Periodontal disease is quite common in dogs over 3 years old. Tooth brushing is the most effective treatment to remove dental plaque at home. However, its efficacy depends on owner and dog compliance contrary to dental chew or other methods. The first step of periodontal disease is identified only by the presence of reversible gingivitis with no loss of bone and ligament attachment. Our aim was to evaluate the appearance of dental plaque with and without a dental hygiene enzymatic chew in client-owned dogs suffering with periodontal disease in stage 0 or 1. Hence we wanted to know whether an enzymatic chew could decrease the first reversible step of periodontal disease, namely gingivitis.
Dogs over one-year-old and with periodontal disease at stage 0 or 1, according to the guidelines of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) 2007, were eligible for inclusion in the study. The owners were required to sign a form to confirm their consent. The dogs were administered daily enzymatic chews starting on day 0 (D0) until day 90 (D90). The dental hygiene chew consisted of pieces of extruded beef skin covered with an enzyme coating: glucose oxidase and lacto serum. Between D90 and D180, owners stopped giving the daily dental hygiene chew and did not give another plaque control product.
After six months of follow-up, a daily enzymatic chew prevented the evolution of periodontal disease by significantly improving the gingival score and maintaining the dental plaque score.
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