Basepaws seeks veterinary partners for 2 dental health research projects

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Basepaws announced the launch of 2 dental health research projects. The company is actively recruiting veterinary professionals to take part in studies that are designed to guide ongoing development of its dental health tests for cats and dogs. Basepaws is seeking to meet recruitment targets for a feline stomatitis study, which will support updates to it cat dental health test, and a canine periodontal disease study, which will support the development of a new dog dental health test.

Feline stomatitis research

Stomatitis, also known as Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS), affects 0.7% to 12% of the general cat population.¹ It is a poorly understood disease that makes it a challenge to determine any specific cause(s), along with subsequent appropriate treatment. By the time clinical signs do emerge, a cat is highly likely to have already experienced severe pain and discomfort. Therefore, there is great value in prediagnostic tools that identify signs of its presence sooner.

Basepaws is currently running a clinical recruitment trial to collect samples from cats with periodontal disease and tooth resorption, and now seeks to add cats diagnosed with stomatitis. The goal of this research is to improve the overall sensitivity and specificity of the Basepaws dental test while including a new stomatitis risk assessment.

Canine periodontal disease research

Periodontal disease is a dental condition that is hard to detect in the early stages, making it difficult to diagnose and treat before it leads to tooth loss or other potentially serious health problems.

Basepaws’ new study on canine periodontal disease also centers on clinical data collection with veterinary clinic partners. According to BasePaws, findings will inform the creation of an easy-to-use, painless, and noninvasive canine dental health test for the early detection of periodontal disease that can be administered either by a pet parent at home or by a veterinarian in the clinic.² Earlier detection can mean earlier intervention and better outcomes before the disease reaches an advanced stage.

How to get involved with research at Basepaws

Basepaws is currently looking to partner with veterinary hospitals and veterinary dental specialists on its feline stomatitis and canine periodontitis studies. Participation involves following a simple study protocol for collecting an oral swab sample from qualifying patients, filling out basic screening information for each sample, and sharing patients’ clinical records.

Basepaws offers compensation for every collected sample that matches particular criteria, and it will supply the oral swab collection kits for obtaining both feline and canine clinical samples, which will undergo shotgun metagenomic sequencing.

To sign up for the study, email science@Basepaws.com.

References

1. Lee DB, Verstraete FJM, Arzi B. An Update on Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2020;50(5):973-982. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2020.04.002
2. Periodontal and Stomatitis Research at Basepaws. News release. Basepaws; January 13, 2022.