Effectiveness of feeding large kibbles with mechanical cleaning properties in cats with gingivitis

Periodontal disease is the most common acquired oral disease in cats. It starts with plaque accumulation and gingivitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of kibble and teeth brushing after professional dental cleaning. To this end, the ratio of facultative anaerobic and obligate anaerobic bacteria was determined, and the amount of plaque and tartar and the severity of gingivitis were measured. Eighty-eight cats with gingivitis and tartar were randomly divided into four groups and given different treatments after professional dental cleaning. The dental treatments were: group 1, cats were fed on small kibbles with mechanical cleaning qualities; group 2, cats were fed on small kibbles without mechanical cleaning qualities, and owners were instructed to brush the cats' teeth; group 3, cats were fed on large kibbles with mechanical cleaning qualities; and group 4, cats were fed on the same kibbles as group 2, but owners were not asked to brush their cats' teeth. A supragingival plaque sample was taken, and used for bacteriological analysis scores for tartar, plaque, and gingivitis were determined at the initial presentation and at 3 and 6 months after professional dental cleaning. Cats fed on the large kibbles with mechanical cleaning qualities (group 3) had significantly less gingivitis and tartar.     

Dietary influences on periodontal health in dogs and cats.

A pet cannot be healthy without oral health. Periodontal is a significant disease that has local and systemic ramifications. It has been stated earlier that effective plaque control prevents gingivitis. In human beings, 90% of periodontitis occurs as the result of progression gingivitis, and this type of periodontitis can be completely prevented by plaque control. It is reasonable that dogs and cats react similarly and that effective plaque control could prevent a large percentage of periodontitis cases. Proper nutrition and effective oral hygiene are necessary components of oral health and should be jointly promoted in the management of oral disease in dogs and cats.     

Effect of a dental chew on dental substrates and gingivitis in cats

The use of special diets or dietary adjuncts, although not eliminating the need for regular professional therapy, may serve to improve gingival health during the interval between professional oral health assessments and intervention. This study was performed to determine the effect of a dental chew on dental hygiene and gingival health in cats. The accumulation of dental substrates and the development of gingivitis were assessed in cats fed either a dry diet only or a dry diet supplemented with dental chews. A two-period, crossover design was used with the test phase lasting 4-weeks. Results indicated that the daily addition of dental chews to a dry diet was effective in reducing plaque and calculus accumulation on tooth surfaces in cats, as well as reducing the severity of gingivitis.     

Effect of two dietary regimens on gingivitis in the dog

The effect of two commercially available dietary regimens on the development of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental plaque, calculus and stain in the dog were studied. One regimen consisted of feeding an oral hygiene chew and a standard dry diet.
The other was based on a specifically designed oral care dry main meal. The study was conducted using 15 dogs in a two period, parallel cross-over design. Each period consisted of a one week pretest phase followed by a three week test phase. During the test phase, gingivitis and plaque were measured after one week and gingivitis, calculus, stain and plaque were measured after a further two weeks. Comparison of the two regimens showed that there were equal amounts of gingivitis, plaque and calculus by the end of the study. There was significantly more stain and significant loss in bodyweight when the main meal was fed.
The role of dietary modification in the maintenance of periodontal health is discussed.     

Evaluation of a barrier dental sealant in dogs

A study was conducted in 40 healthy, randomly selected, client-owned, mixed and purebred dogs to assess the efficacy of a barrier dental sealant. All dogs showed evidence of dental plaque, calculus, or gingivitis. The dental sealant was applied to one side of the mouth following a professional teeth cleaning procedure and reapplied weekly for 8-weeks following the cleaning procedure. Dental parameters evaluated included plaque, calculus, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding indices. A statistically significant difference was detected between treated and untreated teeth compared with baseline values for plaque and calculus at weeks 4 and 8, gingivitis at week 4, and gingival bleeding time at week 8. A professional teeth cleaning procedure followed by a single application of the barrier dental sealant and weekly reapplication performed by a veterinarian or veterinary technician provided significant improvement in plaque and calculus indices during an 8-week period.     

