Benefits of Dental Treats for Cats

Benefits of Dental Treats for Cats
by Jennifer Kvamme



Causes of Bad Breath in Cats
Many cat owners are eventually faced with the realization that their pets have some seriously stinky breath. What they may not realize is that bad breath in cats is a result of serious issues happening in their mouth. When sticky plaque accumulates and tartar builds on your cat’s teeth, bacteria are allowed to grow and thrive in that environment. If allowed the chance to continue unchecked, these bacteria can cause gum disease and infection in the mouth and the rest of the body. This is what causes the bad breath to develop. The cat may even begin to lose teeth and eventually stop eating.

For this reason, it is imperative to monitor the health of your cat’s mouth, and to have his teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. If you are not able to brush your cat’s teeth, or your cat has a tendency to develop tartar quickly, there are other methods available. Specially-developed cat foods, oral rinses and dental treats can be used to help reduce the amount of tartar and plaque buildup.

How Do Dental Products Work?

The action of chewing itself works to prevent the accumulation of large amounts of plaque on the cat’s teeth. Plaque is a film that forms over the teeth, collecting bacteria as it builds and eventually hardening into tartar if not hindered in some way. Because cats don’t brush their teeth on a regular basis, plaque stands a better chance of leading to serious problems.

Cats that are allowed to chew on appropriate products have been shown to have reduced amounts of plaque and tartar. Now, that doesn’t mean your cat will never need a good dental scaling and polishing, but it will help increase the time in between required cleanings, and will keep his mouth cleaner and healthier in the meantime.

In some dental products, a chemical is applied to the chew, toy, food, etc., that reduces the ability of plaque to form and stay on the teeth. Products that are most effective at doing this are allowed to display a seal of approval by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) on the package. The VOHC evaluates various dental health products for pets to make sure they are as effective as they claim to be. The products must demonstrate their ability to reduce plaque or tartar by a certain amount in order to be approved by the VOHC. You can find a list of approved veterinary dental products at the VOHC website.

Full article here: http://www.pet360.com/cat/health/benefits-of-dental-treats-for-cats/r0BE_Tq0_kCpDDbaZThuOg