By: Dr. Hayley Mandrusiak, Veterinarian at Harvest Pointe Animal Hospital
Did you know that between 50-90% of cats over the age of 4 are affected by dental disease? Dental disease doesn’t just cause bad breath and pain but can also negatively impact the health of other organs, such as the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain. The good news is that most forms of dental disease are preventable and treatable! We’ll cover 6 Steps for a Healthy Mouth.
1. Tooth Brushing
Brushing is one of the most effective tools for preventing dental disease when done daily. It takes 24 hours for plaque (bacterial film) to develop on the tooth surface. Within 72 hours, the plaque mineralizes into the hard tartar we can see on the teeth. This is why it is important to brush regularly.
Start by getting your cat comfortable with you handling their mouth and lips. Give lots of praise and treats to make it a positive experience! Once your cat is comfortable with you handling their mouth, you can then introduce the toothbrush or dental wipes. Start gently and gradually build up to longer and more thorough tooth brushing sessions.
2. Diet
Brushing every day may not be practical for many cats. Dental diets are a great alternative to help maintain a daily oral health routine. There are options available at the pet store, such as Science Diet Oral Care or Royal Canin Dental Care, or through your veterinarian, such as Hill’s t/d or Purina Pro Plan DH.
These diets use a few strategies to help prevent dental disease. The kibble has a special texture that helps scrub the plaque off the tooth and mimics the action of tooth brushing. The diets are also made with a nutritional formula that deprives the bacteria of plaque
building blocks. Some of the diets also have a kibble coating that binds calcium in saliva to help prevent tartar formation.
3. Treats
Treats can also be part of your cat’s daily oral health routine. And the best part is your cat won’t even know that their delicious snack is actually good for their health too! As with all treats you offer your cat, be sure that they only make up about 10% of their calorie intake, even if they are good for them. It is important that the majority of what your cat eats in a day comes from a balanced diet to meet all their nutrient needs.
There are many treats available that claim dental benefits. To determine which ones will actually help your cat, look for treats labeled “VOHC Accepted”. These products must submit two scientific studies that support their claims to an independent group of veterinarians and dental scientists to earn the seal of acceptance. This helps you know they will do what they say!
4. Food and Water Additives
For cats with allergies or food sensitivities, dental diets and treats may not be an option. This is where food and water additives can be another great option to support your cat’s daily oral health routine.
Many of these claim to be either flavorless or very yummy, but cats are super detectives and often know when you have added something to their food or water. When introducing a water additive, add the new product to their regular water dish but also offer a new bowl with their regular water, just in case they decide you are trying to poison them. We don’t want our cats to go on a water strike!
5. Regular Checkups
Symptoms of dental disease can be hard to detect at home. In the early stages, you may notice bad breath or see tartar on their teeth. In more advanced stages, cats may have
difficulty chewing, avoid hard foods, drool excessively, or bleed from the gums. Cats are experts at hiding pain and will often continue to eat normally, despite having oral pain.
This is where regular check-ups with your veterinarian can be helpful. A complete checkup includes an oral exam where your veterinarian will assess your cat’s teeth, gums, and mouth for signs of dental disease, or other problems. We recommend annual visits, even for healthy cats, to help catch these early signs of disease.
6. Professional Dental Cleanings
If your cat’s dental disease has progressed, your veterinarian may recommend a dentistry procedure to restore oral health and treat painful teeth. Like when we go to the dentist, your cat’s teeth will be x-rayed, and there will be a thorough examination of their teeth, gums, and mouth. Their teeth will then be scaled and polished. If your cat has teeth with advanced dental disease or that are causing pain, your veterinarian may recommend tooth extraction.
Dentistry procedures do require general anesthesia for your cat’s comfort and safety. It is not possible to fully examine your cat’s mouth and clean under the gumline, where most dental disease exists, without anesthesia. We recommend taking the time to talk to your veterinarian about their anesthesia protocols to help you make the best decision for your cat.
Resources
Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
The VOHC review products for effective plaque and start control. They also have a list of accepted products online: vohc.org
Cat Friendly Homes
The Feline Veterinary Medical Association has tons of resources for cat caregivers, including several articles about caring for your cat’s teeth. https://catfriendly.com/routine-care-grooming/care-cats-teeth/
Alberta Animal Health Source
The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association has many articles on pet health, including dental care in cats. https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/content/importance-dental-care-cats