Cats' teeth

[binky]

Do any of the dry catfoods actually help to clean cats teeth? Various expensive things like 'Hills science diet' claim to help, but don't like the price . But I do need to clean one of my cats teeth due to tartar buuild-up - don't fancy the tooth brush option as I like the skin on my arms :^O

Sorry its not cow question but can't fit one through the cat-flap

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Have alooky here then http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq10k4lagvw Go straight to to 6.35.

 

[binky]

Apache needs one of those :^O :^O:^O:^O:^O

 

[Apache]

Binky,

Dry cat (or dog) food does help reduce tartar build up better than wetfood. I personally don't think you need to spend silly money on Hills food - any dry buscuit will have an abrasive effect on the teeth.

Once there is tartar formed on the teeth it's too late. You need to wait until the cats breath stinks or it's gums are red and it will need a general anaesthetic and a dental. The vet will usually use an ultrasonic scaler (like at the dentist) to remove all the tartar.

Once the cats teeth are clean you can do something about it - not once build up has started.

Some vets want to do dentals on cats when there is tartar alone with no smelly breath or gingivitis - probably best practice but way overkill in my mind. I'm not spending my whole week cleaning cats teeth

 

[Andy™]

I'm not spending my whole week cleaning cats teeth

but your happy with a long glove and a cow...

 

[Apache]

but your happy with a long glove and a cow...

It's just so warm in there in winter...............

 

[binky]

One of my cats had a completely rotten tooth at only 4 years old, but she does like wet food more than dry ( and likes feeding twenty times a day if possible - have restricted feeding to once a day now cos she was getting fat). Just never had this problem with any previous cats. Is there really much difference between Iams, Hills and Go-Cat (they prefer go-cat strangely enough), I tend to but premium stuff but was never convinced it is money well spent!

 

[Apache]

One of my cats had a completely rotten tooth at only 4 years old, but she does like wet food more than dry ( and likes feeding twenty times a day if possible - have restricted feeding to once a day now cos she was getting fat). Just never had this problem with any previous cats. Is there really much difference between Iams, Hills and Go-Cat (they prefer go-cat strangely enough), I tend to but premium stuff but was never convinced it is money well spent!

every pet food is perfectly balanced for all the engergy/protein/vitmanins/minerals you cat or dog needs. The price difference comes from the quality of the ingredients and added extras.

The more expensive foods tend to use muscle as protein (as we eat) - cheaper ones use tissue such as lung. Some foods have things like glucosamine in the food for the joints.

TBH i feed my dog whatever I can get for free! I get burst bags for free that can't be sold - she's on Hills Large Breed Puppy even though she is an adult 3y/o patterdale terrier! If I was buying I'd have her on cheap dog food.

The times better quality food would make a difference is when they are puppies and growing quickly or old. There are specific examples of diseases that have a dietary component and we are getting into the realms of prescription food - kidney/liver diets for example.

 

[Apache]

One of my cats had a completely rotten tooth at only 4 years old, but she does like wet food more than dry ( and likes feeding twenty times a day if possible - have restricted feeding to once a day now cos she was getting fat). Just never had this problem with any previous cats. Is there really much difference between Iams, Hills and Go-Cat (they prefer go-cat strangely enough), I tend to but premium stuff but was never convinced it is money well spent!

I saw a brother and sister cat who live together. eat the same food etc and 1 had perfect teeth the other's were awful. There's individual variation and luck in there!