Effectiveness of a dental gel to reduce plaque in beagle dogs

Tooth brushing is considered a superior technique for reducing plaque accumulation. Chemical agents may be used to reduce plaque accumulation on tooth surfaces since many owners may not be willing or able to brush their dog's teeth. Following a professional teeth cleaning procedure, a dental gel containing chlorhexidine was applied in 11 dogs BID for 7-days, while 11 other dogs received a control dental gel applied in the same manner. Dogs in the treatment group had significantly less plaque accumulation during the trial period compared with dogs in the control group. The dental gel applied in the study reported here decreases plaque accumulation in the short-term and may be beneficial in reducing the severity of gingivitis and associated periodontal disease if provided on a long-term basis.     

Effective periodontal disease control using dental hygiene chews

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a newly developed dental hygiene chew for dogs, with and without a natural antimicrobial additive, compared with a reference diet. Efficacy was determined by measuring the severity of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental plaque and calculus in dogs after 4-weeks of being fed the different dietary regimens. Dogs fed a single daily dental chew had significantly less gingivitis (P = 0. 02), plaque (P = 0. 0004), and calculus (P = 0.0001) compared with dogs in the control group that were fed an identical diet but received no chews. The inclusion of the antimicrobial agent did not improve the efficacy of the product. The dental hygiene chews tested in this study have potential to help reduce the incidence of periodontal disease in dogs.     

一例哈利犬牙结石的诊治分析

牙结石是成年犬门诊较为常见的一种口腔疾病,它是由牙菌斑和牙垢钙化后沉积在牙齿表面引起。牙结石是龋齿、牙周炎、溃疡性口炎、牙龈炎和齿髓炎等多种口腔疾病的主要诱因。本文通过对一例哈利犬的牙结石病例的诊治分析及经验总结,以期为宠物门诊常见疾病之牙结石的临床诊断、治疗和预防提供参考。     

Effectiveness of a vegetable dental chew on periodontal disease parameters in toy breed dogs

Sixteen toy breed dogs completed a parallel, 70-day two-period, cross-over design clinical study to determine the effect of a vegetable dental chew on gingivitis, halitosis, plaque, and calculus accumulations. The dogs were randomly assigned into two groups. During one study period the dogs were fed a non-dental dry diet only and during the second study period were fed the same dry diet supplemented by the daily addition of a vegetable dental chew. Daily administration of the dental chew was shown to reduce halitosis, as well as, significantly reduce gingivitis, plaque and calculus accumulation and therefore may play a significant role in the improvement of canine oral health over the long-term.     

A clinical trial of the effect of a mouth-rinse prepared with Lippia sidoides Cham essential oil in dogs with mild gingival disease

We evaluated the effect of a mouth-rinse prepared using Lippia sidoides essential oil (EO) in dogs with marginal gingivitis. German Shepherd dogs were distributed in two groups: control (control mouth-rinse) and EO (EO mouth-rinse). Both mouth-rinses were applied on the dogs' teeth every 2 days for 2 weeks. At day 0 and day 15, the scores for plaque-bacteria (P), calculus (C), gingivitis (G) and the inflammatory infiltrate (INF) were evaluated blindly. The results were analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney tests (P相似文献   

Feline experimental models for control of periodontal disease.

Feline periodontal disease has many elements in common with human and canine disease. Anatomic, physiologic, microbiologic, and immunologic differences between the three species make it impossible to predict with certainty whether successful approaches to controlling and treating canine oral disease will also prove successful in cats. We have developed methods for reproducible, quantitative evaluation of feline dental plaque and calculus. Our studies demonstrated that feline plaque accumulation peaks at 1 week after prophylaxis and that calculus peaks at 4 weeks after prophylaxis. These methods should be adequately sensitive to document control of plaque and calculus accumulation by efficacious chemical or antimicrobial agents.     

Effect on canine oral health of adding chlorhexidine to a dental hygiene chew

A study to compare the effect of a dental hygiene chew with or without 0.2% chlorhexidine on the development of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental deposits was performed using 11 small dogs. Confirming previous data, the daily addition of a standard chew to a dry diet resulted in significantly less gingivitis and calculus after 3 weeks compared with feeding the dry diet alone. Addition of chlorhexidine to the chew made no difference to the degree of gingivitis or the amount of calculus that accumulated, but did result in significantly less plaque accumulation after 3 weeks. The abrasiveness of the chew, rather than the antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine, is likely to have contributed the most to the maintenance of oral health in dogs with mild gingivitis.     

