Oral and Dental Conditions in Adult African Wild Dog Skulls: A Preliminary Report
Abstract
Skulls of 29 adult African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) originating from museum collections were examined for evidence of oral pathology. A wide variety of conditions similar to those seen in the domestic dog were detected. Although other reports suggest that captive African wild dogs suffer more extensively from dental disease than those in the wild, we conclude that these wild carnivores suffer from the same oral diseases as their domestic relatives, suggesting that a natural diet does not protect against these diseases. As the African wild dog is threatened by extinction, further investigation of the incidence and development of oral and dental disease in this species may be of value. Preventive measures could be instituted leading to improved health for those held in captivity.
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On balance, limited published evidence does not support claims of reduced periodontal disease with raw feeding.
“Claims for improved oral health in diets with raw bones find support in studies showing less calculus among feral or wild dogs and cats yet, on balance, the limited published evidence does not support claims of reduced periodontal disease with raw feeding (Steenkamp & Gorrel 1999, Fascetti 2015).”
From Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. (2019) · cites this paper as Steenkamp & Gorrel 1999
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Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards.
Davies, R. H., Lawes, J. R., & Wales, A. D. (2019) · Journal of Small Animal Practice · doi:10.1111/jsap.13000 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
“Claims for improved oral health in diets with raw bones find support in studies showing less calculus among feral or wild dogs and cats yet, on balance, the limited published evidence does not support claims of reduced periodontal disease with raw feeding (Steenkamp & Gorrel 1999, Fascetti 2015).”
BackgroundWorld Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines.
Niemiec, B., Gawor, J., Nemec, A., Clarke, D., McLeod, K., Tutt, C., Gioso, M., Steagall, P., Chandler, M., Morgenegg, G., et al. (2020) · Journal of Small Animal Practice · doi:10.1111/jsap.13132 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Prevosti, F., & Rincón, A. (2007) · Journal of Paleontology · doi:10.1666/pleo05-143.1 · Cited by 36
Etiology and Pathogenesis of Periodontal Disease
Niemiec, B. (2013) · doi:10.1002/9781118705018.ch2 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Prevosti, F., & Lamas, L. (2006) · Journal of Zoology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00187.x · Cited by 35 · see citing works
World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines.
Niemiec, B., Gawor, J., Nemec, A., Clarke, D., McLeod, K., Tutt, C., Gioso, M., Steagall, P., Chandler, M., Morgenegg, G., et al. (2020) · Journal of Small Animal Practice · doi:10.1111/jsap.13113 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Janssens, L., Verhaert, L., Berkowic, D., & Adriaens, D. (2016) · Journal of Mammalogy · doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw058 · Cited by 20
Enlund, K., Pettersson, A., & Eldh, A. (2022) · Frontiers in Veterinary Science · doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.878162 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
BARF (Biologisch Artgerechte Rohfütterung) als Ernährungsform bei Hunden
Kölle, P., & Schmidt, M. (2015) · Tierärztliche Praxis K: Kleintiere/Heimtiere · doi:10.15654/tpk-150782 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
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Chandler, M. L., & Takashima, G. (2014) · The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice · doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.03.009 · Cited by 6
Niemiec, B. (2013) · doi:10.1002/9781118705018.ch13 · Cited by 6
Hemida, M. B. M., Holm, S., Eklundh, M., & Hielm-Björkman, A. K. (2025) · BMC Veterinary Research · doi:10.1186/s12917-025-04885-8 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Similarly, an analysis of 29 African wild dog skulls from the early 19th century, that most likely had been consuming a natural diet primarily consisting of wild antelope, found evidence of tooth wear in 83% of the individual skulls, and tooth fractures in 48%, and 7% reported DC [103].”
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Cave, N. (2013) · doi:10.1002/9781118785669.ch12 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
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Steenkamp, G., Tordiffe, A., & Nemec, A. (2022) · Frontiers in Veterinary Science · doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.871939 · Cited by 2
Self-citationWorld Small Animal Veterinary Association global dental guidelines.
Niemiec, B., Gawor, J., Nemec, A., Chandler, M., Mestrinho, L., Steagall, P., Papadimitriou, S., Ong, B. H., Morgenegg, G., McLeod, K., et al. (2026) · Journal of Small Animal Practice · doi:10.1111/jsap.70057 · Cited by 1
“J Dent Res. 78: 1777-82. Mattila KJ, Nieminen MS, Valtonen VV, et al (1989): Association between dental health and acute myocardial infarction.”
BARF BESLEME: KÖPEK VE KEDİLERDE PARAZİT HASTALIKLARI BAKIMINDAN TAŞIDIĞI RİSKLER
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Consequences of crown shortening canine teeth in Greenland sled dogs.
Kortegaard, H., Knudsen, T., Dahl, S., Agger, J., & Eriksen, T. (2015) · Journal of Small Animal Practice · doi:10.1111/jsap.12314 · Cited by 1
Rossi, J. L., de Castro, A. P. D., & Marchesi, M. D. (2013) · doi:10.1590/s0100-736x2013000600016 · Cited by 1
Complications of mandibular brachygnathism in a North African leopard.
Simoi, A. D. (2006) · doi:10.1177/089875640602300205 · Cited by 1
Monitoring the prevalence and predictors of dental diseases in dogs
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- Authors
- Steenkamp, G., & Gorrel, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
- ORCID
- Steenkamp, Gerhard
- Venue
- Journal of Veterinary Dentistry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1999-06
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 65-68
- ISSN
- 0898-7564 (ISSN-L)
- 2470-4083
- OpenAlex
- W2161220535
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Veterinary Dentistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Keywords
- Lycaon pictus, oral pathology, dental diseases, wild carnivores, natural diet, museum specimens
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Wild, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Mouth Diseases, Tooth Diseases
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