AboutKC Expertise I can answer questions related to feline and canine diet including questions regarding ingredients, by-products, nutrients, raw diets, brand named products, etc. I can also answer questions related to pet health, behavior, grooming, and general animal management.
***Before asking a question, please read my past answers as they will more than likely answer your question:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Food-3490/indexExp_83830.htm
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Experience I have done research on the relationship between feline diet and feline diabetes due to my personal experience in dealing with one of my own cats. I am a pet lover and always have numerous cats and dogs. I believe in feeding a high quality and by-product free diet. Diet alone cured my diabetic cat as well as either cured or significantly helped many others.
Education/Credentials Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences and years of
experience working as a Veterinary Technician
Expert: KC Date: 4/26/2008 Subject: My cat's teeth
Question QUESTION: Hey there
My cat's teeth have gone yellow and smelly awfully . what on earth should I do , I just don't know . actually I'd tried to brush them (with special cat brush) but they started bleeding awfully though I was doing it really gently . Vets say I should have it cleaned in the clinic . I once did it actually but soon teeth got yellow again ! you see they tranquilize him so I kinda dislike doing it regularly . it will affect his health to tranquilize him each year wont it ?!
I'm gonna furious . the other cat of mine eats bones so his teeth are so clean though he's much older that this specific cat of mine . but this one refuses to eat bones . you see vets told me that those cats who chew bones would not have teeth problem .
What do you recommend ? please help ! what is gonna happen to the cat in the case I don't have his teeth cleaned regularly ? OK he'll have false teeth soon , and they'll possibly wont last . so what ? will it lead to any serious problem !? please help!
Soheil from Iran
ANSWER: Hi Soheil,
Based on your description of your cat's teeth, I think he probably needs to have a complete dental cleaning at your vet clinic. If much tarter has built up on the teeth, then the cat needs to be sedated for them to be properly cleaned. It's actually much better for the cat to be sedated for a dental cleaning than go any length of time with dental problems, as it can cause peridontal disease, abcessess, possible tooth loss, among other problems. When a cat's teeth become yellow and the breath becomes foul, it's usually too late to try to feed bones to help them. It usually requires a vet visit. However, immediately after having them cleaned, you can first try to encourage the cat to eat raw foods (chicken, beef, and pork). You can mix small portions of them with the food that you normally feed, then increase the amount of raw and decrease the cat food. You can also mix small portions of fish or fish juice (tuna juice) with raw. Once the cat has decided that he/she likes raw, then you can start trying to encourage them to eat bones. In addition, switching to a premium food such as a kibble that doesn't contain sugar or corn-based products, will also help decrease the chance of dental problems. If your cat is having buildup on his/her teeth so frequently, you may want to switch cat foods...cheap foods are bad for the teeth in addition to a cat's overall health. More premium foods, especially raw, don't cause tarter to buildup on the teeth so quickly, as they don't contain junk ingredients.
Hope this helps!
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QUESTION: Thank you . raw food you said ? well , isn't it harmful for their health generally ? some vets have been telling me not to feed any thing raw to my cats .
I just want to know , what would happen to his teeth in the case I just do nothing and let it be the way it is ? will it cause some very serious problems then ? Iean , OK what is the next stage ? he wont have teeth any more or something ?
Answer Raw food is quite healthy for dogs and cats. Many vets do not recommend it, as they would much rather promote the sales of commercial foods...many of which they profit from. I recommend feeding a premium food that contains NO grains or by-products, as they are harmful. However, raw is perfectly safe including the bones...just be sure to feed NO fish bones and only feed RAW bones. Cooked bones will splinter and are quite brittle. If you do nothing to his teeth, they will worsen...you will be facing gum disease, infection (sometimes to the point that it can not only cause tooth loss but loss of bone), pain, and even systemic infections (such as the bacteria getting into his bloodstream which could cause possible sepsis and death. It's not a good thing to leave bad tarter buildup on teeth...and it's mainly due to the diet that we feed them. Animals who eat raw and premium foods their entire lives have little to no dental problems. If he refuses raw and you go with a premium canned and dry cat food (one that DOES NOT contain by-products or grains...the label must specify this) then it will certainly help prevent future dental problems. However, I think that his teeth will probably need to be cleaned now...then immediately start a better diet as to keep his teeth clean and decrease the chance of him having to have them cleaned again so soon.
Please read some of my past AllExperts answers for further information on food brands, feeding schedule, and proper supplementation when feeding raw. There are also articles on how to switch to a raw diet.
