Why is dental care so important?
Poor dental care will cause gingivitis and left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. Infection and inflammation spread from the gums (gingiva) to the ligaments and bone that support the teeth. Loss of support causes the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out.
Poor dental care, leading to problems causes your cat an immense amount of pain, it makes eating difficult and needs to be addressed quickly for his sake.
Unhealthy teeth and gums have a greater impact on the body than just causing bad breath, pain, and infection. Bacteria can easily enter the bloodstream, leading to the body mounting an inflammatory response which increases the risk of your cat developing kidney or heart disease.
What are the signs of dental problems in cats?
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Red or swollen gums, especially along the gum line
- Drooling
- Gums which bleed easily, especially when touched
- Receding gum line
- Difficulty or reluctance to eat
How to prevent dental problems
- Regular visits to your veterinarian, which will include an oral examination.
- Daily care of your cat’s teeth at home.
- Regularly check your cat’s mouth for any signs of dental problems. If you notice any of the symptoms above, seek veterinary attention immediately.
- Avoid feeding an exclusive diet of canned food.
How do I care for my cat’s teeth?
It is important to start dental care from a young age so that the kitten becomes used to having his or her mouth handled.
- Regularly brush your cat’s teeth with a pet-specific toothbrush. Never use human toothpaste on animals.
- You can purchase oral care which are designed to reduce plaque and tartar formation.
- Feed raw chicken necks or bones. This is a somewhat controversial topic. In Australia it is quite commonly recommended as a way to reduce plaque and tartar formation, however, there are risks associated with feeding raw bones to cats. Speak to your veterinarian for his/her opinion on feeding raw chicken necks and or bones.
- Regularly feed chunky pieces of raw beef which the cat really has to gnaw on.
Oral care products for cats
Company |
Product |
Type |
Manages |
Availability |
| Hill’s Pet Nutrition | Hills t/d | Diet | Tartar and plaque | Prescription |
| Hill’s Pet Nutrition | Science Diet Adult Oral | Diet | Tartar and plaque | Non-prescription |
| Purina | PURINA PRO PLAN Veterinary Diets DH Dental Health Feline Formula |
Diet | Tartar and plaque | Prescription |
| Royal Canin | Royal Canin Feline Dental Diet | Diet | Plaque | Non-prescription |
| HealthyMouth LLC | Cat: ESSENTIAL HealthyMouth Anti-plaque | Water additive | Plaque | Non-prescription |
| TropiClean | TropiClean Fresh Breath Oral Care Water Additive For Dogs and Cats |
Water additive | Plaque | Non-prescription |
| Virbac |
Aquadent Fr3sh Dental Health
|
Water additive | Plaque | Non-prescription |
| HealthyMouth LLC | Cat: ESSENTIAL HealthyMouth Anti-plaque | Oral spray | Plaque | Non-prescription |
| HealthyMouth LLC | Cat: ESSENTIAL HealthyMouth Anti-plaque | Oral gel | Plaque | Non-prescription |
| Tropiclean | Fresh Breath – Clean Teeth Gel for Cats | Oral gel | Tartar and plaque | Non-prescription |
| Greenies | Feline Greenies Dental Treats | Treats | Tartar | Non-prescription |
| Troy | Plaqueoff | Powder | Plaque | Non-prescription |
| Vetnex | Plaque Control | Chews | tartar and plaque | Non-prescription |
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