Blood Parameters and Feline Tooth Resorption: A Retrospective Case Control Study from a Spanish University Hospital

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Tooth resorption (TR) is a progressive destruction of hard dental tissues, leading to dental fractures. Our aims were to describe the TR clinical presentation on data from a university veterinary hospital (September 2018–May 2019; Northeastern Spain), and to study several blood parameters (34) for ascertaining potential systemic effects associated with TR. Cases (29) had positive radiographic TR diagnosis and controls (58) showed healthy mouths when presented for elective surgery; orthopedic surgery or soft tissues procedures. Blood parameters significantly different for cases and controls were chosen for multiple regression analysis (correction factor: age). TR was detected in 130/870 teeth (14.9%). TR stage 4 and 5; and types 1 and 2 were the most frequent. The status of LLP1, LRP1, and LLM1could be considered as TR sentinels. A significant association was found between TR stage and TR type (p < 0.001). TR presence was significantly associated with high creatinine levels and low urea nitrogen/creatinine and albumin/globulin ratios. A positive association was found between TR index and globulin levels. When affected by TR, systemic implication related to infection/inflammation or even kidney damage could be present; therefore, special care in these aspects must be provided in feline clinics. ABSTRACT: Tooth resorption (TR; progressive destruction of hard dental tissues) varies in prevalence according to population, age, and country (29–66.1%). Our objective was twofold: describing the TR clinical presentation in Northeastern Spain, and studying 34 blood parameters to ascertain potential systemic effects associated with TR. Cases (29; presented from September 2018 to May 2019) and controls (58) were considered. Non-parametric tests were carried out to compare cases and controls for each blood parameter; those showing significant differences were chosen for multiple regression analysis (binomial logistic and hierarchical multiple regressions). In case TR was detected in 130/870 teeth (14.9%), TR stage and type were correlated (p < 0.001). Increasing CREA values (p = 0.034) and decreasing BUN/CREA and ALB/GLOB values were associated with TR presence (p = 0.029 and p = 0.03, respectively). Increasing GLOB was associated with increasing severity of TR (p < 0.01). Type 1 TR (highly related to inflammation and periodontal disease PD) was the most frequently observed type; the association of TR and inflammation biomarkers (ALB/GLOB, GLOB) are explained by this fact. The concomitant presence of PD and TR in old cats would cause TR association with kidney damage biomarkers (CREA, BUN/CREA). When affected by TR, special care in these aspects must be provided to cats.