A Postbiotic Positively Shifts the Canine Oral Microbiome

Abstract

The oral microbiome is an important aspect of overall oral health in dogs. To investigate the ability of a postbiotic, canine oral health postbiotic (COHP), to support oral health, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with a dirty tooth model to assess its ability to reduce volatile sulfur compound (VSC) producing microbes that cause halitosis and modulate canine oral microbiome composition. Ten client-owned dogs were randomly split into 2 groups. The groups received either the COHP or a placebo as a powder topper on food for 7 days. Oral microbiome samples were collected on day 0 and day 7 along with the buccal gingival margin. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)-producing colonies were quantified by plating the oral microbiome samples and counting pigment-producing colonies. Additionally, oral microbiome samples were sequenced, and taxa abundance was quantified. A trend toward a reduction in H₂S-producing colonies was observed in the COHP group (P = .06), but not in the placebo group (P = .9). Canine oral health postbiotic reduced the abundance of 9 times as many taxa as the placebo, including taxa that form biofilms and produce VSCs. The placebo reduced the abundance of only one taxon, which is not associated with biofilms or VSCs. The findings provide evidence for COHP's ability to promote a positive shift in the canine oral microbiome, and, together with previous results, provides evidence that it may broadly help to maintain canine oral health.