The Price of a Purr: What a Costly Vet Visit Revealed About My Cat’s Dental Health

My name is Alex, and for the last fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege of sharing my life with cats.

As a veterinary medical writer, I’ve spent countless hours translating complex science into clear advice for pet owners.

I thought I had it all figured O.T. I bought the premium food, dutifully doled out the treats with “dental benefits” printed on the bag, and never missed an annual check-up.

My 7-year-old Maine Coon mix, Leo—a majestic fluff of orange fur and quiet dignity—was, I believed, a perfect picture of health.

That belief shattered in the sterile quiet of an exam room.

“Leo has moderate gingivitis,” the vet said, her voice gentle but firm as she pointed to the inflamed red line along his gums.

“And we’re seeing some significant tartar buildup, especially on his back molars.

If we don’t intervene, this will progress to periodontal disease.”

The words hit me with the force of a physical blow.

Gingivitis.

Periodontal disease.

These were terms I wrote about, abstract concepts for other people’s pets.

Not for Leo.

Not when I was doing everything “right.” The vet’s recommendation was a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment—a COHAT—which would require general anesthesia, full-mouth X-rays, and likely, extractions.

The estimate she handed me was staggering, but it was the feeling of failure that truly stung.

How could this have happened? I was the expert, the diligent owner.

Yet, in the one area I couldn’t easily see, I had been failing my cat.

That day sent me on a journey—not just as a writer, but as a desperate cat parent.

I dove into veterinary journals, owner forums, and product studies, and what I discovered was a landscape of confusion, myth, and marketing.

I realized the approach I—and millions of other loving cat owners—had been taking was fundamentally flawed.

We were all looking for a magic bullet, a single product to solve a complex biological war.

My epiphany didn’t come from a textbook, but from an analogy that finally made everything click into place.

And it’s this new understanding, this new paradigm, that I want to share with you.

It’s the framework that transformed Leo’s oral health and, I hope, will empower you to protect the health and happiness of the cat you love.

The “Magic Bullet” Myth: Why We’re All Losing the War on Cat Dental Disease

My initial reaction to Leo’s diagnosis was to double down on what I was already doing.

More dental treats? A different brand of “oral care” kibble? I scoured pet store aisles, overwhelmed by a dizzying array of products all promising to be the one-stop solution.

This is the “magic bullet” myth: the belief that a single, passive product can defeat dental disease.

It’s a myth perpetuated by clever marketing and our own desire for a simple fix.

But it’s precisely this thinking that allows dental disease to become the most common medical condition seen in cats, affecting a staggering 50% to 90% of felines over the age of four.¹

To understand why this approach fails, we have to understand the enemy.

And the enemy isn’t just “dirty teeth.” It’s a highly sophisticated, living fortress known as biofilm.

The Science of the Enemy: Plaque as a Biofilm Fortress

Within hours of any meal, a sticky, colorless film called plaque begins to form on your cat’s teeth.³

This isn’t just leftover food; it’s a complex, organized community of bacteria—a biofilm.²

Think of it less like a simple stain and more like a microscopic, self-sustaining city of germs building on the enamel of your cat’s teeth.

These bacteria feed on food particles and release acids that irritate the gums, leading to the initial stage of dental disease: gingivitis.⁶

You’ll recognize it as the red, swollen gum line the vet pointed out in Leo’s mouth.

The good news is that at this stage, the plaque is soft and the gingivitis is completely reversible.⁸

The bad news? You have a very short window of opportunity.

The Critical 24-Hour Window

Here is the single most important fact in at-home feline dental care: Within 24 to 48 hours, the soft plaque biofilm begins to combine with minerals in your cat’s saliva and hardens into tartar, also called calculus.²

Tartar is not just hardened plaque; it’s chemically different.

It’s a rock-hard, yellowish-brown deposit with a rough, porous surface that acts like the perfect scaffolding for even more plaque to accumulate.¹⁰

Once tartar has formed, it is like cement on the teeth.

It

cannot be removed by brushing, chewing, or any at-home product.⁵

It can only be removed by a veterinarian using professional scaling instruments.

This is the central flaw in the magic bullet approach.

Most of us, myself included, buy dental products hoping they will scrape away the visible tartar that has already formed.

