Q: I am still wondering why don't cats have such problems?  As I
mentioned, my 14 yr. old cat's teeth weren't as bad as [my ferret s]
at 3.
 
A: So many pussy cat jokes, so little FML space.  Actually, cats do have
the same sort of problems and more; in fact as many as 65 % of cats have
a serious dental problem called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions
that are very painful and destructive.  I suspect your experience was
just random chance: a ferret with worse problems and a cat with fewer
problems than normal.  My cat, the late Bastet, had absolutely horrible
teeth and I was taking her to the vet 2 or 3 times a year in a struggle
to maintain her dental health.  On the other hand, when Lady Noir died,
her teeth were perfect and she only had minor cleaning a couple of times
during her life.  Animals are, first and foremost, individuals, and will
respond accordingly, so don t let one experience taint your reactions to
another.
 
One interesting human study indicated the children of smokers had more
severe deposition of dental calculus and associated periodontal disease
than children of non-smokers.  Cigarette smoke is a known risk factor for
periodontal disease, and apparently second-hand smoke increases that risk
for innocent bystanders as well.  It is possible the pets of smokers fall
victim to this environmental fall-out as well.  Because tobacco smoke
coats exposed environmental surfaces and ferrets run around with their
nose to the ground, it is feasible they get a heavier dose than
experienced by a cat, so suffer more consequences.
 
Q: As far as ferrets go, do you think that smaller, thinner pieces of
kibble would be less harmful, if hardness is the issue?
 
A: Hardness is always the issue, which is why those little blue pills are
so popular.  I don t think a smaller size would make much of a difference
as long as the size required the ferret to crunch it before they
swallowed it.  In a way, it is like asking, Which will do more damage,
chewing pebbles or chewing pea gravel?  Think about it; diamonds are
extremely hard, yet are ground and polished with diamond dust.  It is not
the size, but the hardness.  For kibble wearing down the teeth, I mean.
 
Q: Besides feeding whole animals, would it help at all to feed ferrets
more canned/baby/chicken gravy type food (since hard kibble is part of
the problem)?
 
A: Have you ever tried feeding an animal that wasn t whole?  The food
keeps falling out the back of those only partially intact.  I m not going
to advocate a diet of mushy food to prevent dental wear.  Kibble is a
problem, but until a better solution to feeding ferrets is found, the
reality of life is that ferrets will be eating kibble for some time.  We
are intelligent enough to recognize kibble is a problem.  What we need to
do is to find ways to reduce the impact of kibble on the teeth.  We can
do that by encouraging kibble manufacturers to take steps to soften the
food and make it less abrasive, by softening the kibble ourselves, and by
introducing other foods so kibble is not the only food in the diet.  We
also need to start brushing our ferret s teeth on a daily basis, AND have
yearly dental exams that include cleaning, polishing, and restoration
when needed.
 
Q: How long do you have to boil the pigs' ears--how soft should it be?
 
A: Hard enough to get the job done, soft enough to prevent mayhem.  I can
t give you a boiling time because it varies with the individual ear,
altitude, and even stove.  I boil mine until they are easily folded, but
are not falling apart.
 
Q: Do those Tartar Control Cat Treats do anything?  Does chewing on my
socked-foot help?
 
A: Sorry, my sock-chewing vice has been de-feeted, but I appreciate the
offer of help.  The problem of periodontal disease in pets is rampant;
periodontal disease is considered the most common disease in cats and
dogs, impacting up to 85% of all pets over 4 years of age.  If you look
very closely at the stuff being marketed, nothing is really being done to
make the bad stuff better.  What is happening is some companies see the
potential for profit, so are offering foods and products that are claimed
to reduce tartar and associated periodontal disease.  Catch the trick?
I don t think pet food manufacturers are conspiring to made food that
causes periodontal disease so they can sell cures for the problem.  I
think they just sell stuff that sells.
 
In any case, the claims are actually exaggerated and based more on
comparative studies than on actual effectiveness.  For example, many of
the studies that compare a dry food diet to a wet food diet invariably
conclude dry food diets are healthier for the animal s mouth than the wet
food diets.  If you are a sharp observer, you will immediately know why
this type of study is inherently flawed.  Having a hard time?  Ok, what
if the study was looking at knives?  The conclusion could be that less
damage are caused by 4-inch knives than 6-inch knives.  It never proves
either knife is safe, does it?  It just compares one to the other and
concludes one is safer.  When ANYONE tells you that a dry food diet is
better than a wet one, it may be, but it is just comparatively so and it
says nothing of the actual safety of either food.  That is why pet owners
are told a dry pet food is better for the teeth of the animal, yet tartar
and periodontal disease are rampant.  If dry food worked to clean teeth
and prevent periodontal disease, then it would work.
 
The claims that tartar control treats for pets help reduce dental
calculus are likewise comparative.  The stuff is fed as part of a study,
some degree of comparative improvement is noticed, and the treat is then
labeled as being able to reduce tartar.  How much does it reduce tartar?
Well, not enough because virtually every treat that makes the claim also
has a disclaimer that tells the owner the treat will not prevent tartar
and some type of dental care should be included as part of a complete
oral care program.  I think most are fine as treats, but unless someone
shows me real data testifying to their effectiveness, I won t believe a
single claim.  They probably help a little, but the real solution is to
brush your ferret s teeth and have yearly dental checkups.
 
Q: When brushing, how on earth do you get to those rear-most teeth?
 
A: It is easy once you pull out the front ones.  Boy, I ve been working
on that one for some time.  I think the only think you can do is the best
you can do, and let the vet pick up the difference during the yearly
cleaning.  The really hard one is the molar in the back of the upper jaw.
I am convinced that if I actually clean the back part of it, it was an
accident.
 
Q:  What is the best type of toothbrush?
 
A: The red one; anything red is better.  I m having a hard time figuring
this out for myself.  There is a pet toothbrush with three brushes
designed to clean both sides and the top all at once.  Baby toothbrushes
work fairly well.  I found what looks like a miniature toothbrush, but
it is designed to clean electrical stuff, and it is great.  I ve tried
using long swabs, and they work ok.  Lately, I ve been using small
bottlebrushes.  The ones I use are about 2 inches long and the brush is
about 1/8 inch in diameter.  I just bent the brush part in the middle to
form a double row of bristles.  It is smaller than a toothbrush and the
ferrets don t seem to be so bothered by it.
 
Bob C
Questions?: [log in to unmask]
Communications?  [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 4526]