The Influence of Feeding on Oral Health in Dogs and Cats, Large Population Study
World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress Proceedings, 2007
Jerzy Gawor1; Katarzyna Jodkowska2, DVM; Grzegorz Kurski3, DVM, ELWET; Wojciech Korczynski4, PhD, DVM; Michal Ceregrzyn5, PhD, DVM
1Polish Small Animal Veterinary Association, Poland; 2Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw Agricuktural University, Warsaw, Poland; 3Small Animal Hospital, Warsaw, Poland; 4Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jablonna, Poland; 5Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jablonna, Poland

Context

The problem of periodontal diseases is often encountered, thus, effective prevention is an important challenge. The data obtained during Pet Smile Campaign show the oral health status in Polish dogs and cats.

Objectives

Mandibular lymph nodes, dental crowns, and gingiva were assessed together with type of feeding (dry and wet commercial food, home made food, and mixtures).

Key Messages

The study was performed on 15441 dogs and 5688 cats. Majority of dogs are fed by mixture of commercial and home made food, while cats were mainly fed with wet commercial food (Table 1). The type of food had significant influence on oral health (Table 2). The prevalence of advanced changes was less frequent in dogs and cats feed with dry food in comparison to home made food.

Conclusion

Feeding with dry food should be recommended as a part of preventive measures for periodontal diseases in dogs and cats.

Table 1. Types of feeding of dogs and cats.

Type of food

Dogs

Cats

Only dry

20.8%

20.2%

Only wet

15.4%

43.9%

Mixture of dry and wet

2.6%

8.3%

Mixture of home made and commercial

46.6%

22.2%

Only homemade

14.9%

5.4%

Table 2. Percentage of dogs and cats with advanced periodontal disease.

 

Dogs

Cats

 

Enlarged
lymph nodes

Severe
gingivitis

Abundant
tartar

Enlarged
lymph nodes

Severe
gingivitis

Abundant
tartar

 

Total (whole population)

 

3.1%

9%

13.3%

2.9%

8.8%

9.5%

 

Type of feeding (within the feeding group)

Dry

0.9%

4.1%

5.7%

0.6%

4%

3.5%

Homemade

8.1%

19.6%

26.2%

10.4%

24.4%

26.3%

Speaker Information
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Jerzy Gawor
Polish Small Animal Veterinary Association
Poland


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