But these products are designed, at best, to disrupt the soft plaque before it hardens.

We are bringing the wrong tools to the wrong battle at the wrong time.

The Silent Threat of Advanced Disease

When tartar is left to accumulate, it creeps below the gumline, creating pockets between the gums and the teeth.

This is the beginning of periodontitis, an irreversible condition where the bacteria begin to destroy the ligaments and bone that hold the teeth in place.⁷

This process is incredibly painful, but cats are masters at hiding chronic pain.²

They may become finicky eaters, swallow their food whole, shake their head, or simply become more withdrawn, signs that are easily mistaken for normal aging.²

Worse still, the infection doesn’t stay in the mouth.

The bacteria from severe periodontal disease can enter the bloodstream and shower major organs, contributing to serious systemic conditions affecting the heart, kidneys, and liver.²

A painful mouth can literally shorten your cat’s life.

This realization was devastating.

I had been tossing Leo dental treats, thinking I was cleaning his teeth, when in reality I was doing almost nothing to disrupt the daily plaque formation within that critical 24-hour window.

The tartar on his molars was proof of my failure.

I wasn’t just losing the war; I didn’t even understand the rules of engagement.

My Epiphany: A Lesson from Home Security

My deep dive into the research left me more frustrated than ever.

One source would champion a specific diet, another would swear by a water additive, and forums were filled with conflicting anecdotes.

It was a chaotic mess of information with no clear hierarchy.

I felt like I was trying to secure my home by randomly buying different locks, alarms, and cameras without any overarching strategy.

And that’s when it hit me.

The analogy.

Effective cat dental care is not about finding a single strong lock; it’s about building a Layered Dental Defense System.

Think about how you secure your home.

You don’t just rely on a single, “unbeatable” front door lock.

A truly secure home has multiple layers of protection that work together.

First, you might hire a security expert to do a full audit, identifying every vulnerability.

Then, you establish an active defense, like a nightly patrol where you walk the perimeter and check all the doors and windows.

Finally, you install a passive, automated system—motion-sensor lights, security cameras, an alarm system—that works 24/7 in the background to deter threats.

This exact logic applies to our cats’ dental health:

• Layer 1: The Professional Assessment (The Security Audit). This is the non-negotiable foundation. You can’t effectively protect your cat’s mouth without a veterinarian first performing a comprehensive assessment under anesthesia (the COHAT) to identify all existing problems, especially those hidden below the gumline. This gives you a clean slate to work from.
• Layer 2: Active Defense (The Nightly Patrol). This is the daily, manual action you take to physically remove the soft plaque biofilm before it can harden into tartar. This is your most powerful at-home tool.
• Layer 3: Passive Defense (The Automated Security System). These are the products that work in the background to make the oral environment less hospitable to plaque. This layer includes dental diets, treats, water additives, and powders. They support your active defense but cannot replace it.

This framework was a revelation.

It shifted my goal from “finding the best product” to “building the best system.” It gave me a logical structure to evaluate every product and strategy.

It showed me that while I had been investing in Layer 3 (passive defense), I had completely neglected Layer 2 (active defense) and was now facing the consequences with a mandatory Layer 1 (professional assessment).

The Non-Negotiable Foundation: The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)

Before building out the layers of this new system, I discovered a crucial tool that acts as a gatekeeper for quality, particularly for the passive defense layer: the Veterinary Oral Health Council, or VOHC.

The VOHC is an independent organization of board-certified veterinary dentists and scientists that reviews dental products for pets.¹⁸

It’s important to understand what they do and don’t do.

The VOHC does not conduct its own tests.

Instead, manufacturers must submit the results of their own rigorous, scientific clinical trials, following strict protocols.²⁰

If a product’s data proves that it meets the VOHC’s pre-set standards for effectiveness, it is awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance.

This seal is your single best indicator that a product’s marketing claims are backed by scientific evidence.

It acts as a powerful “BS detector” in a marketplace flooded with unsubstantiated claims.

The seal specifies what the product is effective against:

• VOHC Seal (Helps Control Plaque): The product has been proven to reduce plaque by at least 20%.²¹
• VOHC Seal (Helps Control Tartar): The product has been proven to reduce tartar by at least 20%.²¹

A product can carry a seal for one or both claims.

