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PMI LabDiet® Introduces Primate Diet
Formulas with DentaGuard™
PMI® LabDiet® is pleased to offer
the research community our new DentaGuard™ primate diets which prevent dental calculus formation as well as provide complete, balanced nutrition.

Plaque accumulation, gingivitis and calculus formation are serious health problems in primates housed in research facilities.

DENTAL CALCULUS:                       
golddot.gif (69 bytes) is a contributing factor of periodontal disease.
golddot.gif (69 bytes) is associated with gingival inflammation.
golddot.gif (69 bytes) forms routinely and continuously in most primates. Captive animals have a higher prevalence of periodontal disease than animals living in their natural habitat.
golddot.gif (69 bytes) interferes with the normal removal of dental plaque during mastication and serves as a physical irritant to the gingival tissues.
golddot.gif (69 bytes) may result in overall deterioration
of health.

PMI® LabDiet® has the licensed rights to the patented formulation process for a sequestrating agent that helps prevent the build up of dental calculus in primates. DentaGuard™ is formulated with a sequestrant that solubilizes calcium and plaque to prevent the calcification of dental plaque, thereby reducing tooth decay and gum disease. This sequestrant is more effective at inhibiting dental calculus formation than the most commonly used

 compound, soluble pyrophosphate, which acts as a crystal growth inhibitor.
Research experiments demonstrating the efficacy and safety of the active ingredient in DentaGuard™ were conducted at an AAALAC approved facility at the Indiana University School of Dentistry. The active ingredient in DentaGuard™ was shown
to be significantly more effective at preventing calculus formation than soluble pyrophosphate. It is important to note that the dogs and cats used in these early efficacy studies received prophylactic dental cleanings prior to each experiment.

Dental calculus formation was reduced by approximately 60% and 50%, respectively, in lemurs (ring-tailed and collared) and baboons receiving DentaGuard™ diets for just seven and one-half weeks. This trend continued for the length of the study (six and one-half months). Another study in cynomologous macaques demonstrated that the active ingredient in DentaGuard™ maintained gingival health and prevented calculus formation over a six month treatment period. All animals received prophylactic dental cleanings prior to the start of the studies, which appears to be important in ensuring the efficacy of DentaGuard™. A study in squirrel monkeys demonstrated that the active ingredient in DentaGuard™ is most
effective at preventing dental calculus formation following dental cleaning.

DentaGuard™ has no toxicological or pharmacological side effects from ingestion. The active ingredient in DentaGuard™ is accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).

Of course, DentaGuard™ has no effect on diet palatability. Field tests on PMI® LabDiet® primate diets with DentaGuard™ were conducted as AAALAC approved facilities at the University of South Alabama and the University of Washington Regional Primate Research Center. The DentaGuard™ diets were accepted as readily as the control diets by the squirrel monkeys and macaques respectively. No clinically significant changes in body weight or blood chemistry values were measured in the animals receiving DentaGuard™ fortified diets.

At LabDiet®, we strive to provide innovative products that meet the needs of the research community and are proud to introduce our new primate diets with DentaGuard™.

Primate DentaGuard™ Formulas now Available from LabDiet®
Old World Primate with DentaGuard™ and New World Primate with DentaGuard™ have been added to the primate diet formulas offered by PMI® LabDiet®. These two new products have been especially formulated to include DentaGuard™, the dental calculus reducing ingredient that is exclusive to PMI® LabDiet®.

Research has demonstrated that diets fortified with DentaGuard™ reduce dental calculus formation and help maintain gingival health in lemurs (ring-tailed and collared), baboons, and macaques. DentaGuard™ has no toxicological or pharmacological side effects and no effect on diet palatability.

Old World Primate with DentaGuard™ is a 20% protein, constant-nutrient diet containing 10% crude fiber. The high fiber content assists in maintaining optimum gastrointestinal condition in mature Old World non-human primates, such as macaques and baboons. This product is an extruded peanut biscuit (2" x 1" x 1/4").		 New World Primate with DentaGuard™ is a 20% protein, constant-nutrient diet, especially formulated for New World primates such as squirrel and owl monkeys. As you would expect from LabDiet®, it is fortified with all the required nutrients, including stabilized vitamin C and vitamin D3. This product
is an extruded mini-biscuit
(1/4" x 1/4" x 1").

Old World Primate with DentaGuard™ is product code 5LG1 and New World Primate with DentaGuard™ is product code 5LG2. Please use those codes when ordering and referring to these new LabDiet® products.

 

 Research has demonstrated

that diets fortified with

DentaGuardTM reduce

dental calculus formation

and help maintain gingival

health in lemurs (ring-tailed

and collared), baboons,

and macaques.


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