Question:
I have a 4-year-old neutered cat that is fed a diet of raw and cooked meats: some cooked corn for treats and some canned cat food (made with byproducts). He also receives a veterinarian-prescribed multivitamin tablet. He stays exclusively indoors.I'm concerned about his teeth. I think he has the beginnings of dental resorption disease. My previous cat had this problem that necessitated many extractions.Would you please suggest a care/feeding regimen that would complement cleanings at the vet and might reduce or reverse this problem? I have read that this is prevalent in cats and that the cause is not well understood. Could it be a calcium deficiency?.
B.P., White Plains, NY Aug 03, 2008
Answer:
Your cat is quite young to be having such a serious dental problem called periodontal disease.Keep the teeth clean by providing thin strips of raw beef-shank-bone meat, beef heart or raw chicken-wing tips and plenty of skin. Eliminate the corn. Try to get your cat used to your finger, wrapped in wet gauze, rubbing along his gums with a few drops of oil of cloves and thyme soaked in the gauze.Fish oil (up to a teaspoon per day) could significantly subdue and prevent the inflammatory disease. You may wish to have your cat tested for diabetes, feline leukemia and immunodeficiency disease that can lead to chronic infections and inflammatory conditions. A daily nutritional supplement like Platinum Performance Feline Wellness may also help. This is available only via veterinary referral (1-800-553-2400). Inflammatory agents from diseased gums, along with bacteria, can cause serious secondary health problems. As in humans, there may be a similar link in cats between obesity -- where inflammatory molecules are produ
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