Seeing this seal doesn’t mean a product is a magic bullet, but it means it has passed a high scientific bar and can be a trustworthy component of your Layered Dental Defense System.

With this new framework and the VOHC as my guide, I was finally ready to build a real, effective defense for Leo.

The Layered Dental Defense System in Action

Armed with this new paradigm, I could finally see the world of cat dental products with clarity.

Each product had a specific role to play within a larger strategy.

Here’s how to build your cat’s defense system, layer by layer.

Pillar 1: The Professional Assessment (The Security Audit)

This is the starting point and the cornerstone of all dental care.

You cannot manage what you cannot see.

An annual Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) is the veterinary equivalent of a full security audit of your home.

It’s the only way to get a complete picture of your cat’s oral health and establish a clean baseline for your at-home efforts.

The Necessity of Anesthesia

The number one concern I hear from cat owners—and one I shared myself—is the fear of putting their cat under general anesthesia.²²

It’s a valid worry, but modern veterinary anesthesia is incredibly safe, with extensive monitoring protocols.

And it is absolutely non-negotiable for a proper dental procedure for several critical reasons.²⁴

First, it allows for a thorough, painless, and stress-free examination.

A veterinarian cannot safely and effectively probe the gum pockets of an awake cat to check for periodontal disease.⁸

Second, and most importantly, it is the only way to perform full-mouth dental X-rays.²

The Power of X-Rays: Seeing Below the Surface

The visible part of the tooth, the crown, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Much of the most painful and destructive dental disease occurs below the gumline, affecting the tooth roots and the jawbone.²⁵

Conditions like tooth resorption—a painful process where the cat’s own body begins to destroy its teeth—and abscessed tooth roots are completely invisible to the naked eye and can only be diagnosed with X-rays.⁶

The story of Mickey, a cat whose painful abscessed root from a long-lost tooth was only discovered via X-ray, is a powerful testament to their importance.²⁶

Without X-rays, you are flying blind.

What a COHAT Involves

A COHAT is far more than just a “cleaning.” It is a comprehensive medical procedure that typically includes:

• Pre-anesthetic Bloodwork: To ensure your cat’s organs are healthy enough for anesthesia.
• IV Catheter and Fluids: To maintain blood pressure and provide immediate vein access if needed.²⁵
• Anesthesia Monitoring: A dedicated technician monitors vital signs like heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen levels throughout the procedure.
• Oral Examination and Charting: The veterinarian meticulously examines and probes each tooth, recording findings on a detailed dental chart.²⁵
• Full-Mouth Dental X-rays: To assess the health of the roots and jawbone of every single tooth.
• Ultrasonic Scaling: Using specialized tools to remove the hard tartar from above and below the gumline.²⁵
• Polishing: To smooth the tooth surfaces, making it harder for new plaque to adhere.²⁵
• Treatment: If disease is found, the veterinarian will perform necessary treatments, such as extractions, during the same procedure.

Leo’s COHAT was nerve-wracking for me, but it was the most important medical procedure of his life.

They found and extracted one pre-molar with advanced resorption that was surely causing him silent pain.

The procedure gave us a clean slate and the motivation to build a defense system that would prevent us from ever getting back to that point.

Pillar 2: Active Defense (The Nightly Patrol)

This is your nightly patrol—the most critical part of your at-home care.

The entire goal of this layer is the daily mechanical removal of soft plaque within that 24-48 hour window before it mineralizes into tartar.²

This layer requires your direct, active participation.

Toothbrushing: The Gold Standard

Every veterinarian and dental specialist agrees: daily toothbrushing is the single most effective thing you can do at home to maintain your cat’s oral health.¹

The physical abrasion of the bristles is unparalleled in its ability to disrupt the plaque biofilm, especially at the critical area where the tooth meets the gumline.

Of course, this is often easier said than done.

The idea of brushing a cat’s teeth can seem impossible, and many owners give up after a few failed, stressful attempts.²²

The key is to reframe the task.

You are not “forcing” your cat to endure something; you are “training” them to accept a new, positive routine.

