Your cat cannot brush its teeth, which means he will likely experience periodontal disease at some point in his life. According to Dr. Ron Hines, DVM, Ph.D., nearly every adult can expect to suffer dental problems at some point. Moreover, according to Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM, this is "by far the most common major health problem" for cats. Fortunately, selecting the right foods for your feline friend may allow you to head off---or at least diminish----the severity of most of these troubles.
Cause
"The villain in tooth and gum disease in pets and people is plaques," says Dr. Hines. Food particles, saliva, and bacteria combine in the mouth to form a substance that can carve holes in teeth and gums. According to Dr. Barchas, cats who eat soft foods are at greater risk than those fed a hard, crunchy cat food.
Significance
In cats, as in humans, bad teeth harms far more than appearance. Bacteria lodged in cavities and under the gum line, can spread throughout the body, permanently damaging organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys, according to Dr. Hines.
Untreated dental disease can contribute to or complicate autoimmune disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, spinal disease. It can even cause heart failure. Meanwhile, as Dr. Barchas explains, your cat can suffer from pain, lethargy, emaciation, sinus infections, sepsis, and tooth loss---leading not only to decreased quality of life, but also to decreased lifespan.
Symptoms
The first symptom you're likely to observe is bad breath. Dr. Barchas says that other red flags for dental problems include lethargy, poor grooming, smelly coat, tongue lolling outside the mouth, drooling, weight loss, runny nose, runny eyes, swelling in the face, and difficulty eating.
Prevention
To reduce the incidence of periodontal disease, always feed your cat hard, crunchy cat food rather than the soft, wet kind, advises Dr. Hines. Do not indulge your pet with table scraps. Crunchy food breaks up plaque and stimulates healthy gums.
Your veterinarian may also prescribe specific products if your pet shows signs of developing certain periodontal diseases. Hill's Company produces a dry food called T/D, designed to reduce plaque and tartar. C.E.T. Chews, by VRx Pharmaceuticals, is another specialized cat food that attacks plaque and cleans teeth; in addition, it supplies antibacterial enzymes effective against gingivitis. Consult your veterinarian for the best food for your cat.
In addition to the proper diet, regularly brushing your pets' teeth can improve their long-term dental health "Dry food and chew toys help, but they do not entirely remove tartar at the gum line where dental problems begin," says Dr. Hines. Ask your vet to demonstrate how to train your cat to let you brush her teeth.
Considerations
Some people feed their cats raw chicken necks or bones to abrade plaque. Many believe, however, that it is dangerous to feed raw bones to cats, for fear the bones might splinter and wound or become lodged in the throat or stomach; but raw bones are less brittle than cooked ones. The prudent cat owner will get his vet's opinion before using this controversial method. There is a school of thought that the closer you can get to what the animal's natural, self-caught diet in the wild is, the healthier and happier your pet. Moreover, Dr. Hines warns, hard food should not be given if the cat's teeth are already loose, as it could loosen them further.
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