tips for ORAL HEALTH

My cat is a shelter rescue, and a former stray. he has a sensitive stomache, so I can't put him on a dental food. I also don't dare feed him raw meat. I brush his teeth daily, and add a dr prescribed mouthwash to his water, is there anything else I can be doing for his teeth? They don't look so hot and I don't want to have to pull any in a few years...

Matts mom said:

I also don't dare feed him raw meat. 

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Daily teethbrushing is probably one of the best things you can do for dental hygiene if you don't want to feed raw (with bones). Is there any particular reason why you don't think raw would be a good idea for your kitty?

Remember it's better that bad teeth are pulled than left in.  I agree, I'd much rather my cats never needed teeth removed but they seem to vary hugely in their dental health.  One cat needed teeth removing quite young, another (on the same diet) reached 15 1/2 having never needed a dental, at least not until he was in his last few months and too frail to undergo an anasthetic.

Getting your cat's teeth checked every year is essential, and it's a normal part of the annual checks that go with vaccination here in the UK.

The reason I don't want to feed raw meat is fear of salmonella. I give him cooked chicken and beef, but don't give it raw. The vet says he has grade 1 plaque, so the need for a professional cleaning is likely in his future, but since that's how my last cat died(aneasthetic stopped her heart) I'm afraid to let my new baby go under it yet. I only lost Sassy in February so it's all too fresh. the vet has not mentioned the need to have him done yet, so if I can clean his teeth at home, and keep him away from anesthetic as long as possible I'll be really happy  

A temperature of 75C destroys salmonella, so a quick scald in boiling water should get rid of any on the surface of chicken.  But I do mean quick - part-cooked bones are not good for cats, they should be raw.  My own cat demands a raw chicken wing each day and has done so for almost 4 years.  She's almost never been ill, but she does hide the bones sometimes....

We've discovered something called CET oral hygiene chews for cats.  They are nearly the size of wine corks so they have to be chewed and have a softer texture than most treats.  The design really seems like it would clean the teeth.  I can't say for sure what results we are getting, but the one with the worst breath (and dental problems) does have better breath.  All 3 cats like the taste and are excited about getting the treats.  I give them after tooth brushing.  We are trying to establish tooth brushing but aren't getting much accomplished so it's nice to have the treats as back up. 

I know someone who uses those dental treats for their cat and they really seemed to have helped him.

I was wondering what these chews are.  Here is the maker's web page - note there are TWO types of chews for cats:

http://www.virbacvet.com/Products/DentalHealth/Chews/C.E.T.HextraPremiumChewsforCats.aspx

The hextra ones look like they are smaller.  I like the large size of the other style because they really have to dig their teeth into them...ripping and tearing.  (That is the one advantage of raw food that appeals to me....the ripping and tearing, but we feed canned.)  We found the best price on the bigger ones at amazon.  We order the 96 chew bag for $29.99 and free shipping.  If I give one treat per day per cat that's $30 per month....pretty pricy.  But my sweet Eko is only 1 1/2 and has major tartar build up for his age.    We just started the chews and getting serious about tooth brushing.  We'll see after he gets a cleaning whether things build up as quickly.
 

I'm interested in these dental treats....does anyone know what's in them? Matt has reacted badly to anything with Corn Gluten. (having bloody runs) which is partly why I'm so careful what I feed him.  I think I'll see if my vet carries them, since CET toothpaste is what I use, and he's good with that.....

Well, I went to grab the bag so I could type the ingredients for you and I was swarmed by cats!  There was no way I could sit the bag down without it being ravaged.  The first two ingredients were freeze dried fish flakes and poultry digest.  There was no corn anything, I believe.  Dextrose something and wheat something.....not stuff I'd want in their food, but a little treat I don't mind.  Some websites that sell these types of things will list the ingredients if you need more info.  Just a tip....I've found the things my vet sells are usually cheaper (sometimes much cheaper) online.

Matts mom said:

I'm interested in these dental treats....does anyone know what's in them? 

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Ingredients in the C.E.T. fish flavoured chews:

Freeze-dried Fish, Dextrose, Antioxidants containing: Tocopherols, Ascorbic Acid, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid,

Glucose oxidase (Aspergillus niger), Dried Whey Protein Concentration

Ingredients in the C.E.T. chicken flavoured chews:

Freeze-dried Fish, Poultry Digest, Dextrose, Antioxidants containing: Tocopherols, Ascorbic Acid, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid

Glucose oxidase (Aspergillus niger), Dried Whey Protein Concentration

There's a similar product called Enzadent by Vetoquinol with the following ingredients:

Freeze-dried Fish, Barley Malt Extract, Antioxidants (combining tocopherols, ascorbic acid, natural flavor, citric acid, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, canola and/or soybean oil, potassium sorbate), Dried Whey Protein Concentrate (source of Lysozyme, Lactoferrin and Lactoperoxidase).

Thanks everyone! 

I have spoken to my vet, and they can order these treats in, so I will give them a go. hopefully they will help improve Matt's teeth. If not, well then he'll be getting a cleaning sometime in his future, won't he? lol

Have you tried those little toothbrushes that you slip on your finger to rub a baby's tooth? I would just keep monitoring it and I would also use those enzymatic toothpastes that come in different flavors so that your cat won't be too unhappy.

Those little finger-toothbrushes work well in my experience. I have one for my boys - I just have to remember to actually brush their teeth! I don't do it as often as I'd like.

I can't use the finger brushes...he eats the bristles lol. I have a dual ended brush from the vet though, and if he's being extremely dificcult I'll use the dog end, so that as he bites the brush he get the toothpaste on his own teeth, since he won't let it in his mouth. on a good day I do it with the cat end properly and give them a good scrub