Actionable Guide: The 4-Week Training Program

The Cornell Feline Health Center has developed an excellent, gradual training program that I used with Leo with great success.¹

The process is broken down into manageable weekly steps:

• Week 1: Introduce the Toothpaste. Get a pet-specific enzymatic toothpaste in a flavor your cat might enjoy, like poultry or seafood.³⁰ Never use human toothpaste, as it contains fluoride and detergents that are toxic to cats.¹ Each day, put a tiny dab on your finger and let your cat lick it off. Follow immediately with praise or a high-value treat. The goal is to create a positive association: toothpaste = reward.
• Week 2: Touch the Teeth. Once your cat readily accepts the toothpaste from your finger, start gently rubbing your paste-covered finger along the outside of their canine teeth and gums for just a few seconds, followed by the reward.
• Week 3: Introduce the Brush. Let your cat lick the toothpaste off a pet-specific toothbrush (a small-headed baby toothbrush or a finger brush can also work well).³⁰ Don’t try to brush yet. Just let them get used to the object and taste.
• Week 4: Start Brushing. Gently lift your cat’s lip and, holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, make small, circular motions on the outside surfaces of a few teeth. Start with the back molars, as this is where tartar accumulates most. You only need to brush the outside surfaces; their rough tongue does a decent job on the inside.¹ Keep the session incredibly short—just 10-15 seconds per side—and end with a big reward.

Real-World Tips for Success:

• Find the Right Flavor: I had to try three different toothpaste flavors before I found one Leo was enthusiastic about (he’s a seafood fan).
• Use a Lure: Some owners have great success putting a tiny bit of Churu or another lickable treat on the brush alongside the toothpaste to get things started.³²
• Timing is Everything: Choose a time when your cat is calm and relaxed, perhaps snoozing in your lap. A daily routine helps them know what to expect.³⁷
• Patience, Not Perfection: Your goal is consistency, not a perfect, deep clean every time. Even 30 seconds of brushing daily is infinitely better than nothing.

Dental Wipes: A Viable Alternative

For some cats, a toothbrush will always be a non-starter.

If you’ve given the training a fair and patient try and it’s causing extreme stress for you and your cat, dental wipes are the next-best option.¹⁵

Wipes are textured pads, often infused with dental-health ingredients, that you wrap around your finger to rub on the teeth.

They provide some mechanical cleaning action, but they are less effective than bristles at getting into the small crevices and just under the gumline where disease starts.³⁹

Still, they are a far better option than no active defense at all.

When choosing wipes, look for VOHC-accepted brands if possible, such as:

• HealthyMouth™ Anti-Plaque Wipes for Cats: These carry the VOHC seal for plaque control.⁴⁰
• Skout’s Honor Dental Wipes: These are VOHC-accepted for dogs and use a technology called coactiv+® to help break down tartar. The ingredients are safe for cats.⁴²
• Maxi/Guard Oral Cleansing Wipes: These are often recommended by veterinarians and use a neutralized zinc formulation to reduce bacteria.⁴³

Pillar 3: Passive Defense (The Automated Security System)

This is the layer that works 24/7 to support your active defense efforts.

These products are not a replacement for brushing or wipes, but they create an oral environment that is less friendly to plaque formation.

This is where the VOHC seal becomes your most valuable guide.

VOHC-Accepted Dental Diets

Let’s debunk a common myth: the average dry kibble does not clean your cat’s teeth.⁴⁶

Most kibble shatters on impact, providing little to no abrasive action.

VOHC-accepted dental diets are different.

They are engineered with a specific kibble size, shape, and fiber matrix that resists crumbling.

This forces the cat’s tooth to penetrate deep into the kibble, essentially scrubbing the tooth surface with each bite.¹⁸

The leading veterinary dental diets all carry the VOHC seal for helping control both plaque and tartar:

• Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d® Feline: One of the original and most well-researched dental diets on the market.¹⁸
• Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets DH Dental Health® Feline Formula: Features a unique, crunchy kibble texture proven to reduce tartar buildup and is formulated for everyday adult maintenance.⁴⁰
• Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Dental Dry Cat Food: Utilizes a “brushing effect” kibble and also includes benefits for urinary health and hairball control.⁴⁰

These diets are typically available only through a veterinarian and are intended to be fed as the cat’s primary food source for maximum benefit.

