• Gum disease affects more than 80% of dogs over the age of three and is linked to other major health complications such as heart, liver and kidney conditions.(1)

• Over 50% of dogs are overweight or obese and in need of a calorie-restricted diet,(2) which highlights a need for lower-calorie dental chew options.

• PEDIGREE® DENTASTIX™ Light have been developed by veterinarians and nutritionists at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute.

• PEDIGREE® DENTASTIX™ Light are VOHC-accepted and have been scientifically proven to clean teeth when fed daily. They contain 30% fewer calories,* making them suitable chews for dogs on calorie-controlled diets.

• Find out more about PEDIGREE® DENTASTIX™ Light here.

WALTHAM-ON-THE-WOLDS, UK ─ Mars Petcare launches PEDIGREE® DENTASTIX™ Light, VOHC-approved chews developed by veterinarians and nutritionists at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Mars Petcare’s science centre. They are a lower-calorie addition to the DENTASTIX™ portfolio, scientifically proven to support the oral health of dogs.

Alejandra Filippini, Veterinarian and Science Lead at Mars Petcare, says:

We recognise the importance of at-home dental care routines on the overall wellbeing of dogs and the need for dental chews that could complement a calorie-restricted diet. That is why we are proud to announce the latest addition to DENTASTIX™ portfolio — DENTASTIX™ Light, tasty, low-calorie chews.

More than 80% of dogs over three are affected by periodontal disease (PD), which can not only cause painful abscesses and tooth loss but has been associated with heart, liver and kidney complications.(1) However, owners often overlook the importance of regular at-home oral care to reduce the risk of PD.(3)

Dental chews can play a critical role in supporting a dog’s oral health by helping to reduce plaque and tartar build-up.4 But, with over 50% of dogs overweight or obese and in need of a calorie-restricted diet to reduce the risk of complications (2) owners may not consider incorporating dental chews into their dogs’ daily oral care routine.

That is exactly why Mars Petcare has developed DENTASTIX™ Light, which contains 30% fewer calories than DENTASTIX™ Daily Oral Care.

Alejandra Filippini explains that: “DENTASTIX™ Light can be an excellent lower calorie addition to your dog’s oral care routine. Their chewy, porous texture and active ingredients can reduce tartar build-up by up to 85%, clean hard-to-reach teeth and support gum health, thus, helping to prevent the development of PD.”

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is recognized worldwide as the leading independent pet dental review board. Board-certified veterinary dentists and dental scientists at the VOHC objectively review research and award the seal only to products that meet their high standards.

Read the latest oral health papers on the Waltham Petcare Science Institute website or visit The Webinar Vet for more information.

*per stick vs DENTASTIX™ Daily Oral Care.

References:

1. Kortegaard, H.E., Eriksen, T., and Baelum, V. (2008). Periodontal disease in research beagle dogs--an epidemiological study. The Journal of small animal practice, 49(12):610–616.

2. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. (2023). 2022 U.S. State of Pet Obesity Report.

3. Enlund, K.B., Brunius, C., Hanson, J., et al. (2020). Dog Owners' Perspectives on Canine Dental Health-A Questionnaire Study in Sweden. Frontiers in veterinary science, 7:298.

4. Ruparell, A., Warren, M., and Staunton, R. (2020). Effect of feeding a daily oral care chew on the composition of plaque microbiota in dogs. Research in veterinary science, 132:13–141.
   

About the PEDIGREE® Brand

The PEDIGREE® Brand, proudly part of Mars, Incorporated, is the number one dog food brand in the world, feeding more dogs than any other brand. The PEDIGREE® Brand offers a wide variety of products and formats for dogs at every life stage. The PEDIGREE® Brand is built on an unwavering love for all dogs and a commitment to dog adoption. For more information, please visit www.Pedigree.com.

About Mars Petcare

Mars Petcare is part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. Our almost 100,000 Associates across 130 countries are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets – including brands PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, ROYAL CANIN®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, GREENIES™, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™ as well as the Waltham Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of more than 2,500 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including AniCura, Antech, Asia Veterinary Diagnostics, Banfield™, BluePearl™, Linnaeus, Mount Pleasant, VCA, VES, and VSH. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and Leap Venture Studio accelerator and Companion Fund programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are building a thriving and inclusive workforce reflective of the many pets and communities we serve, privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in. And we choose to fight for our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

About Waltham Petcare Science Institute

Waltham is the science centre for Mars Petcare. Our research teams work across multiple disciplines such as nutrient requirements for pets, the dog and cat microbiome, biomarkers of health and disease, and feeding behaviour. We also support research in partnership with organisations around the world to understand how our relationship with pets can help both pets and their owners to live healthy, happy lives together. The knowledge generated at Waltham is vital in bringing to life the Mars Petcare purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. We take pride in sharing our key findings with the scientific community, enabling pets around the world to benefit from our work. Since our first scientific paper over 50 years ago, we have shared our expertise through over 1700 publications, including more than 600 peer-reviewed journal articles. In addition, our researchers collaborate with some of the world’s most renowned veterinary and nutrition scientists. Find out more at www.waltham.com.