Abstract: Evaluation of Efficacy of Reduction of Calculus, Plaque, Gingivitis and Malodor of a Daily Honeycomb Shaped Dental Chew in Dogs

Periodontal disease in dogs is common. Client compliance with oral hygiene and oral care for pets is low.  The gold standard is annual dental prophylaxis under general anesthesia with imaging followed by home care including daily brushing.  Clients should be offered methods to reduce calculus, plaque, gingivitis, and resulting halitosis that are time efficient, cost-effective, and easy to administer between annual preventative dental prophylaxis with the goal to move into maintenance phase of managing periodontal disease. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a honeycomb shaped dental chew in reducing hardened calculus, plaque, gingivitis, and malodor in client owned dogs in their normal home environment including various breeds, skull types, ages, and weights.  Calculus, plaque, gingival and malodor scoring were performed under sedation and evaluated under general anesthesia after 60 consecutive days of receiving a daily honeycomb shaped dental chew treat.  There was an overall percentage reduction of calculus of 26.6%, plaque of 14.2%, gingivitis 0.99%, and malodor 46.71%.  Use of this honeycomb shaped daily dental chew significantly reduced calculus, plaque and associated malodor in dogs when fed consecutively for 60 days.