Hexametaphosphate-Coated Snack Biscuits Significantly Reduce Calculus Formation in Dogs

Abstract

We conducted a clinical trial in beagle dogs to determine the impact of a popular snack-type biscuit and an experimental biscuit coated with 0.6% sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP) upon calculus formation. The study used a crossover design evaluating each dog on each regimen with 4-week test periods, each of which began with a dental prophylaxis (scaling and polishing). The dogs were provided a single daily feeding of dry chow followed 4 hours later by either no snack or a snack comprised of two or four conventional biscuits, or two HMP-coated biscuits. As compared to the no-snack regimen, feeding two or four conventional bone-shaped biscuits exerted no significant effect upon calculus formation, while the similar feeding of two HMP-coated biscuits significantly reduced calculus formation by 46%.