Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Dentifrices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-02
2002-04-02
Fay, Zohreh (Department: 1614)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Dentifrices
C424S048000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06365133
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to products for reducing tartar on the teeth of dogs, and more particularly to a dog chew product which is coated on its outer surface with a dried anti-tartar toothpaste.
Veterinarians have long recommended that dog owners brush the teeth of their dogs regularly in order to reduce tartar build-up, and hopefully prevent or delay the onset of periodontal disease and possible tooth loss. Unfortunately, because dogs do not tend to readily accept this type of activity, only a small percentage of persistent dog owners actually regularly brush their pets' teeth. There is, therefore, a need to make cleansing the teeth of dogs easier so that it is more regularly and frequently performed.
A number of products have been developed over a long period of time in an attempt to address this long-felt need. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,257 to Cagle describes a pet food product in which a slurry is dehydrated and made into a simulated bone for dogs which can help exercise the jaws and gums and help to remove tartar from the teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,447 to Fisher et al. discloses an animal food which is chew resistant and can help remove plaque or tartar from animal teeth. Still another product of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,870 to Scaglione et al., which discloses a process for preparing dog biscuits containing at least one inorganic phosphate salt. The dog biscuits are (hopefully) chewed and/or eaten by the dog with the result that tartar accumulations on its teeth are reduced or prevented. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,209 and 5,407,661, both to Simone et al., describe a pet chew product having a flexible cellular matrix in which is contained a cellulose fibrous material such as corn cob fractions having a mechanical cleansing function, which, when chewed by the pet, is intended to effect a reduction in plaque, stain, and tartar on the pet's teeth. While the foregoing approaches may be meritorious, they involve creating a unique food product, which is a relatively complex and expensive approach, and there is no guarantee that the resultant product will be accepted and actively consumed by dogs.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,011,679, 5,047,231, and 5,114,704, all to Spanier et al., disclose a method of preparing rawhide chew products which contain at least one inorganic pyrophosphate. The rawhide containing the at least one pyrophosphate is intended to be chewed and/or eaten by dogs with the result that future tartar accumulation on their teeth is hopefully reduced or prevented.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,651 to Boyer discloses a health product for the care of teeth of dogs, capable of being chewed or gnawed by the dogs, which contains fluoride, antimicrobial agents, and anti-decay agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,137 to Lambert discloses a small animal prophylactic dental aid having an open-celled foam body with gauze material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,217 to Stookey discloses a method of preventing dental calculus using sequestering agents applied to commercially prepared diets of domestic animals. The sequestering agents form soluble calculus complexes in saliva and dental plaque, thereby preventing the calcificating dental plaques. Sodium hexametaphosphate has been utilized as a preferred sequestering agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,541 to Montgomery describes an animal chew product containing one or more enzymes and substrates for the purpose of generating antimicrobial compounds upon contact with animal saliva, for tartar prevention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,927 to Hand et al. describes a pet food prepared from a fiber containing nutritionally balanced mixtures of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The product has an expanded striated structure matrix which fractures when chewed by a pet, creating a mechanical tooth cleansing function which acts to reduce plaque, stains and tartar on the pet's teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,741 to O'Rourke discloses a chew toy for dogs which is molded from soft pliable threads twisted about one or more strands of twisted or synthetic fibers. The twisted fibers are impregnated with one or more breath freshening or flavoring agents so as to dispose the agent as the dog chews.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,518 to Stookey discloses a chew product containing sodium hexametaphosphate, which is useful against the buildup of dental calculus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,614 to Cyr et al. discloses a food dog bone made of 93% casein, poultry meal, and gelatin, and 7% of an anti-tartar composition used in the control of tartar in domestic animals such as dogs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,614 to Montgomery describes a peroxidase-activating oral care composition including an enzymatic water soluble hydrogen peroxide precursor ad pH adjusting agent. The composition facilitates the rapid release of hydrogen peroxide and results in the activation of a peroxidase enzyme in an oral cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,516 to Deshaies discloses a device for cleaning the teeth of a dog, consisting of brushes, onto which toothpaste is automatically dispensed during a brushing procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,604 to Wolf et al. discloses a pet foodstuff and treatment method for reducing the incidence of dental caries in non-human animals. Xylitol containing foodstuff is used.
Again, it is clear from the foregoing that many different types of products and approaches have been developed to address the problem of dental care for dogs, ranging from unique toothbrushes to unique pet food products, to chew products which contain tartar prevention coatings or additives. However, what is needed is a simple pet chew product which is known to have excellent pet acceptance, is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, and which addresses existing tartar accumulations on pet teeth, in a manner equivalent to manual tooth brushing techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing an edible toothpaste incorporate into a durable dog chew made from pieces of the dried ears of domestic animals. The animal ears, after being obtained from a slaughterhouse, are cleaned, dehaired, and used whole or cut or ground into suitably sized pieces. These suitable sizes vary, depending upon the size of dog being targeted. The ears or ear pieces are then oven-dried to remove moisture.
The dried ear and ear pieces consist primarily of a section of hard-firm ear cartilage with a piece of skin (rawhide) on each side.
The resultant dog chew, comprised of an ear which includes two pieces of rawhide and hard cartilage sandwiched therebetween provides prolonged chewing time over similarly available chews manufactured solely of rawhide, resulting in consequently increased abrasive effect on the teeth surfaces. This effect is enhanced by the addition of a coating of edible toothpaste, especially formulated for dogs, on the outer surface of the chew.
More particularly, there is provided a pet chew product comprising an inner layer of cartilage sandwiched between opposing outer layers of animal skin. The inner layer of cartilage preferably comprises a dried animal ear portion, and the outer layers of animal skin preferably comprise rawhide. Advantageously, a coating of edible toothpaste is disposed on a surface of the pet chew product. The coating of edible toothpaste comprises dental grade silica abrasives, which comprise at least about 10% by volume of the edible toothpaste coating, as applied.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a pet chew product comprising a chewable substance having toothpaste disposed on an outer surface thereof. Preferably, the chewable substance comprises rawhide, and toothpaste is coated onto the outer surface.
In still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a pet toothpaste formula, comprising dental grade silica abrasives, but excluding surfactants. This is an important innovation, because such surfactants, though harmless to humans, are dangerous for pets such as dogs, if swallowed. The pet toothpaste formula further comprises dicalcium phosphate, pumice, and one or more thicke
Fay Zohreh
Kwon Brian-Yong
Stout Donald E.
Stout, Uxa Buyan & Mullins, LLP
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