Objectives: With the progression of periodontal disease, tooth roots become exposed to influences of oral environment The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the inflammatory and degenerative changes in pulp tissue of dog's teeth affected with periodontal disease. Methods: The histopathology of dog's teeth extracted because of moderate to advanced periodontal disease was studied to determine the range of changes in their internal structure. A total number of 22 teeth were examined, obtained from yorkshire teriers 6 to 14 years old. Teeth were free of caries and intact in their structure. Results: Findings in the vital teeth included changes in the odontoblast layer, dilatation and congestion of blood vessels, hyalinisation and/or fibrin accumulation in blood vessels, fibrosis, calcifications and apposition of irregular secondary dentin. In one case there were arteriovenic anastomoses seen in crown portion of the pulp, looking like a glomus body. In some cases the walls of the pulp chambers were very irregular. There was obvious pulpitis in 27.3% of cases with mild inflammation in another 18.2% and pulp necrosis in 40.9% of cases. Chronic apical periodontitis was found with pulp necrosis. External root resorbtion was present in 48.8% of roots, particularly in cases with marked changes in dental pulp. Conclusion: Degenerative changes in dental pulp are most likely a sequence of charges due to increased mobility of teeth.The finding of obvious pulpitis in a significant proportion of cases, despite the low number of lateral canals in dog's teeth, was unexpected. Periodontal disease influences the condition of the pulp, however, the severity of periodontal destruction does not seem to be related to pathological alterations within the dental pulp.

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