Dog and Cat Dental Care: Look Beyond Crunch
PARTNER Editorial Team
A happy mealtime is easy to notice. Oral health takes a more deliberate routine: home care, appropriate products and veterinary checks.
Build a routine with your veterinary team
The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends regular toothbrushing between professional cleanings, with daily brushing preferred. Ask your veterinary team to demonstrate a method your pet can tolerate and recommend suitable supplies. Patience matters, especially while a pet is getting used to mouth handling. Read the AVMA’s dental-care brochure.
After the demonstration, agree on a realistic place and time for practice. Keep the instructions with your supplies so everyone in the household follows the same approach. The goal is a routine you understand and can repeat, not a collection of products you rarely use.
Choose dental claims you can check
The Veterinary Oral Health Council reviews submitted evidence for products intended to control plaque, tartar or both. Its Seal of Acceptance is specific to the product and the demonstrated benefit. Check the VOHC website and accepted-product lists when discussing dental products with your veterinarian.
Our practical takeaway: do not treat the word “crunchy” as evidence of a dental benefit. A freeze-dried meal’s texture describes the eating experience; a dental claim needs its own support. PARTNER meals and treats should not be used as replacements for your pet’s dental-care plan.
Eating normally does not replace an exam
Dental problems can involve areas below the gumline that owners cannot evaluate at home. The AVMA recommends veterinary oral checks at least annually, and sooner for concerns such as unusual chewing, dropping food, bleeding, mouth pain or reduced appetite. Handle a painful animal cautiously. See the AVMA’s signs to watch for.
Your next-checkup checklist
- Ask what home care fits your pet’s current mouth health.
- Bring the names of chews or dental products you use.
- Describe any changes in chewing or mealtime behavior.
- Ask when the next oral assessment should happen.
Count dental treats in the food routine
If a recommended dental product contributes calories, include it when you record the day’s food. Our healthy-weight guide shows how meals and extras fit into one daily plan.
Written by the PARTNER Editorial Team for general education. Your veterinarian can help apply this information to your pet’s individual needs.