Hi everyone. I know I should be brushing Rocco's teeth, but he is such a sweet boy and he gets so upset when I hold his head still. I have been giving him a dental chew every night instead. Is that really enough to keep his mouth healthy, or am I just letting it go? He is 5 and very cuddly, so I hate the idea of a vet cleaning.
Chews help with plaque, but they do not remove tartar below the gum line. For a 5-year-old cat, daily brushing is still the gold standard. I know Skye is deaf in one ear and can be sensitive, but I managed to train her. You can see how I did it in my thread about introducing the brush to a skittish senior. It takes time, but it is worth it.
I am so worried about this because I have two kittens, Loki and Freya, and I am already struggling to keep them from chewing on things. I read somewhere that chews are fine if you pick the right ones. Did you see chews that actually clean vs just tasty? I am not sure if what I am buying is actually doing anything or just being a fancy snack.
I did look at that thread, Melissa, but my vet said Rocco's teeth are fine for now. I just want to prevent problems before they start. Does anyone know if the cost of a professional cleaning is worth it if I just keep up with chews? I found budgeting for the annual dental clean helpful, but it is still a lot of money.
My Maple goes outside a lot and her teeth look great. I think the diet matters more than the brush. I shared some notes in maple's teeth after living outside about what I feed her. Maybe chews are enough if the food is good?
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