Exploring How the Oral Microbiome Influences Periodontal Disease in Dogs

SUMMARY: Researchers will study the oral microbiome changes over time in a group of dogs and see if any changes correlate with the development of periodontal disease later in life.

THE PROBLEM: Periodontal disease is a common problem in older dogs and it’s understood that oral health plays a major role in overall well-being and quality of life, with poor oral health contributing to systemic disease and reduced nutritional intake. Like humans, the prevalence of periodontal disease in dogs increases with age and leads to reduced quality of life for pets. Compared to other diseases of aging, like cancer and cardiovascular disease, oral health has received far less attention from the research community. It’s important to fill this knowledge gap to improve health and well-being of older dogs.

THE PROJECT: The team will use their colony of Labrador retrievers to characterize the changes in the microbial community inhabiting a dog’s mouth that occur as a dog transitions from the adult (2-5 years old) to senior (>7 years) life stage. Genetic material from microbes living in the oral cavity will be collected on a swab and identified using DNA sequencing technology. The proportion of different microbes such as bacteria and fungi present may change over time and correlate with different health conditions. Whether the abundance of specific microbes correlates with indices of overall dental health such as dental scores and age-associated periodontal disease will be determined. In addition, the impact of dental cleaning on the oral microbiome at different life stages will be assessed. 

POTENTIAL IMPACT: The team expects that a better understanding of the changing microbial environment of the aging dog will identify biomarkers of oral health and potential new therapeutic targets, with the overall goal of improving dogs’ health.


Projected End Date: 12/31/27