VOHC-Accepted Dental Treats

Dental treats work on a similar principle to dental diets, using a crunchy or porous texture to create mechanical abrasion during chewing.⁵⁰

They are a great way to supplement your cat’s routine and can be used as a reward after brushing.

• Feline Greenies® Dental Treats: The most recognizable brand in this category, Greenies are VOHC-accepted for tartar control. Their effectiveness comes from their crunchy texture and the inclusion of natural oat fiber that helps scrub the teeth.⁴⁰ They come in a variety of flavors, making them a hit with many picky cats.
• Purina DentaLife® Daily Oral Care Cat Treats: These treats are VOHC-accepted for tartar control and are designed with a unique porous texture that allows the tooth to penetrate the treat, cleaning on all sides.⁴⁰
• Other VOHC Options: Whiskas® Dentabites and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Crunchy Bites are also VOHC-accepted for tartar control.⁴⁰

VOHC-Accepted Water Additives, Gels, & Powders

This category of products works chemically rather than mechanically.

They are an excellent, low-effort addition to your defense system, especially for cats who resist other forms of care.

• HealthyMouth® Water Additive and Topical Gel: This is one of the few water additives to earn the VOHC seal for plaque control in cats.⁴⁰ It uses a blend of natural ingredients, including the enzyme papain and antibacterial zinc gluconate, to reduce plaque formation.⁵⁷ You simply add it to your cat’s daily drinking water. Some users have noted that it can cause buildup in pet water fountains, so it may be best suited for regular water bowls.⁵⁹
• ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder for Cats: This unique product carries the VOHC seal for both plaque and tartar control.⁴⁰ It’s a powder made from a specific type of seaweed (
  Ascophyllum nodosum) that you sprinkle on your cat’s food once a day. It works systemically—it is absorbed into the bloodstream and then secreted into the saliva, altering its composition to make it difficult for plaque to stick to the teeth and softening existing tartar.¹⁶

It is crucial to remember the hierarchy of defense.

Passive products are supportive.

They are the security cameras and motion-sensor lights that enhance your security, but they cannot replace the active, nightly patrol of brushing or wiping.

The VOHC-Accepted Product Arsenal for Feline Dental Health

To help you navigate these options, here is a consolidated table of VOHC-accepted products for cats.

This is your go-to guide for choosing scientifically-proven components for your cat’s Layered Dental Defense System.

Product Name	Product Type	VOHC Seal	Primary Mechanism	Availability	Approx. Cost (USD)	Key Considerations
Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d®	Diet	Plaque & Tartar	Mechanical Abrasion	Veterinary Only	$$$ ($9-10/lb)	Requires prescription. Must be fed as primary diet for full effect.
Purina Pro Plan DH®	Diet	Plaque & Tartar	Mechanical Abrasion	Veterinary Only	$$$ (~$8.50/lb) 61	Requires prescription. Patented kibble texture.
Royal Canin® Dental Diet	Diet	Plaque & Tartar	Mechanical Abrasion	Veterinary Only	$$$ (~$8.00/lb) 61	Requires prescription. Also supports urinary health.
Feline Greenies® Dental Treats	Treat	Tartar	Mechanical Abrasion	Consumer	$ ($1-1.50/oz) 62	Very popular with picky cats. Multiple flavors available.
Purina DentaLife® Cat Treats	Treat	Tartar	Mechanical Abrasion	Consumer	$ (~$1.20/oz)	Porous texture cleans multiple tooth surfaces.
Whiskas® Dentabites	Treat	Tartar	Mechanical Abrasion	Consumer	$	Widely available in supermarkets.
Purina Pro Plan Crunchy Bites	Treat	Plaque & Tartar	Mechanical Abrasion	Veterinary Only	$$ (~$3.90/oz) 21	Requires prescription. High efficacy for both plaque and tartar.
HealthyMouth® Water Additive	Water Additive	Plaque	Enzymatic/Antibacterial	Consumer	$$$$ (~$8.75/oz) 63	Easy to use. May not be suitable for pet water fountains.
HealthyMouth® Topical Gel	Gel	Plaque	Enzymatic/Antibacterial	Consumer	$$$$ (~$35/oz) 63	Good alternative for cats that don’t drink much water.
HealthyMouth® Wipes	Wipe	Plaque	Mechanical & Enzymatic	Consumer	$$$$	Combines active and passive defense principles.
ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder	Powder	Plaque & Tartar	Systemic/Salivary	Consumer	$$ (~$11/oz) 21	Works systemically. Easy to add to food. Odorless.

