Dry Vs. Moist ...

Hi, Sherry
If it's the Hawaiin-sounding fish you're talking about, it's spelled
"Mahi-Mahi." :-)

Yeah! I just looked on the box. It's great stuff. I'm not much of a baked fish
fan, but "Mahi Mahi" is so much fun to SAY, I thought, what the hell, I'll try
it. I thought it was from Hawaii too, but the box says "Peru."

Sherry

"Exocat" wrote

snip tale of woe with dry food

Anyone else had similar kibble troubles?

I hadn't until very recently, when I tried giving the cats Hill's Oral Care,
because Frank has problems with his teeth, and as he is getting older, the
anasthesia for the teeth cleaning at the vet's is getting more and more
risky. So, I tried giving him and Nikki a few pieces of Oral Care with their
evening treat of kibble. Frank's tummy got upset, he vomited several times,
had runny poops and was clearly uncomfortable. And I had only given them two
or three pieces each a day! Well, I stopped giving them the Oral Care.

I also bought kitty toothpaste. The vet said it's enough if the cat licks it
up, as the enzymes will have an effect on the teeth even if you don't brush
them with it. Frank snatched his head away when I shoved some under his
nose. Nikki lapped it up happily. Groan!

--
Marina

Marina said:

I hadn't until very recently, when I tried giving the cats Hill's Oral Care,
because Frank has problems with his teeth, and as he is getting older, the
anasthesia for the teeth cleaning at the vet's is getting more and more
risky. So, I tried giving him and Nikki a few pieces of Oral Care with their
evening treat of kibble. Frank's tummy got upset, he vomited several times,
had runny poops and was clearly uncomfortable. And I had only given them two
or three pieces each a day! Well, I stopped giving them the Oral Care.

You can try Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care if it is available in
your area. It is supposed to keep the teeth clean. When my male cat was
eating it the vet said his teeth were pretty clean.


I also bought kitty toothpaste. The vet said it's enough if the cat licks it
up, as the enzymes will have an effect on the teeth even if you don't brush
them with it. Frank snatched his head away when I shoved some under his
nose. Nikki lapped it up happily. Groan!


I have a similar situation with my two cats. My male Andy will just lap
it up happily. He doesn't have much of a problem with the finger tooth
brush either. Eventually I might even be able to brush his teeth a
little in time. My female cat Mary however doesn't like the toothpaste
as much. She has just gotten to the point where she will even taste it.
So I don't know if I will get to accept it as readily as Andy. But I
hope so.

"Marina" wrote:

"Exocat" wrote

snip tale of woe with dry food

Anyone else had similar kibble troubles?

I hadn't until very recently, when I tried giving the cats Hill's Oral Care,
because Frank has problems with his teeth, and as he is getting older, the
anasthesia for the teeth cleaning at the vet's is getting more and more
risky. So, I tried giving him and Nikki a few pieces of Oral Care with their
evening treat of kibble. Frank's tummy got upset, he vomited several times,
had runny poops and was clearly uncomfortable. And I had only given them two
or three pieces each a day! Well, I stopped giving them the Oral Care.

Thank goodness it isn't just me & mine! Oral was one of the several
Hill's varieties that all upset my boys.


I also bought kitty toothpaste. The vet said it's enough if the cat licks it
up, as the enzymes will have an effect on the teeth even if you don't brush
them with it. Frank snatched his head away when I shoved some under his
nose. Nikki lapped it up happily. Groan!

This is strange. At least 3 vets, and several human dentists, have all
told me over the years that "it isn't what you brush with, it's the
brushing that matters". Given that it's plaque-formation-encouraging
bacteria that need to be removed I'd have to agree with that.

Of course my boys won't have anything near their mouths, unless it's
Real Food, so I'm resigned to annual visits for prophylaxis (instead
of vaccinations).
However, the good news is that cats' susceptibility to decay varies
widely: for instance my moggie Bandit, fed the same food as Pericles
for the last nearly 5 years, still has perfect teeth whereas Peri has
had 4 extractions by age 3.

Snowball the Ragdoll kitten is young & amenable enough to accept
brushing when his new 'pegs arrive (soon) so I'll certainly be
treating him: he's already getting used to fingers-in-mouth play.
Shame my fingers aren't :^))

Best to all

G

Exocat wrote:
This is strange. At least 3 vets, and several human dentists, have all
told me over the years that "it isn't what you brush with, it's the
brushing that matters". Given that it's plaque-formation-encouraging
bacteria that need to be removed I'd have to agree with that.

For humans, I'd agree completely (my sister is a dentist and that's why
I have very good brushing technique...). However, I believe the cat
toothpaste is formulated with enzimes that dissolve plaque. Or at least
that is their claim. It makes sense, since for many of us brushing our
cats' teeth would require a trip to the ER afterwards...

Of our cats only Xoxo has had to have his teeth cleaned, but he is the
oldest (~6 or 7).

--
Victor M. Martinez

http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv