Incorporation of Cellulose into a Chew Treat for Dogs Increases Elasticity and Chewing Time

Problem statement: We have reported earlier that administration of a treat containing a special cellulose preparation (Arbocel BWW40®), instead of a control treat without cellulose, diminishes the clinical signs of periodontal disease in dogs. Based on the physical characteristics of cellulose preparation, we hypothesized that treats with cellulose have greater elasticity and induce longer chewing time, leading to more mechanical dental cleansing. Approach: Treats without or with cellulose were subjected to bending and pulling tests in which the threshold before fragmentation, expressed as required force, was determined. The treats were also used in an experiment with dogs to determine chewing times. Results: The addition of cellulose to the treats raised the forced needed for bending and pulling until fragmentation by 12 and 99%. The inclusion of cellulose into the treats raised chewing by dogs of medium-sized and large breeds by 16 and 11%. In small-breed dogs chewing time was not affected by cellulose. Conclusion: The inclusion of the cellulose preparation into the treats induces a resistant and elastic texture which promotes chewing. It is suggested that the cellulose-containing treats maintain contact with the tooth surface which provides effective mechanical cleansing, explaining the observed improvement of periodontal disease in dogs.