Tartar Build-Up?

[Beth_10]

I have just recently switched Oliver from dry to wet food and am concerned with tartar build-up. Oliver has always had good teeth and gums and I want to try and keep it that way. Has anyone ever had problems with this and what do you do to combat it?

 

[MaryB & Chester]

I've heard that you could give some lightly cooked chicken gizzards for a treat. They are kinda tough and fibrous and they give the teeth a good workover.
(I haven't tried it. Chester's teeth aren't good enough for chicken gizzards)

 

[BJM]

Pop over to Cat Info and page down to the section "Dental Health".

"Many cats have very painful mouths but show no outward signs of this pain. If you try to brush your cat's teeth in the face of a painful mouth, you will end up with a cat that is scared - along with developing a strong aversion to toothbrushes. If this aversion occurs, you may never get him to accept tooth brushing once you have addressed the painful mouth with your vet.

With regard to frequency, once-daily is optimal. By the time 72 hours have passed, the film on the teeth becomes permanent so shoot for at least every other day."

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

fyi

ental Disease: Long-standing claims that cats have less dental disease when they are fed dry food versus canned food are grossly overrated, inaccurate, and are not supported by recent studies. This frequently stated (among veterinarians and lay people) myth continues to harm cats by perpetuating the idea that their food bowls need to be filled up with an unhealthy diet in order to keep their teeth clean.

The idea that dry food promotes dental health makes about as much sense as the idea that crunchy cookies would promote dental health in a human.

First, dry food is hard, but brittle, and merely shatters with little to no abrasive effect on the teeth. Second, a cat's jaws and teeth are designed for shearing and tearing meat - not biting down on dry kibble. Third, many cats swallow the majority of their dry food whole.

For more information on cats dental issues and brushing etc:http://www.catinfo.org/#Dental_Disease