Using Raw Chicken Necks to Clean Your Cat's Teeth

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, which started as a way for veterinarians to promote the importance of good dental care for pets. In addition to yearly vet checkups and twice monthly brushings, my cat dental care routine includes using raw chicken necks to help clean my cats' teeth. Raw chicken necks are often called "nature's toothbrush," because they massage the gums and help to remove plaque from the teeth.

Keeping your cat's teeth clean is more than just a cosmetic issue. Periodontal disease can spread bacteria through the bloodstream and adversely affect the cat's kidneys, liver, pancreas and heart. It may be necessary to have your cat's teeth cleaned by a skilled vet technician, especially if he primarily eats soft canned food. However, many cat owners and proponents of "raw food" diets for pets are realizing that raw chicken necks can lessen the need for expensive dentistry involving anesthesia. I have an 11-year old cat that has eaten raw chicken necks regularly since kittenhood, and he hasn't needed a professional dental cleaning yet.

How Can a Cat Eat Raw Chicken Necks?

If you've ever watched a cat eat a mouse or gopher, you've seen just how quickly and easily they can devour the whole thing, bones and all. Sure it's gross to us, but catching and eating whole raw prey is a perfectly natural act for a cat. Felines have very strong jaws and teeth, which allows them to crush and chew the bones. Moreover, the bones in raw chicken necks are actually quite small.

Are Raw Chicken Necks Dangerous for Cats?

There are dangers associated with feeding any food to your pet, whether canned, kibble or raw. Those who are against feeding raw chicken necks to cats often cite bacterial contamination as a reason. However, for most healthy cats this isn't an issue because of how their digestive system is designed. Raw food moves through the short digestive tract quickly, and the high acidity level kills most bacteria. Kibble takes much longer to digest, so when feeding your cat raw chicken necks, don't give them kibble right before or after. My cats don't get any kibble on the day they get their chicken neck "treat," and I feed their canned food at least four hours earlier.

It is true that cooked chicken bones are unsafe for cats because they splinter easily and can damage the intestines. Raw bones are soft and flexible, and generally safe if you follow the safety guidelines for handling, storing and serving raw meat (follow the same protocol you would use for your own food). Always be sure to buy your raw chicken necks from a trusted supplier of premium quality meat, preferably organic.

How to Use Raw Chicken Necks to Clean Your Cat's Teeth

Make sure the raw neck is fresh, and not overly cold. I store mine in the freezer and defrost them for 24 hours in the fridge before giving them to my cats. They eat them straight from the fridge, but if your cat prefers its food a bit warmer, you can place the neck in a sealed bag in some warm water for a few minutes. Never defrost or heat the raw chicken neck in the microwave, because this can make the bone brittle and prone to splintering.

For sanitary reasons, I feed my cats their teeth-cleaning raw chicken necks on plastic placemats. If you place the neck in a bowl or on a plate, it will likely get dragged onto the floor. The placemat is easy to clean when my cats have finished eating.

If you have concerns about using raw chicken necks to help clean your cat's teeth, do some more research on the subject and speak to your vet about it. Not all vets endorse feeding raw food to pets, but many others do believe raw chicken necks can be part of a cat dental care routine. You should definitely have your cat examined by a vet before using raw chicken necks as a teeth cleaning aid. You want to make sure your cat is in good health, and that there are no damaged or sensitive teeth, which would make chewing on the hard bones difficult or painful.

Sources:

http://www.rawfed.com/myths/cats.html

http://www.suite101.com/content/why-february-is-national-pet-dental-month-a339512