animal dental dealth

Latest in Preventative Dental Health for Dogs

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For the month of February we are advocating strongly for dental health awareness for National Pet Dental Health month. To kick off the month, we are offering goodie bags full of a variety of preventative treat options with each dental cleaning done in the month of February. Included in the goodie bag is a new product on our shelves: Prescription Diet Dental Care Chews from Hills.

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Clinically proven to reduce plaque buildup in as little as 4 days.

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Clinically proven to maintain gingival health.

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Superior clinical efficacy in reducing plaque, tartar, stain buildup and occurrence of gingivitis.

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Let's put the treat back in treatment. 

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Clinical Evidence Report

Feeding a single Hill's Prescription Diet Dental Care Chew per day resulted in:

  • Being awarded the VOHC Seal in the plaque and tartar categories.

  • Clinically proven reduction in plaque and tartar build-up in 28 days.

  • Up to 2.5 times more effective than other dental treats on the market.

Products Studied:

Prescription Diet Dental Care Chews (sold at River Landings Animal Clinic; just ask the receiptionists!)

Study Design

VOHC Seal Studies

Three randomized, crossover studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the Prescription Diet Dental Care Chews in reducing the accumulation of plaque and tartar in a clean mouth model. Each study consisted of two 28 day treatment periods, separated by a 14 day wash-out period. A commercially available dry dog food which met AAFCO nutritional requirements for maintenance of adult dogs was selected as the control food. One small dental chew was fed in two independent studies to dogs weighing 10 kilograms or less while one regular dental chew was fed to dogs weighing over 10 kilograms. A minimum of twenty-eight dogs were enrolled in each study.

Results were quantified by the VOHC whole tooth methodology.

 

Study Design

Gingival Contour Plaque Index (GCPI) Competitor Study

An additional study was performed utilizing 20 dogs in a crossover design. The Gingival Contour Plaque Index GCPI methodology looks at plaque accumulation at the gingival margin where it is most critical for oral health. GCPI was used to assess plaque reduction achieved with once daily Prescription Diet Dental Care Chews (regular sized) compared to Greenies Dental Care Chews, Pedigree Dentastix, and Milkbone Brushing Chews also fed once per day. Following 4 days of feeding in each crossover period the outcomes were evaluated by the GCPI methodology.

Conclusions

  • Prescription Diet Dental Care Chews when fed as 1 treat per day to the appropriate size dog were clinically proven to significantly reduce plaque and tartar.

  • Prescription Diet Dental Care Chews have met the VOHC testing standard and been awarded the VOHC Seal in the Plaque and Tartar categories.

  • Prescription Diet Dental Care Chews are up to 2.5 times better at reducing plaque than other dental treats on the market.

References: Scherl DS, Bork K, Coffman L, Lowry SR, VanCleave M. Application of the gingival contour plaque index: six-month plaque and gingivitis study. J Vet Dent. 2009 Spring:26 (1):23-7.


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