Cat Food and Tooth Health?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Mr B - 23 Mar 2004 03:00 GMT

We have 3 cats and feed them a combination of Purina Cat Chow and Science Diet Light Hairball
formula. We recently noticed that all 3 of the cats look like their gums are infected. The gums at
the base of their teeth are very red. We know one needs to haev some sort of surgery but didn't
realize it about the other 2.

Is there any known side effects of certain cat foods and increased chance of tooth problems at all?
Also is there any food that is specifically designed to Prevent tooth problems? I know of Friskies
Dental Diet which is supposed to have larger, crunchier pieces so when cats chew them the food
actualy scrapes some of the bad stuff off their teeth. No idea how well it works but I'm open to
any suggestions.

Thanks!

Reply to this Message

Cheryl - 23 Mar 2004 03:43 GMT

> We have 3 cats and feed them a combination of Purina Cat Chow and
> Science Diet Light Hairball formula. We recently noticed that all 3
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks!

I could be totally off here, but dental problems are mostly genetic. Any
of the dry foods with any dental properties at all include an enzyme that
is supposed to break down the bacteria that causes plaque. The options to
the enzymes are brushing your cats teeth, or raw meat that really makes
your cat dig his teeth into the meat which cleanses the bacteria/plaque
off. I've been researching some of the ways to clean a cats teeth vs.
actually brushing them (because I have a ~3 year old who already had to
have a dental for gingivitis) and some of the oxy-type cleaners seem a
really bad idea. Any mouth needs a certain amount of bacteria (ie the
good bacteria) and oxy-type cleaners are going to kill those off, too. I
am not sure if the teeth-cleaner type cat food is this type.

Signature

Cheryl

Reply to this Message

PawsForThought - 23 Mar 2004 04:42 GMT

>From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com

>I could be totally off here, but dental problems are mostly genetic.

I think that's probably true, to a point.

>Any
>of the dry foods with any dental properties at all include an enzyme that
>is supposed to break down the bacteria that causes plaque. The options to
>the enzymes are brushing your cats teeth, or raw meat that really makes
>your cat dig his teeth into the meat which cleanses the bacteria/plaque
>off.

I will say that my cats, who I feed a raw diet, haven't experienced any dental
problems and their vet said their teeth look really good. I think it's the
scissors type action of how a carnivore is meant to chew it's food that really
helps, as well as the enzymes from the raw meat. I don't think eating a canned
diet or kibble diet really can exercise the jaw and teeth properly. I know
cats that I've had in the past who I fed kibble to didn't really seem to chew
it, but more like they just swallowed it. I think in the case of a cat on a
commercial diet, tooth brushing can definitely be beneficial. The problem is
that you've got to start when they're young to get them used to it.

>I've been researching some of the ways to clean a cats teeth vs.
>actually brushing them (because I have a ~3 year old who already had to
>have a dental for gingivitis) and some of the oxy-type cleaners seem a
>really bad idea. Any mouth needs a certain amount of bacteria (ie the
>good bacteria) and oxy-type cleaners are going to kill those off, too. I
>am not sure if the teeth-cleaner type cat food is this type.

Interesting. I know I"ve seen something in the pet store for their teeth that
you add to their drinking water. Is that the oxy-type cleaner you're talking
about?

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

Reply to this Message

Cheryl - 24 Mar 2004 00:18 GMT

> Interesting. I know I"ve seen something in the pet store for their
> teeth that you add to their drinking water. Is that the oxy-type
> cleaner you're talking about?

Could be, or similar. The stuff Shamrocks vet sold us is only available
from vets. I'm not putting it in the water anymore after someone explained
about the bacteria factor. I'm trying to get him used to having his teeth
brushed and we're very slowly making progress. He HATES it.

Signature

Cheryl

Reply to this Message

PawsForThought - 24 Mar 2004 01:46 GMT

>From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com

>about the bacteria factor. I'm trying to get him used to having his teeth
>brushed and we're very slowly making progress. He HATES it.

Good luck, lol. Mickey and Meesha hate it too when I brush their teeth. I'm
always on a quest for a better toothbrush. Even got the CET cat one but it's
still not easy.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

Reply to this Message

Cheryl - 24 Mar 2004 02:07 GMT

>>From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> teeth. I'm always on a quest for a better toothbrush. Even got the
> CET cat one but it's still not easy.

That's the one I got. I'm just really uncoordinated trying to work with
small things like that little CET toothbrush. But it does fit his teeth
better than some of the alternatives.

Signature

Cheryl

Reply to this Message

PawsForThought - 24 Mar 2004 14:30 GMT

>From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com

>>>From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>small things like that little CET toothbrush. But it does fit his teeth
>better than some of the alternatives.

