Study: Insect ingredients can help improve dental health in dogs

A recent study, published in the Journal Insects as Food and Feed and sponsored by Protix, reported a positive impact on canine oral health when using insect ingredients in dog food.

The study, conducted with a diet based on the black soldier fly (BSF), has reported positive effects on dental health and also shows a drop in halitosis that afflicts many of canine companions. According to Protix, the results of the study open up exciting opportunities for pet food manufacturers to develop new applications, from treats and kibble to wet food, that capitalize on the positive oral health message.

During the study,  eight female beagle dogs were fed with two iso-nutritive diets in a cross-over design with two periods of 50 days each. These diets were made using defatted BSFL meal or low ash poultry by product (PBP) meal as the main protein source. The results showed volatile sulfur compound producing bacteria in the dental plaque were reduced and beneficial bacteria such as Moraxella were increased in saliva microbiota.

The study used ProteinX, a protein meal that is produced from the larvae of the black soldier fly, from Protix.ProtixThe study

Periodontal disease is a common health problem in dogs, affecting around 80% of animals over three years of age. It's often first identified through less-than-fragrant breath. Halitosis is the result of proteolytic activity in the mouth, where bacteria breaks down food proteins, amino acids, mucins, oral fluids and cells, generating volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) which are responsible for aggravating periodontal disease and causing a bad odor in the mouth. Halitosis a marker of possible tooth and gum disease, and foul-smelling breath, and it's also a huge turn-off for even the most dedicated dog owners, noted the study.

Sponsored by Protix, the study involved eight female beagle dogs in a cross-over design with half of the animals fed for 50 days either a diet of extruded dry kibble containing poultry byproduct meal or a comparable kibble diet containing ProteinX, a protein meal that is produced from the larvae of the black soldier fly. The dogs were subsequently fed for a further 50 days with the opposite diet. The results were then compared. The inclusion level of ProteinX in the diet was 29.4%. 

Researchers conducted the study at the Federal University of Paraiba (UFBP) in Brazil and reported a 7% reduction in the bacteria that cause VSC that trigger bad breath. The study found something interesting. Typically, bacteria that cause bad breath would be expected to increase when consuming regular food without dental care. The BSF diet, however, appeared to change the bacteria in saliva, according to genetic analysis. The abundance of Moraxella in saliva was increased. The Moraxella group of bacteria is considered a marker of oral health and beneficial for the oral microbiome.

Finally, a panel of blind subjects was asked to evaluate the breath of the eight beagle dogs after 50 days being fed with the BSF diet or a poultry byproduct diet.

Based on an organoleptic intensity scale, which is designed to evaluate bad breath, the dogs fed the BSF diet had a ‘barely noticeable odor,' scoring a 1 compared with a 2 ‘slight but noticeable odor’ for the dogs fed with poultry byproduct meal. The study concluded that a diet based on BSF has the potential to increase dental and gum health and improve canine bad breath. 

New opportunities for pet food manufacturers

Bruna Loureiro, product development manager at Protix, noted the study opens up new opportunities for pet food manufacturers to expand their claims across a number of products, including dog treats and dry and wet food. Pet food products incorporating insect ingredients for oral health have already been brought to the market. ProteinX, said Loureiro, combines palatability with good digestibility, is hypoallergenic and more sustainable, in terms of land and water use and CO₂ emissions, compared with common alternatives. Thanks to its balance of essential amino acids, fatty acids and minerals, it is suited for healthy and sustainable pet food, she said.

"We know that scientific facts are important to our customers and end-consumers in making decisions about their pets’ diets," said Loureiro. "We are committed to working with leading partners to establish a body of factual evidence to allow pet parents to make informed decisions.”

Download the white paper here.