results may reflect the difficulty of brushing cats ' teeth. Clinical experience and anecdotal evidence from veterinary dentistry specialists indicate that many cats will not cooperate with toothbrushing, reducing owner compliance [ 14 ]. Knowledge of other passive home-care methods is essential when toothbrushing is not feasible.
The Veterinary Oral Health Council( VOHC) provides prestigious approval of dental products that meet rigorous safety and efficacy standards and are clinically proven to reduce plaque and calculus [ 39, 40 ]. VOHC guidelines enable the promotion of effective products, including formulated diets, chews, and food or water additives.
Dental diets may contain tripolyphosphates and sodium hexametaphosphate, which chelates calcium and prevents plaque mineralising to calculus [ 41 ]. Larger biscuits may further reduce plaque by encouraging prolonged mechanical action( chewing) [ 42 ]. Although long-term efficacy in cats is not fully established, a dental diet can be integrated easily into daily feeding and offers a simple yet effective way to support oral hygiene [ 43 ]. Dental chews are an increasingly popular adjunct, with multiple chewable dental hygiene snacks available [ 5 ]. Their convenient nature makes them practical, but they are calorific and must be accounted for in the cat ' s daily energy allowance, in view of the rising prevalence of feline obesity [ 44 ].
Water additives offer another practical way to support feline oral hygiene [ 35 ]. Aquadent FR3SH( Virbac), which contains pomegranate, inulin and erythritol, claims to have antibacterial activity [ 45 ], but is not VOHC approved, and no VOHC-approved water additives are currently available in the UK [ 40 ]. Ascophyllum nodosum( Norwegian kelp, a type of seaweed) is incorporated into ProDen PlaqueOff powder( Swedencare), a VOHC-approved food additive with anti-plaque and anti-calculus activity [ 40, 46 ]. Food additives are easy to incorporate into daily routines and may support owner compliance when toothbrushing is poorly tolerated by cats.
Barriers to preventative dental care
Education is the foundation of preventing dental disease. To optimise feline dental health, it is crucial to raise awareness of the effects of dental disease on quality of life and encourage the implementation of early preventative measures [ 47 ].
Limited knowledge and a general lack of awareness of dental disease among pet owners is recognised as a significant barrier to compliance with dental home-care methods [ 48 ]. Owners not fully appreciating the impact of poor oral hygiene on feline health and welfare means they are less likely to implement proactive measures. Subsequently, they are more likely to present their cat to the veterinary practice with periodontal disease at more advanced stages, necessitating invasive dental treatment [ 49 ].
The role of the veterinary nurse
Human dentistry emphasises the prevention of disease through consistent oral home care from an early age, whereas veterinary dentistry often adopts a reactive approach.
Enlund et al. [ 50 ], surveying 60,000 Swedish dog owners, found that preventative dental advice was most frequently provided during dental treatment visits. Similarly, Johnston [ 51 ] identified that owners are most receptive to home-care advice following dental procedures for their animals.
Although dental home care cannot reverse established disease or fully prevent feline dental problems( particularly idiopathic cases), its absence increases the severity of periodontal disease [ 36, 52 ].
This highlights an opportunity for veterinary professionals to reframe feline dental care, improving owner compliance and patient welfare. Barriers such as treatment costs and owner reluctance towards anaesthesia for their pets, especially for older cats, often delay intervention until disease is advanced [ 53 ]. Educating owners about managing feline dental health and investing in early diagnosis through regular check-ups may encourage preventative care and an understanding of required procedures such as descaling and polishing, or radiography for TR [ 49, 54 ].
Here, the veterinary nurse ' s( VN ' s) client-facing role is indispensable. Numerous educational tools exist to raise owner awareness of pet health issues [ 55 ]. Providing illustrated leaflets [ 47 ], hosting informational evenings [ 56 ] and offering VN-led clinics [ 57 ] can all enhance client understanding of feline dental disease.
Preventative care should be introduced early, as kittens are more receptive to toothbrushing than adult cats [ 58 ]. Bellows et al. [ 59 ] recommend introducing dental care at initial vaccination visits, with toothbrushing started once permanent dentition erupts. Early intervention will promote lifelong oral hygiene and enable the early detection of dental changes [ 49 ].
Discussions about dental health and care should remain ongoing. Holmstrom et al. [ 7 ] recommend checks every 6 – 12 months, or every 1 – 3 months in cases of established periodontal disease. Routine VN-led clinics provide a supportive setting for owner education and the demonstration of safe toothbrushing [ 60 ]. Frequent check-ups reinforce the importance of prevention, support early detection and improve feline welfare [ 61 ]. VNs should also engage in postoperative discussions about dental care to help owners maintain oral hygiene for their cats, as plaque reaccumulates within 24 hours [ 49 ]. Where toothbrushing is impractical, VNs must advise on alternative, less invasive home-care methods, especially for older cats [ 14 ].
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