Home care of your cat's teeth will help prevent tooth loss, will freshen the breath, and may actually prolong your cat's life.  Home dental care is easiest if you start when your cat is a kitten, but it can be started at any age.  We started brushing Buddy's teeth at 2 years of age.  Next time you come in, ask for a demonstration.

Some cats that have heavy build-up of tartar, resorptive lesions, or broken teeth will need to have their teeth treated professionally prior to starting home care.  Please call us if you would like to set up an appointment for a dental exam by one of our veterinarians.

We carry several products for feline home dental hygiene.  They are pictured and described below.

For the best results, at least one of these products should be used daily.  Just think if you didn't brush your teeth every day!

 
1.  Brushing teeth.  C.E.T. makes a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for cats.  Do not use human toothpaste since your cat will swallow it and get an upset stomach.  If your cat does not tolerate a toothbrush, you can put the toothpaste on a piece of gauze or even just on your finger and rub it on your cat's teeth.   Also visit the Cornell Feline Health Center website for a how-to video on brushing your cat's teeth.

                 
   Rae brushes Buddy's teeth every morning.          He likes it because he gets a treat afterwards!

2.  Maxi/Guard Oral Cleansing Gel™ is a gel that you rub on your cat's teeth with your finger.  It removes plaque and freshens breath.  Use it on the outside of your cats teeth, especially the cheek teeth.

3.  C.E.T. Chews™ are treats that most cats love.  They contain an enzyme that helps remove plaque from your cat's teeth when he or she chews on the treat.  They come in chicken and fish flavors.  We have to hide these from Buddy and Boo-Boo to keep them from breaking into the bags, since they love them so much!  Your cat should get 1 chew per day.

4.  C.E.T. Aquadent™ is a water additive that fights plaque and freshens breath.  You add a small amount to your cat's water bowl once daily.  How easy can you get?




5.  Hills™ t/d™ diet is a nutritionally complete diet that is designed to remove plaque as your cat eats it.  The pieces are large and as your cat chews them, the pieces break up and the contact with the teeth removes plaque.  t/d can be fed as a sole diet.  Alternatively, it can be used as treats for cats that need a different diet for medical reasons.  Do not overfeed treats!