It is one of the most common health issues in dogs.

A large-scale study has explored the prevalence and risk factors of periodontal disease in pet dogs.

The data, collected from dog owners in the United States and Canada, reveals that more than half of pet dogs are affected by periodontal disease – one of the most common health issues affecting the animal.

Questionnaires were completed by 12,753 dog owners. Pet owners provided data on dog demographics, health and lifestyle factors, to support researchers with identifying the prevalence of and risk factors for periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease was reported by owners for 50.5 per cent of dogs in the study population.

A key risk factor identified by the study was the dog’s age, with dogs aged eight years and older reporting a significantly higher risk of periodontal disease. Meanwhile it was dogs under the age of four which were at the lowest risk.

The data also reveal insights into the links to dog breed and size. Periodontal disease appeared to be most diagnosed in toy and small breeds, with large breeds at the smallest odds of the disease.

The breeds at increased risk include the Yorkshire terrier, Cavalier King Charles spaniel and the Pomeranian.

There are several oral health conditions now associated with the disease, including halitosis and resistance to head touch. Dogs with malocclusion or missing teeth were less likely to have periodontal disease.

Among the behavioural traits in affected dogs are fearfulness, high stress, a reserved nature and low energy.

Although brachycephalic dog breeds appeared to be at lower risk of periodontal disease, researchers warn that it may be under-diagnosed and under-reported. This is because the diagnostic procedure for the disease requires general anaesthetic, which is a high risk procedure for brachycephalic breeds.

Lead author Dr Alex Jemmett, from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, said: “Our findings support numerous existing reports regarding canine periodontal disease and its associated risk factors. 

"They also highlight key issues regarding the management of PD. It’s our hope that the risk factors we’ve highlighted could contribute to earlier identification and prevention in the future.”

The full study can be found in the Journal of Small Animal Practice.

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