Influence of chewing on dental health in dogs

Periodontal disease is a common problem in dogs. Previous studies have shown that dental deposits in dogs can be reduced by feeding a daily dental chew. This study compares the effectiveness of two chews of different toughness. Both chews significantly reduced plaque (p=0.003) and calculus (p=0.008). The tougher chew required significantly more time (p=0.001) and number of bites (p=0.001) to consume than the standard chew. The increased time and chewing to consume the chew with greater toughness was associated with a directional improvement in oral health, although not statistically significant, as compared to the standard chew