Effect of a new dental hygiene chew on periodontal health in dogs

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of a new dental hygiene chew on periodontal health in the dog. The textural properties of this chew are different from previously tested dental hygiene products. The accumulation of dental deposits, development of oral malodor, and development of gingivitis were assessed in two groups of dogs; one fed a dry diet only, and the other fed the same dry diet supplemented by the daily addition of the new dental hygiene chew. Daily addition of the chew to the dry diet was effective in reducing plaque and calculus accumulation on the tooth surfaces, and also reduced the severity of gingivitis and oral malodor as compared to feeding the dry diet only.     

Long-term effects of a dental hygiene chew on the periodontal health of dogs

The objective of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of feeding a dental hygiene chew that has been shown to be effective in promoting periodontal health in dogs in short-term studies. Oral malodor, calculus, and plaque scores were still significantly lower after 21 months in the group that was receiving the dental hygiene chew, although gingivitis scores no longer differed significantly. There were no reports of any adverse reactions during the study. The results of the study support that feeding of the dental hygiene chew six days per week reduces accumulation of dental deposits, helps maintain periodontal health, and increases the time interval between professional periodontal intervention.     

益生菌牙膏缓解犬牙菌斑和牙结石的研究

[目的] 评价某公司生产的一款宠物用益生菌牙膏对犬牙菌斑和牙结石形成的缓解功效。[方法] 选取口腔健康、体况良好的成年比格犬10只,配对设计随机分为阴性对照组（n=5）和益生菌牙膏组（n=5）;阴性对照组仅饲喂犬粮,益生菌牙膏组每次餐后给予约4 g/只益生菌牙膏,每天2次,连续使用28 d;试验第0天对所有试验犬牙齿进行洁牙抛光处理,试验第14天和第29天分别对比格犬牙菌斑进行评分,第29天对牙结石进行评分并检测口腔气体挥发性化合物（H₂S+CH₃SH）浓度;当牙菌斑和牙结石评分均值以及口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度均值减少幅度≥15%时,定义为益生菌牙膏效果显著。[结果] 与阴性对照组相比,益生菌牙膏组在给予益生菌牙膏第14天时,牙菌斑评分均值减少幅度为-0.36%（P>0.05）,第29天牙菌斑评分均值减少幅度为21.47%（P<0.05）;第29天益生菌牙膏组牙结石评分均值减少幅度为6.54%（P>0.05）;第29天益生菌牙膏组犬口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度均值减少幅度为-44.59% （P>0.05）。[结论] 在试验期内,该款益生菌牙膏能够有效抑制犬牙菌斑的形成,但不具有减少牙结石形成和降低口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度的功效。     

A correlative study of the clinical and radiographic signs of periodontal disease in dogs

Twenty-four dogs admitted for routine teeth cleaning were selected arbitrarily to undergo a periodontal examination and a dental radiographic examination before the dental procedure. Data pertaining to the physical and radiographic manifestations of periodontal disease of 783 teeth were collected. All dogs had lesions consistent with periodontal disease, ranging from mild gingivitis and minimal plaque accumulation to severely inflamed gingiva, exuberant calculus formation, and root exposure. Of the 783 teeth examined, 153 (20%) had a pocket depth greater than or equal to 4 mm and less than or equal to 9 mm. Data regarding these teeth were subjected to statistical analysis. The clinical signs of plaque, calculus, mobility, pocket depth, and furcation were positively associated with radiographic signs of periodonta disease. The association between grossly evident gingivitis and radiographic signs of periodontal disease was not significant. Conditional probability analysis was applied to determine confidence intervals for the probability of a radiographic sign of periodontal disease occurring given that a clinical sign of periodontal disease occurs.     

Chronic oral infections of cats and their relationship to persistent oral carriage of feline calici-, immunodeficiency, or leukemia viruses.

Two hundred and twenty-six cats from the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), a cat shelter, and a purebred cattery were tested for chronic feline calicivirus (FCV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infections. Chronic oral carriage of FCV was present in about one-fifth of the cats in each of the groups. FIV infection was not present in the purebred cattery, was moderately prevalent (8%) in the pet population of cats examined at the VMTH for various complaints and was rampant in the cat shelter (21%). Unexpectedly high FeLV infection rates were found in the hospital cat population (28%) and in the purebred cattery (36%), but not in the cat shelter (1.4%). FCV and FeLV infections tended to occur early in life, whereas FIV infections tended to occur in older animals. From 43 to 100% of the cats in these environments had oral cavity disease ranging from mild gingivitis (23-46%), proliferative gingivitis (18-20%), periodontitis (3-32%) and periodontitis with involvement of extra-gingival tissues (7-27%). Cats infected solely with FCV did not have a greater likelihood of oral lesions, or more severe oral disease, than cats that were totally virus free. This was also true for cats infected solely with FeLV, or for cats dually infected with FeLV and FCV. Cats infected solely with FIV appeared to have a greater prevalence of oral cavity infections and their oral cavity disease tended to be more severe than cats without FIV infection. FIV-infected cats that were coinfected with either FCV, or with FCV and FeLV, had the highest prevalence of oral cavity infections and the most severe oral lesions.     

