Options for Good Dental Hygiene

violetxx

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Hi all,

I've already surfed through previous threads regarding how to keep your cats teeth clean, however I'm wondering if there are any other options besides the few I've come across.

1. Brushing their teeth 

2. Feeding raw chicken wings

3. Greenies Dental Cat Treats

4. Dental Diets Dry Food (Hills, Royal Canine, etc.) 

5. Dental Cleanings

I have a 2-year old (picture above) who has pretty smelly breath and yesterday we were told by the vet during her annual check-up that she has tarter build up and red gums. She is eating exclusively wet food at the moment and we are going to try to get her used to a kitty toothbrush, but the vet wants to put her on Royal Canine Dental (which I really do not want to do). 

I'm nervous about feeding them a whole raw chicken wing, bones and all (I'm scared she'll choke), so if anyone can discuss their experience with this further that would be great 


I'm not a fan of Greenies or Dry food because of ingredients, and if I'm going to sacrifice there health I want to know that these solutions ACTUALLY work.

I do not want to take the risk with a dental cleaning yet, because of the anesthesia (can be dangerous) unless its absolutely necessary. 

I was also wondering about cat treats such as PureBites or something meaty that I could feed as treats, if that may be a possible solution.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated =)  
 

ritz

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Like you I'm not in favor of any of the dental treats; I don't think they work.  Cats tend to gulp dry food, not chew it.

Raw chicken wings:  cats know how much they can chew; they'll spit up bones that are too big or too hard (Ritz likes soft bones, so spit out a piece of Goat bone).  You can break down the bones further by putting them in a baggy and hammering them.  Also, you can try feeding raw chicken gizzards; they are really tough to chew. 
 

txcatmom

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I think (and have read in some very reputable sources) that these are the one type of dental treat that does work .....


They are the size of wine corks and the cats really have to sink their teeth in and chew.  Of course the cats have to like them, but all three of mine did like them.  We used them for a while but they got too expensive to use for multiple cats.  I wish we could still use them though because two of mine have bad teeth and gums.  They did help with breath odor which means they were probably helping keep the mouth clean.
I was also wondering about cat treats such as PureBites or something meaty that I could feed as treats, if that may be a possible solution.
There isn't enough chewing with most meaty treats to help with dental health.  Besides the chicken wings, chicken gizzards are the only meaty treat I've read of that helps with tooth cleaning.  I have one cat who will chew on the gizzards and just by observing him it looks like it would really help. 

Oh, and my vet recommended this....

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produ...content=prod&gclid=CKiH_5uIp7UCFdSnPAodphkA6A

and I've seen this highly recommended at my local holistic pet food store and online....


I haven't tried the food additive route yet, but I might try the first one since my vet gave me a sample. The description of how the second one works freaks me out a bit.
 
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peaches08

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When I first started my cats on a raw diet, I would throw the chicken thigh bone on the floor while deboning. None of them had a problem busting through the bone or in the litter box. The trick is using raw bones. Cooked ones will splinter. Too much bone can cause constipation though.

What about gizzards? Fibrous and chewy, GREAT cleaning power!
 

melesine

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I'm confused by what truly causes and cures dental plaque. I have a 6 year old cat that we adopted last year that is a kibble addict. I can't get her to eat canned food but she occasionally eats raw. I think she was fed meow mix ( I saw the bowl with food in it outside) before we adopted her from the neighbors. Her teeth where filthy. I put her on grain free dry food ( Before Grain chicken) and her teeth are nice and clean and white now.  I've never brushed her teeth. 

We do put filtered water from our Berkey in the pets water fountain so it's chlorine and fluoride free, but I don't know that it makes a difference in plaque formation ?

My boys eat a mix of grain free canned and raw and their teeth are sparkling white but they are all 2 years and under. 
 
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korina

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I can help here.

My girl Korina, pictured to the left had bad breath (real bad) and doctors telling me her gums looked inflamed, unfortunately the first doctor didn't shake me and tell me how serious it was (very lax guy, reason I fired him, she was 6 then).

Then 2 years later, I go to another doctor who tells me clearly she has gingivitis, take her to dental specialist who goes on to extract 5 teeth (one fang, bottom left).

A few years pass and the next new doctor says "sure she needs extractions, but she has a major heart murmur, I need a sonogram(600$) that is done at a specialist (25 min drive) for we knock her out for cleaning/extraction. I got the sonogram(heart disease) and left the teeth alone (they wouldn’t do surgery anyways).

Basically this is how I understand it.
The reason your cat has gingivitis is genetic, for some reason their body gets into a cycle of attacking itself, it attacks the gingivitis which is not going anywhere, and in the process kills the teeth.
This effects a large population of cats from all species equally.


You can try to brush her teeth, but to quote my vet (the one who found the heart issue) "I couldn’t get my cat to take it either" when I told her in near tears that I tried to brush korina's teeth after her first surgery and felt like I was torturing her.

So per my doctor and my opinion, your main tool is teeth cleaning. This costs money and requires anesthesia, upside is you can couple xrays and extractions (if needed) in the bill.

As to prevention, offer up the chicken drumsticks (I don’t like wings, not much meat, my kittens barely touched them, but LOVE drumstick)
As any raw feeders will tell you, the bones are fine.  However if you are worried, the drumstick bone is not going anywhere.


And moreso, the feeding of raw uncut meat (so the cat has to tear at it) will clean their teeth.  So if you have chicken, chunk it up and feed it.  If you can get your kitty to eat supplemental raw (like a drumstick a day, or few ounces breast) it will do him wonders.

And if he does lose his teeth, at least he had a chance to eat like a real cat.

Will that stop gingivitis, prob not, will dental cleaning guarantee her not to lose any teeth, probably not.

My advice, ask your vet if he does dentistry, if he doesn’t, close the book and wrap it up.

If he does, I would be just as skeptical, I have NEVER heard of a dental formula, then again my vets have NEVER told me Rx food ever for anything. (rx food for urinary issues are totally legit).

Its good you are attacking this early, and give it your best shot, just know that the disease will probably win, but I am rooting for your kitty.
 
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