The Influence of Feeding on Oral Health in Dogs and Cats, Large Population Study
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% |