The bad breath of cats and dogs has not been considered a symptom of gingivitis or periodontitis until recently. Unfortunately, bad breath may often be the only symptom for the beginning of a serious periodontal disease. Periodontal disease has two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis [1]. In the early stages of gingivitis, the gums become swollen, red and may bleed. In its more serious form, periodontitis, the gums are inflamed, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or fall out [2]. The primary cause of gingivitis is poor or ineffective oral hygiene, which leads to the accumulation of dental plaque at the gum line. In the plaque, the number of microbial cells is high (10¹¹ cfu/g) and diversity is rich, containing hundreds of different species [3].

Periodontal disease is a common disease found in dogs and its prevalence increases with age. Small dogs, such as toy and miniature breeds, are more severely affected [4]. The prevalence rates of gingivitis and periodontitis in dogs have been reported to range from 95% - 100% and 50% - 70%, respectively [5]. Up to 80% of all dogs are believed to have some degree of periodontal disease by the age of two [6].

Only limited information regarding the oral microbiota in dogs has been published [7]. Recent research has established that the bacteria associated with gum disease in dogs are not the same as in humans [3]. However, in another study, it was shown that the species in dogs and their owners were partly the same [8]. It is not certain what species are most responsible for causing gum disease, but it has been suggested that four species of gram-negative anaerobic species are the most common, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides forsythus and Eikenella corrodens [9]. However, Tannerella forsythia and Campylobacter rectus, which are known as human periodontitis related species, have been detected with high frequency in dogs [10] and T. forsythia in cats [11]. In a study by Kato et al. (2011), Porphyromonas gulae was analysed as the major species detected in dogs.

In humans, the common species causing gingivitis are Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacteria sp. The oral microbiota contains hundreds of species both in humans and pets, and partly overlapping bacterial groups and species have been detected. The selection of bacterial species in pets seems to depend on breed, feed and domestic teeth care.

The prevention of periodontal diseases has been studied, and the most common treatment is scaling [12]. However, scaling only removes the existing calculi for a short time and calculi starts to form again soon after the procedure. Scaling is done by a veterinarian under anaesthesia, which always poses a risk and burden, especially for ageing pets. The most preventive cure is tooth brushing, but as it is a demanding and time-consuming treatment both for the owner and the pet, it is not widely used. Also, types of toothpaste that actively support one of the innate defence mechanisms in saliva, the lactoperoxidase system, have been developed [13].

The oral microbiota in humans is well documented from the first days after birth. The dominant bacterial species being Streptococcus salivarius, which can colonise the mouth [14]. Selected S. salivarius strains are used as oral probiotics, which have been shown to prevent the growth of gingivitis and periodontitis causing bacteria [15] [16] as well as yeasts in the mouth [17]. The interest in infectious mouth microbiota is increasing since the recent research results have been connecting them not only to cardiovascular diseases but also for example to the risk of intestinal disorders and Alzheimer’s disease [18].

In the current study, the effectiveness of specific, viable lactic acid bacteria was studied in the treatment of teeth care of well-kept domestic cats and dogs. Lactic acid bacteria used were Streptococcus thermophilus SP4, Lactobacillus plantarum 14D and Lactobacillus rhamnosus SP1 (Sacco S, r. l. Italy) in a ready-mixed powder (later PetGuide LAB powder). The strains were selected based on their known features (survival in oral conditions) and traditional use in food fermentations which makes them safe for owners and pets.

Pure freeze-dried cultures were mixed in microcrystalline cellulose which attaches well on the gums when in contact with saliva. The bacterial level was 10⁹ cfu/g for each strain. The viability of the strains in the PetGuide product was analysed by flow-cytometry during 12 months storing at room temperature [19].

In the study, the cats and dogs of different ages were fed the PetGuide LAB powder daily by dosing one teaspoon of the powder on top of the dry feed. The actual number of bacteria per animal per day was not the same since several dogs and cats ate from the same cup. The intervention lasted 30 - 40 days. Cats (nine individuals from Exotic and Persian breeds) and 13 dogs of Pomeranian and Peruvian hairless breeds were chosen for the intervention. Six of the cats had healthy teeth and fresh breath, and three had minor plaque formation and bad breath. Of the 13 dogs, seven had bad breath and plaque, most being Peruvian hairless dogs (Table 1 and Table 2).