Cost is a relative estimate: $ = Inexpensive, $$$$ = Premium.

Prices are based on online retailers and subject to change.

Your Custom Security Protocol: Putting It All Together

The “best” dental care plan is not a one-size-fits-all prescription.

It’s the most effective plan that you can realistically and consistently implement for your individual cat.¹⁷

Using the Layered Dental Defense framework, you can build a custom protocol that fits your cat’s temperament and your lifestyle.

Strategy 1: The Fort Knox Protocol (Gold Standard)

This protocol offers the maximum level of protection and is ideal for a cooperative cat and a highly dedicated owner.

• Layer 1 (Audit): Annual COHATs with full-mouth X-rays.
• Layer 2 (Patrol): Daily toothbrushing with a VOHC-accepted or veterinary-recommended enzymatic toothpaste.
• Layer 3 (System): One VOHC-accepted passive product, such as feeding a dental diet as their primary food source OR using a daily water additive/powder.

Strategy 2: The Suburban Security Protocol (Balanced & Realistic)

This is a strong, realistic plan for the majority of cat owners who may have a moderately resistant cat or a busy schedule.

• Layer 1 (Audit): Annual COHATs with full-mouth X-rays.
• Layer 2 (Patrol): Daily use of VOHC-accepted dental wipes. Alternatively, commit to toothbrushing at least 3-4 times per week.
• Layer 3 (System): A combination of two VOHC-accepted passive products from different categories to maximize background protection. For example, use a dental diet as 25-50% of their daily food intake AND provide VOHC-accepted dental treats daily.

Strategy 3: The Essential Alarm Protocol (Minimum Viable Defense)

This protocol is for the “untouchable” cat, where any form of active, at-home care (brushing or wiping) is impossible or causes extreme distress.

• Layer 1 (Audit): This becomes even more critical. Plan for more frequent professional assessments. Depending on the cat, this may mean a COHAT every 6-12 months instead of annually.³
• Layer 2 (Patrol): This layer is absent.
• Layer 3 (System): This layer must work overtime. Use a combination of the most powerful VOHC-accepted passive products. The ideal combination would be feeding a veterinary dental diet exclusively AND using a systemic powder like ProDen PlaqueOff®. The key principle here is that a lack of at-home active care must be compensated for with more frequent professional care and a robust passive defense.

Conclusion: A New Baseline for Health and Happiness

A year after Leo’s stressful diagnosis and my deep dive into the world of feline dental health, we returned for his annual check-up.

I was nervous, but I felt prepared.

For the past twelve months, we had followed the “Suburban Security Protocol.” After his initial COHAT, I patiently worked through the 4-week training program.

To my astonishment, he came to tolerate, and sometimes even seem to enjoy, our nightly brushing routine.

We switched his primary food to the Purina Pro Plan DH formula and used Greenies as his special post-brushing reward.

The vet lifted Leo’s lips, examined his teeth and gums, and then looked at me with a smile.

“His gums look fantastic,” she said.

“There’s virtually no inflammation, and the plaque buildup is minimal.

Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.”

The relief was immense.

It wasn’t just about avoiding another huge vet bill; it was the validation that this new approach worked.

More than that, I noticed subtle changes in Leo.

He was more playful, more engaged, and seemed to have a brighter energy about him—anecdotes I’d read in countless success stories from veterinarians and other owners who had tackled their pets’ silent dental pain.²⁴

My journey with Leo taught me that proactive dental care isn’t about guilt or perfection.

It’s about empowerment.

It’s about understanding the real enemy—plaque biofilm and its rapid hardening into tartar—and building a smart, layered system to combat it.

It’s about shifting our mindset from seeking a single, easy product to embracing a consistent, multi-faceted routine.

This is one of the most profound acts of preventative medicine we can provide for our cats.

It’s a daily commitment that directly impacts their comfort, their health, and ultimately, their longevity.¹⁶

By moving beyond the myths and building a defense system tailored to our beloved companions, we can give them what they deserve: a life free from the silent pain of dental disease, and many more years of happy, healthy purrs.

Works cited

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