine, third premolar and fourth premolar teeth; and, the mesial and distal aspects of the first molar tooth. Demonstration of nociception or anesthesia was noted and the responses tabulated. The area of desensitized tissues was smaller than expected and highly variable within the study group. In conclusion, the unilateral mental nerve block does not reliably provide generalized desensitization to tissues of the incisive and rostral regions of the mandible. Although the mental nerve block is recommended, other modes of analgesia should be emphasized for surgical and dental procedures involving these areas.

Surgical correction of severe strabismus and enophthalmos secondary to zygomatic arch fracture in a dog.

A grossly displaced segmental zygomatic arch fracture with marked ventro-lateral deviation of the left globe was diagnosed in a 3-month-old male German Shepherd dog following a bite injury. The fracture was approached via a modified lateral orbitotomy and a fragment of the lacrimal bone removed. The rostral portion of the fracture was stabilized with a 5-hole 2.0 dynamic compression plate bone plate. The surgical correction achieved sufficient skeletal fixation for proper anatomical reduction of the globe and excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Comparison of cold GP/sealer and resin bonded obturation techniques in canine teeth in dogs.

An in vitro study compared two obturation materials in the canine teeth in dogs. The teeth were instrumented with rotary instruments and obturated with either gutta percha and a sealer or resin-based materials, utilizing the gutta percha apical plug/master cone technique. Radiographs were used for evaluation of the overall appearance of the finalfill. A modified apical dye leakage method was used to evaluate the ability of each material to provide an adequate barrier to apical leakage. When comparing the two obturation materials, the differences in the radiographic appearance scores and the apical dye leakage test results were not statistically significant. The rate of apical leakage is comparable to other obturation methods that have been reported. The use of a rotary system in conjunction with the gutta percha apical plug/master cone technique is valid for the endodontic treatment of indicated teeth.

Diagnosis and management of Wegener's granulomatosis in a dog.

A four-year-old maele/neutered mixed-breed dog was prsented for severe, multifocal, proliferative gingivitis. Histopathologic examination of incisional biopsies supported a diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis, an autoimmune vasculitis previously unreported in the veterinary literature. Diagnostic investigations for infectious, neoplastic, or other inflammatory conditions all provided negative results. Management with a combination of immunosuppressive agents resulted in complete resolution and remission of the presenting lesions and associated clinical signs.