Microbiological samples were taken with a cotton swab from the upper eye tooth and gum before and after the intervention from each dog and cat. The samples were analysed with specific flow cytometric analysis [20] by enumerating the species of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium sp. which were selected as indicators for oral health. In the Fusobacterium sp.-group several related species included in this group were detected. These species were found both in cats and dogs in easily detectable numbers similarly to human saliva.

Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann Whitney U-test (significance in p-value < 0.05).

In the cat group (n = 9), feeding with PetGuide powder for four weeks reduced the relative abundance (% of total microbiota) of P. gingivalis species significantly from 0.9 to 0.5 (p = 0.028). In addition, the amount of Fusobacterium sp. was reduced from 2.0% to 0.9% but not statistically significantly (p = 0.075) (Figure 1).

In the dog group (n = 13), a significant reduction from 1.5 to 1.1 in the relative abundance of periodontopathic bacteria was seen especially in the amount of Fusobacterium sp. (p = 0.05, Figure 2). A trend for reduction in P. gingivalis relative abundance was noticed (p = 0.071, Figure 2).

A separate analysis of Peruvian hairless dogs with several mouth health problems showed a significant reduction from 1.5% to 0.6% (p = 0.042) in Fusobacterium sp. and from 2.3% to 1.2% (p = 0.043) in infectious bacteria overall (Figure 3). One specific dog with the worst oral health situation showed the most effective reduction both in P. gingivalis (from 1.4% to 0.5%) and Fusobacterium sp. (from 3.2% to 0.7%, Figure 4). The bacterial load was also higher with this dog before the intervention.

Overall, the daily treatment with the PetGuide powder for four weeks reduced the relative abundance of the summarised gum infectious microbes significantly from 2.1% to 1.4% (p = 0.005) in cats and dogs (Figure 5).

Gingivitis can be cured with medical treatment, whereas periodontitis will cause stable damages to the tooth tissues, and the damages are often painful to the pets. Therefore the daily domestic oral care by the pet owner is essential in the prevention of severe infections. The lack of preventive care often leads to these

more severe diseases already at an earlier age. In this study, the PetGuide LAB powder including selected probiotic lactic acid bacteria effectively reduced the relative abundance of the infectious microbes causing the damage in teeth.

The microbes in plaque represent numerous species with high numbers (about 10¹¹ cfu/g) in plaque, and it has been revealed that several periodontopathic species could be transmitted between humans and their companion dogs [8]. The indicator strains used in this study, P. gingivalis and Fusobacterium sp., were selected based on human trials. Since they were found in abundant levels in dogs and cats, they were used as indicators.

The dental plaque will turn into calculus which is more difficult to remove. Calculus formation and the deterioration of the oral cavity are initially caused by specific antigens or enzymes produced by plaque microbes. These compounds activate the host inflammatory response, which causes the ligaments and bones supporting the tooth to become inflamed and progressively destroyed [21]. Therefore the preventive care before any symptoms are visible is crucial. Instead of the removal of plaque, the potential pathogenic microbes causing periodontal disease can be prevented and replaced by a beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) combination with the ability to adhere and colonise the gums. For domestic care, the method has to be easy for the owner and the pet.

Only four weeks of PetGuide LAB powder use significantly reduced the relative abundance of both P. gingivalis and Fusobacterium sp. even when the number of tested pets was low and the probiotic bacteria dose per day per pet was not accurate and even during the intervention period. A decrease in bad breath in the dogs was also reported by the owners. Using LAB powder either sprinkled on feed or during tooth brushing is a pet-friendly, easy and simple way to replace the unwanted bacteria species and decrease the risk of periodontal damages in pets.

Dr. Eveliina Munukka acts as scientific advisor of Gutguide Ltd.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Mäkinen, V.-M., Mäyrä, A. and Munukka, E. (2019) Improving the Health of Teeth in Cats and Dogs with Live Probiotic Bacteria. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 9, 275-283. https://doi.org/10.4236/jcdsa.2019.94024