Validation of Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence for Quantifying Calculus on Dogs' Teeth

Effects of a novel dental chew on oral health outcomes, halitosis, and microbiota of adult dogs

Halitosis in dogs is an initial indication of periodontitis, highlighting its significance as a vital marker for underlying problems. Moreover, the oral microbial population has a significant influence on periodontal disease. Measuring the oral microbiota may be used in addition to breath odor, dental plaque, and gingivitis scoring to assess the impact of dental chews on oral health. In this study, we aimed to determine the differences in breath odor, oral health outcomes, and oral microbiota of adult dogs consuming a novel dental chew compared with control dogs consuming only a diet. Twelve healthy adult female beagle dogs were used in a crossover design study. Treatments (n = 12/group) included: diet only (control) or the diet + a novel dental chew. Each day, one chew was provided 4 h after mealtime. On days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 27, breath samples were analyzed for total volatile sulfur compound concentrations using a halimeter. On day 0 of each period, teeth were cleaned by a veterinary dentist blinded to treatments. Teeth were scored for plaque, calculus, and gingivitis by the same veterinary dentist on day 28 of each period. After scoring, subgingival and supragingival plaque samples were collected for microbiota analysis using Illumina MiSeq. All data were analyzed using SAS (version 9.4) using the Mixed Models procedure, with P < 0.05 being significant. Overall, the dental chews were well accepted. Dogs consuming the dental chews had lower calculus coverage, thickness, and scores, lower gingivitis scores, and less pocket bleeding than control dogs. Breath volatile sulfur compounds were lower in dogs consuming the dental chews. Bacterial alpha-diversity analysis demonstrated that control dogs had higher bacterial richness than dogs fed dental chews. Bacterial beta-diversity analysis demonstrated that samples clustered based on treatment. In subgingival and supragingival plaque, control dogs had higher relative abundances of potentially pathogenic bacteria (Pelistega, Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium, Fretibacterium, Helcococcus, and Treponema) and lower relative abundances of genera associated with oral health (Neisseria, Actinomyces, and Corynebacterium). Our results suggest that the dental chew tested in this study may aid in reducing periodontal disease risk in dogs by beneficially shifting the microbiota population and inhabiting plaque buildup.

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. 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 yr; mean BW = 13.12 ± 1.39 kg) female beagle dogs were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design consisting of 28-d periods. On day 0 of each period, teeth were cleaned by a veterinary dentist blinded to treatments. Teeth then were 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 (CT), while treatment groups received the diet plus one of three dental chews. Two novel chews (Bones & Chews Dental Treats [BC]; Chewy, Inc., Dania Beach, FL and Dr. Lyon's Grain-Free Dental Treats [DL]; Dr. Lyon's, LLC, Dania Beach, FL) and a leading brand chew (Greenies Dental Treats [GR]; Mars Petcare US, Franklin, TN) were tested. Each day, one chew was provided 4 h 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 and 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. DL performed at the same level as the leading brand, GR, as both resulted in lower (P < 0.05) plaque coverage and thickness scores, calculus coverage scores, and day 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared with CT. Additionally, DL reduced (P < 0.05) volatile sulfur compounds on day 14 when compared with CT. BC reduced (P < 0.05) calculus coverage and day 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared with CT. Our results suggest that the dental chews tested in this study may help slow the development and/or progression of PD in dogs.