Association of periodontal disease and histologic lesions in multiple organs from 45 dogs.

Forty-five mixed breed dogs were evaluated for the presence and extent of periodontal disease. Histopathology was performed on samples of lung, myocardium, liver, kidney, tonsil, spleen, submandibular lymph node and tracheobronchial lymph node. Mitral valves were evaluated grossly. Statistical analysis was used to determine if there was a relationship between the extent of periodontal disease and histopathologic changes in the tissues examined. In the forty-five dogs studied, an association was found between periodontal disease and histopathologic changes in kidney, myocardium (papillary muscle), and liver.