Dental health test kit aids in preventing common disease in cats

Home-based, health-focused, genetic testing is important now more than ever. DNA information opens up a new world of knowledge, health, and personality, as well as additional bonding for you and your patients. Testing is simply a must for any veterinary professional who wishes to receive actionable insights about genetic disease markers and support the health of cats everywhere through genetic research. (Figure 1)

Basepaws’ mission is to improve the health and well-being of every pet. In 2018, the company launched the world’s first at-home consumer DNA test for cats, focused on delivering health and breed-related actionable insights. Alongside genetic testing for breed and heritable diseases, Basepaws has continued to innovate the genomics space by studying the oral microbiome.

In 2021, collaborating with Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC (canine and feline specialty), DABVP, Basepaws launched a painless, oral swab-based dental health test for cats. The test can be administered by the pet parent at home or at the veterinary clinic, and assesses a cat’s risk for periodontal disease, tooth resorption, and halitosis, based on the state of the mouth’s microbial composition. (Figure 2)

Dental disease affects 50% to 90% of cats over the age of 4 years and 50% of cats suffer from tooth resorption. The Basepaws feline dental health test relies on the comparison of the compositional abundance of a core set of dental disease-related microbes in a cat’s mouth against the compositional abundance of these same microbes in cats known to suffer from periodontal disease, tooth resorption, and/or halitosis. Along with periodontal disease, results from the Basepaws dental health test also can provide an early indication of the cat’s risk for developing systemic illness such as autoimmune disorders, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular problems, and diabetes mellitus.¹

“The cat’s mouth is the gateway into the body. The veterinarian plays a key role in keeping the cat’s teeth and gums healthy. [The Basepaws dental health test] goes far toward a long and comfortable life. Embracing the information gained from knowing the oral biome greatly aids in tailoring specific care for each cat,” said Bellows, in a prepared statement.

Early detection is a major advantage to improving outcomes for feline patients. A visual assessment of the mouth during a routine physical exam can miss 60% of stage 1 to 3 dental disease in cats and dogs.²

Basepaws is revolutionizing patient health with early detection. The Basepaws Dental CatKit includes a single, sterile cheek swab with stabilizing liquid as well as instructions on sample collection. A detailed report of the patient’s oral biome analysis will be available in 4 to 6 weeks outlining the patient’s risk for developing major dental conditions. The report comes with a detailed interpretation guide outlining next steps using the Oral Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment algorithm. Repeat testing is recommended in 3 to 6 months depending on disease severity and changes to diet, lifestyle, and medication.

Basepaws partners with veterinary professionals by bringing together the best in technology, preventive testing, and veterinary care to improve cats’ health for the early recognition, intervention, and treatment of diseases and for personalized pet care.

References

1. Kao D, Yand J, Nisperos S, et al. Development of an oral swab based microbiome test for the detection of feline dental disease. bioRxiv. Preprint posted online April 26, 2021.doi:10.1101/2021.04.23.441192
2. Bauer AE, Stella J, Lemmons M, Croney CC. Evaluating the validity and reliability of a visual dental scale for detection of periodontal disease (PD) in non-anesthetized dogs (Canis familiaris). PLoS One. 2018;13(9):e0203930. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0203930