Effects of novel dental chews on oral health outcomes and halitosis in adult dogs

Periodontal disease (PD) is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats but is preventable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of daily dental chew administration on oral health outcomes in adult dogs. Twelve adult (mean age = 5.31 ± 1.08 years; mean BW = 13.12 ± 1.39 kg) female beagles were used in a replicated 4x4 Latin square design consisting of 28-day periods. All animal care and experimental procedures were approved by the University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee prior to experimentation. On day 0 of each period, teeth were cleaned by a veterinary dentist blinded to treatments. Teeth were then scored for plaque, calculus, and gingivitis by the same veterinary dentist on day 28 of each period. Breath samples were measured for malodor (volatile sulfur compounds) on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 27 of each period. All dogs consumed the same commercial dry diet throughout the study. Control dogs were offered the diet only, while treatment groups received the diet plus one of three dental chews. Two novel chews [Bones & Chews Dental Treats (Chewy, Inc., Dania Beach, FL); Dr. Lyon’s Grain-Free Dental Treats (Dr. Lyon’s, LLC, Dania Beach, FL)] and a leading brand chew [Greenies Dental Treats (Mars Petcare US, Franklin, TN)] were tested. Each day, one chew was provided four hours after mealtime. All tooth scoring data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Halimeter data were analyzed using repeated measures using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS, testing for differences due to treatment, time, and treatment*time interaction. Data are reported as LS means ± SEM with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Dr. Lyon’s Dental Treats performed similarly to the leading brand, Greenies, as both resulted in a reduction (p<0.05) of plaque coverage and thickness, calculus coverage, and day 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared to controls. Additionally, Dr. Lyon’s dental treats also reduced volatile sulfur compounds on day 14 when compared to controls. Bones and Chews Dental Treats reduced (p<0.05) calculus coverage and day 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared to controls. Our results suggest that the dental chews tested in this study may aid in reducing the risk of periodontal disease in dogs.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Carroll, Meredith Q.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Swanson, Kelly S
• Fahey, George C
• de Godoy, Maria R. C.

• oral malodor
• halitosis
• oral health
• plaque
• calculus
• dental chew
• periodontal disease

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2019 Meredith Carroll

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/105834

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/105834