Oral hygiene
Periodontitis (serious gum infection) will develop in almost all animals fed commercial diets.
Dogs
- Diet texture can be a major contributing factor, with gingivitis and dental deposits being most extensive when dogs are fed soft diets.
- Dogs fed at least 2 raw bones or tails per week have proven to maintain good oral hygiene.
Cats
- Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet consists only of prey.
- Evidence indicates that almost every meal must consist of chewy. raw meaty bones.
- Frequency of gum massage and teeth cleaning needs to be at least once per day.
- This corresponds with the mineralisation of plaque beginning within 24-48 hours of deposition.