Pet Food Processing - November 2023 - 62

TRENDS
top and bottom, as described by Roetheli. This patented
design helps clean and floss a dog's teeth from all angles.
" We combine this geometry with a specific range of
hardness to floss and scrub teeth to deter tartar accumulation, "
he said. " Our treat is very different from most
other dog dental treats for it is the revolutionary shape
and hardness that accounts for deterring and removing
tartar as opposed to specific ingredients. "
Mars Petcare's GREENIES brand also takes shape and
texture seriously, utilizing ridges and a chewy texture to
help clean pets' teeth. The brand offers dental treats for
dogs and cats formulated with natural ingredients, as
well as vitamins, minerals and nutrients, to clean down
to the gumline, reducing tartar and plaque buildup, and
freshening breath.
69% of pet parents are interested in pet treats
that carry functional health benefits, and
To support pet oral
health, Bocce's
Bakery uses allnatural
and limited
ingredients, like
coconut and mint,
in its Brushy Sticks.
Antelope Pets
21% of new cat and dog treat products launched in 2022
claimed an oral health benefit and/or tartar prevention.
" In addition to looking to dental treats to effectively
help with their pet's oral care health, pet parents still
want other things from their dental treats - something
that helps them to bond more with their pets and they
can feel good about giving them, " said Edwin Padilla,
marketing director for GREENIES, Mars Petcare, St.
Louis. " The ideal dental treat is made with quality ingredients
that their pet will enjoy and is effective at improving
their wellbeing. "
Many dental treats and chews on the market are approaching
the category through either innovative textures
or shapes.
Pet's Best Life's Yummy Combs® dog dental treats
boast a unique design - a " hexagonal hockey puck " on
the perimeter with an " interior cell of a bee's nest " on the
Leveraging ingredients
Others are approaching oral health from an ingredient
perspective, focusing on active, natural or limited ingredients
to provide a benefit.
Bocce's Bakery's Breath Bites and Brushy Sticks are
made with all-natural and limited ingredients, including
coconut and mint for breath freshening benefits, and
do not contain any artificial flavors or fillers. Sister company
Ark Naturals' Protection+ Brushless Toothpaste
Chews are made with astaxanthin, an antioxidant that
boosts antibodies already present in a dog's saliva to
build up a barrier preventing plaque and tartar from
sticking to teeth.
Zesty Paws, Orlando, Fla., is also utilizing active ingredients,
in addition to a ridged texture, in its oral
health treats. The brand's Dental Bones™ are formulated
with natural ingredients including sweet potato flour,
turmeric and cinnamon, and a postbiotic ingredient
called EpiCor Pets® to help freshen breath, promote gum
cleaning up the FUTURE
According to Antelope Pets, consumer
education is needed in conjunction with
an industry-wide understanding that
dental treats, as well as other dental
care products for pets, should not be
approached as " one-size-fits-all. " Just
as the industry continues to develop
pet foods tailored to specific life stages,
lifestyles and breeds, the dental treat
sector of the industry may need to
embrace this more tailored mindset.
Additionally, newer studies in pet
oral health have begun to dig deeper
into the root causes of dental disease,
revealing an enhanced importance on
maintaining the mouth microbiome,
according to Lindsey Wendt, DVM,
chief veterinary officer of Antelope Pets.
" The main drivers of the changes
in the dental treat sector currently
are based on pet parent demand,
which ends up focusing more on the
cosmetics than the underlying health
of the mouth, " she explained. " From
a veterinary perspective, newer
research is focusing on the impact that
microorganisms, especially bacterial
species, have on the development of
62 PET FOOD PROCESSING | November 2023 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
gingivitis, calcified tartar, and the health
of the tooth itself.
" I expect there to be more of a focus
on oral microbiome balance and its
impact on the health of the oral cavity/
mouth rather than the current focus,
which has been primarily physical
abrasion of the tooth surface or
introduction of antiseptics to decrease
bacterial levels in the mouth, " Wendt
added. " Newer research shows that this
is not an effective long-term strategy as
it kills both the harmful and beneficial
bacteria. "
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
Pet Food Processing - November 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pet Food Processing - November 2023