Yeah I think that's probably the best one there is. I tried one of those kind
you put on your finger except it actually had regular toothbrush bristles
instead of the rubber type bristles. But it was still too big for a cat's
mouth.
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

Reply to this Message

GAUBSTER2 - 24 Mar 2004 15:57 GMT

>From: darnit7@aol.comnolitter (PawsForThought)

>>about the bacteria factor. I'm trying to get him used to having his teeth
>>brushed and we're very slowly making progress. He HATES it.
>
>Good luck, lol. Mickey and Meesha hate it too when I brush their teeth. I'm
>always on a quest for a better toothbrush. Even got the CET cat one but it's
>still not easy.

Now wait a minute, Lauren. I thought your cats don't need their teeth brushed
since they are fed a raw diet which supposedly keeps their teeth "clean".
Which is it? This is a serious question and I would like a serious response,
not one of your insults, please.

Reply to this Message

PawsForThought - 24 Mar 2004 18:42 GMT

>From: gaubster2@aol.com (GAUBSTER2)

>>From: darnit7@aol.comnolitter (PawsForThought)
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>Which is it? This is a serious question and I would like a serious response,
>not one of your insults, please.

Fair question. They really don't need their teeth brushed. Honestly, I don't
see the gunky stuff I used to see on my previous cats back teeth. But I brushed
my last cats' teeth and so when I got Mickey and Meesha, I wanted to start them
early when they were kittens. After I switched them to a raw diet, I figured I
should still brush their teeth in case they ever did need it, they wouldn't put
up such a fight. Plus I tend to be somewhat of a neurotic mom to them, so I do
brush their teeth when I trim their claws :)

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

Reply to this Message

GAUBSTER2 - 25 Mar 2004 00:41 GMT

>>Which is it? This is a serious question and I would like a serious
>response,
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>do
>brush their teeth when I trim their claws :)

Thank you for your reply. That makes sense. :)

Reply to this Message

GAUBSTER2 - 23 Mar 2004 08:30 GMT

>From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com

> Any
>of the dry foods with any dental properties at all include an enzyme that
>is supposed to break down the bacteria that causes plaque.

Nope. If a food doesn't carry the VOHC seal, it doesn't have dental
properties. Foods such as Hill's t/d and Science Diet Oral Care don't have
"enzymes" and those foods are quite effective at cleaning away plaque, tartar,
and stain. Hexametaphosphate (if that's what you're referring to) isn't what
it's cracked up to be.

>The options to
>the enzymes are brushing your cats teeth, or raw meat that really makes
>your cat dig his teeth into the meat which cleanses the bacteria/plaque
>off.

Meat does this?? ????

Reply to this Message

Steve G - 23 Mar 2004 16:31 GMT

> >From: Cheryl jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Nope. If a food doesn't carry the VOHC seal, it doesn't have dental
> properties.

Nope. If a food doesn't carry the VOHC, it hasn't been submitted to
the VOHC for approval. It could still have dental properties - but you
don't know for sure.

Having said that, if you get stuff stamped with the VOHC seal, then
you know it has passed some sort of criteria.

http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products.htm

From the section on protocols:

"The minimum difference required between changes in "mouth mean score"
(mean of all tested teeth for all animals in the group) comparing the
product group with the negative control group is 10% reduction in the
plaque or calculus score in each trial (20% for a product containing a
chemical anti-plaque agent), AND a statistically significant
difference (p<0.05) in each trial. Data are to be reported as means ±
SD. Statistical significance is to be determined using a two-tailed
test. "

This actually allows for plaque / calculus accumulation in approved
diets; the crux is that the accumulation needs to be less than in a
control mouth.

Steve.

Reply to this Message

Sunflower - 24 Mar 2004 14:36 GMT

> We have 3 cats and feed them a combination of Purina Cat Chow and Science Diet Light Hairball
> formula. We recently noticed that all 3 of the cats look like their gums are infected. The gums at
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks!

Have all of your cats been tested for immune disorders such as Feline
Leukemia and Feline Aids? One of the secondary symptoms of these diseases
is inflamed gum tissue. Even if they were tested when you first acquired
them, a second test could be in order. We had a beautiful snow white tom
come in who had been hit by a car. We immediately tested him to see if he
was positive for either before we committed time and a lot of money on
rescuing him. He was negative on both counts and we had him put back
together. After two months at my house in my guest room, it was time for
him to go back to the shelter and be visible enough to find a home. He
found a wonderful woman who was going through a divorce and fell in love
with him. She had him for a couple of weeks and then took him to her own
vet for a healthy pet checkup. Good thing she did, because he tested
positive for FeLk. She did more testing to make sure it was an accurate
diagnosis, and then she learned as much as she could about the disease and
opted to keep him for as long as she was able. It's truly a love match, for
better or worse.

Reply to this Message

Rate this thread: