This article was previously published February 24, 2021, and has been updated with new information.

How do you feel about putting your fingers in your pet’s mouth?

Want some dental tips for your cat and dog?

Normally I can safely and happily put my fingers in my horse’s mouth or dog’s but I prize my healthy intact fingers too much to attempt sticking them in a cat’s mouth.

If you happily brush your dog’s or cat’s mouth regularly, congratulations! You’re awesome and your companion’s health is better for it! However, if you’re like many of us, focusing on teeth cleaning isn’t the priority it should be.

For healthy mouths, remember that the right kind of chew bones are a dog’s teeth’s best friend. For more on choosing and introducing the safest and best bones to your feline or canine best friend, see the following article.

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In some cases, raw meaty bones and raw chicken necks for cats aren’t practical or possible for your companion or your lifestyle. I for one don’t love the idea of little Fluffy Kitty hiding under the bed chewing on a raw chicken neck. If I had a heated garage, I might give them a whole Cornish game hen and let them chew and eat it to their heart’s content. But, I don’t. So what’s a furr mother to do?

Lucky for us, there are some marvelous ways of reducing the bacteria that turns to plaque in their mouths.

1) Brushing

Yes, brushing is a great way to get rid of the bacteria and help keep their teeth and gums healthy. Be sure you’re not using a toothpaste with lots of additives like sorbitol or maltodextrin. Here’s some tips from Dr. Karen Becker about introducing toothbrushes to cats that works for puppies and sensitive dogs as well.

2) Sprays and additives to drinking water

“Leba III” is a spray that’s been around since 1994 because it works. Check it out here. Here’s another company/product line to check out: Healthy Mouth I like the ingredients for horses and dogs, but I’m concerned about clove in the feline formula. Clove is not a safe oil for felines. Also, with an additive to water, you might not be able to use it with a water filter if you have a water fountain for your cats or dogs.

3) Powders

I recently discovered that one of my favorite companies, In Clover (makers of “Optagest”) has a lovely “BioBrilliant” Dental Health Powder. I just started my cats on a sprinkle yesterday and this morning. So far so good taste-wise. It’s goat milk based with coconut, green tea, papain, Aspergillus, inulin and other herbs. Check it out here.

4) My Favorite Doggy Dental Hygiene Chews

I’m not a big fan of most of the so called dental chews or “greenies” out there because most aren’t made with very good ingredients, AND, I don’t think they work well at all anyway.

Then, I noticed a friend’s dog at the local dog park one day and asked her how she kept her doggo’s teeth so white and clean.  She told me about OraVet.  They have a dog dental chew bone with a special ingredient delmopinal that is excellent at reducing plaque and tartar.

Delmopinol works to form a preventive barrier that blocks bacteria, and the future formation of plaque and calculus (tartar) that builds up over time.  It also helps reduce bad breath, a nice bonus.

So I tried it with my older Border Collie Timmy and was amazed at what a fantastic job it did.  In short order, his teeth are nicely white, plus, he loves the chews.  And so does his brother lab mix Samwise (although Sam will eat pretty much anything).  The next time we saw the vet for a checkup?  They didn’t even need teeth cleaning.

Not all dogs do well with them, but they are worth a try.  My dogs do very well, with the only side effect being green bits in their poo the next day.

Remember, none of these are a substitution for deep (below the gum) teeth cleaning that you need to have done for your beloveds periodically.

These are suggestions for keeping their mouths as clean as possible between vet visits, just as brushing and flossing is for us between visits to the dentist.

Deep teeth cleaning recommendations range from yearly to every three years, This is done under anesthesia and there needs to be blood work and a health check done before your companion undergoes any procedures requiring anesthesia.

Be aware that some animals are sensitive to anesthetics which can accumulate in their systems. Spread out any deep cleanings/surgeries to be on the safe side and work with a Homeopath/homeopathic remedies to mitigate reactions and side effects.

Although they are harder to find, there are pet dentists who can work without anesthesia.

If you have pet insurance, check to see if your plan covers dental treatment. Not all plans cover dental treatment, but if your plan does, you can save money.

An Animal Communication and healing session can help to determine the condition of your companion’s dental and immune system health. If you’re considering a deep cleaning. let’s do a session to check and prepare them properly. Both of you will be more relaxed that way and less stress for you and your furrkid is always a good thing.

Hope these dental tips for your cat and dog help you out!

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