ABSTRACT
Feline tooth resorption has been widely reported in domestic cats and sporadically described in other felidae. The goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence of tooth resorption and to report other dental problems in a population of wild felidae. Observations of dental disorders and anomalies were made in skulls from 73 wild felidae (cheetahs, leopards, caracals, African wildcats, and lions) originating from Namibia. In addition, radiographs were taken in 43 cases to determine signs of bone and root pathology. Radiographs showed varying stages of tooth resorption in 16.0% of the specimens. Other dental anomalies found included fused teeth, supernumerary roots, or missing teeth. The prevalence of dental resorption in wild felidae was lower than reported in the domestic cat.
Subject(s)
Felidae , Tooth Abnormalities/veterinary , Tooth Diseases/veterinary , Acinonyx/abnormalities , Alveolar Bone Loss/diagnostic imaging , Alveolar Bone Loss/veterinary , Animals , Anodontia/diagnostic imaging , Anodontia/veterinary , Felidae/abnormalities , Fused Teeth/diagnostic imaging , Fused Teeth/veterinary , Jaw Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Jaw Diseases/veterinary , Lions/abnormalities , Namibia , Panthera/abnormalities , Radiography , Root Resorption/diagnostic imaging , Root Resorption/veterinary , Tooth Abnormalities/diagnostic imaging , Tooth Discoloration/veterinary , Tooth Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Tooth Fractures/diagnostic imaging , Tooth Fractures/veterinary , Tooth Resorption/diagnostic imaging , Tooth Resorption/veterinary , Tooth Root/abnormalities , Tooth Root/diagnostic imaging , Tooth, Supernumerary/diagnostic imaging , Tooth, Supernumerary/veterinaryABSTRACT
Two cases of anomalous development of the upper third premolar in a dog and a cat are described. The involved teeth have a bifid crown and 3 roots. The central root is abnormally wide and has 2 separate root canals. The anomalous tooth is the cause of malocclusion in the cat and of periodontitis in both cases. The difficulty in distinguishing gemination from fusion is discussed.
Subject(s)
Bicuspid/abnormalities , Cat Diseases , Dog Diseases , Animals , Cats , Dogs , Fused Teeth/veterinary , Malocclusion/etiology , Malocclusion/veterinary , Periodontitis/etiology , Periodontitis/veterinaryABSTRACT
Polyodontia was observed in forty-seven (13 per cent) out of 373 dogs studied. These forty-seven dogs with polyodontia included sixteen Boxers. The supernumerary tooth was situated in the proximity of the first premolar in the maxilla in thirty-two dogs. The following abnormal forms were observed among the teeth of the dogs: dichotomy of an incisor in a Fox Terrier and a Great Dane, a pair of geminate teeth at the site of the first mandibular premolar in a Rottweiler and a fused premolar near the first maxillary premolar in a Boxer. The possible pathogenesis of polyodontia and abnormal tooth forms is discussed.
