Effects of Novel Dental Chews on Oral Health Outcomes and Halitosis in Adult Dogs.

Periodontal disease 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 4x4 Latin square design consisting of 28-d periods. On d 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 d 28 of each period. Breath samples were measured for malodor (volatile sulfur compounds) on d 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 4 hr 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. Dr. Lyon's dental treats performed at the same level as the leading brand, Greenies, as both resulted in lower (p&0.05) plaque coverage and thickness scores, calculus coverage scores, and d 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared to controls. Additionally, Dr. Lyon's dental treats reduced (p&0.05) volatile sulfur compounds on d 14 when compared to controls. Bones and Chews dental treats reduced (p&0.05) calculus coverage and d 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared to controls. Our results suggest that the dental chews tested in this study may help slow the development and/or progression of periodontal disease in dogs.