The Impact of Oral Zinc Ascorbate Gel Treatment in Dogs as a Form of Prevention and Intervention of the Causes and Effects of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease in dogs is common but can be detrimental to those that it affects - causing extreme pain, gum decay, tooth loss, and even bone loss. There are various treatments that are recommended by veterinarians which can be applied to avoid periodontal disease; however, some of these treatments may be harmful to the dog over time and some may be difficult or costly for the owners which lead to noncompliance from these owners and therefore a higher risk of periodontal disease for their dogs. This experiment studies the effects of zinc ascorbate gel applied orally in dogs over a 30-day study period. The 17 dogs studied were split into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group received the oral zinc ascorbate gel treatment and the control group received no treatment. Clinical parameters evaluated bi-weekly were halitosis, gingivitis, and plaque. Bacterial growth content was evaluated two times within the study period: at day 0 and day 30. The intended outcome of this experiment was a decrease in halitosis, gingivitis, plaque, and periodontal disease causing bacteria from day 0 to day 30. This research is meant to provide evidence that oral zinc ascorbate gel can be used as a prevention of the bacterial growth that causes periodontal disease as well as an intervention to the effects. The results suggest that zinc ascorbate gel used as an oral antiseptic improves canine oral health, and may be most effective in decreasing total bacterial growth