Concentrations of clindamycin in the mandibular bone of companion animals

Concentrations of clindamycin in the mandible were determined in 17 dogs and 13 cats with severe plaque, gingivitis/periodontitis, and calculus that were treated orally with clindamycin (11 mg/kg) once daily for 5 days prior to professional teeth cleaning and extractions. The animals were patients at the Dental Department of the Clinic for Surgery and Ophthalmology of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. Clindamycin levels were determined during postextractional alveoloplasty. Approximately 1 to 3 mm3 of mandible was removed from the intraradicular septum in multirooted teeth and from the protruding labial/buccal alveolar rim with a small rongeur. The mean concentration of clindamycin was 8.18 microg/g in dogs (range=3.16 to 24.08 microg/g) and 17.43 microg/g in cats (range=2.45 to 51.60 microg/g). The concentration of clindamycin in the mandibles of dogs and cats may be useful to combat infections after periodontal procedures, tooth extractions, or injuries to the mandible.     

Comparison of the bacterial flora of the duodenum in healthy cats and cats with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a colony environment predisposes healthy cats to high bacterial counts, including counts of obligate anaerobes, in the duodenum and whether increased numbers of bacteria could be found in the duodenum of cats with signs of chronic gastrointestinal tract disease. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 20 healthy control cats (10 from a colony environment and 10 pet cats) and 19 cats with a history of chronic gastrointestinal tract disease. PROCEDURE: Undiluted duodenal fluid was quantitatively and qualitatively assessed by bacteriologic culture under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate were also measured. RESULTS: Significant differences were not detected in the numbers of bacteria found in the duodenum of cats housed in a colony environment, compared with pet cats fed an identical diet prior to sampling. All healthy cats were, therefore, combined into 1 control group. Compared with healthy cats, cats with clinical signs of gastrointestinal tract disease had significantly lower counts of microaerophilic bacteria, whereas total, anaerobic, and aerobic bacterial counts were not significantly different. None of the cats with disease had total bacterial counts higher than expected from the range established in the control cats. Differences were not detected in regard to serum folate or cobalamin concentrations between diseased and healthy cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings indicated that healthy colony cats and pet cats have high numbers of bacteria in the duodenum, including high numbers of obligate anaerobes. Our findings also suggest that bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine is not a common clinical syndrome in cats with chronic nonobstructive gastrointestinal tract disease.     

Clinical efficacy and palatability of pradofloxacin 2.5% oral suspension for the treatment of bacterial lower urinary tract infections in cats

BACKGROUND: Pradofloxacin is a 3rd generation veterinary fluoroquinolone designed to restrict the emergence of antimicrobial resistance during therapy. HYPOTHESIS: Pradofloxacin 2.5% oral suspension is a safe, efficacious, and palatable treatment for bacterial urinary tract infections (UTI) in cats. ANIMALS: Seventy-eight cats presented with lower urinary tract signs and were positive on bacterial culture of urine. METHODS: Cats were allocated into 3 treatment groups depending on bacterial susceptibility results: pradofloxacin (n = 27), doxycycline (n = 23), or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (n = 28). All antimicrobials were presented in palatable liquid form. Posttreatment urine specimens were collected after completion of the course of treatment and submitted for bacterial culture and sensitivity. Owners were questioned before and after treatment about their experiences with administering oral medication to their cats. RESULTS: Posttreatment urine culture was negative in all cats in the pradofloxacin group, but there were 3 treatment failures in each of the other groups. Owners' perceptions of the difficulty of administering oral medication to their cats was more positive posttreatment than pretreatment (P = .001; P < .001). There was no difference in palatability among the treatment groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: We conclude that pradofloxacin 2.5% oral suspension is a highly effective and safe antimicrobial treatment for bacterial lower urinary tract infection in cats, and that the palatable formulation optimizes owner compliance. These findings make pradofloxacin a useful addition to the veterinary formulary.