Your Thorough Guide To Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Dry Cat Food
What Is Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Dry Cat Food?
Hill's Prescription Diet series is a range of specialty pet foods that meet clinical requirements needed by vets during treatments for various disorders. This cat food is a clinically formulated diet that caters to the many nutritional needs that dogs and cats have during illnesses and diseases.
Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food is targeted towards cats who have dental issues. Dental issues in cats can have far-reaching effects on their bodies. Because cats have specific and complicated nutritional needs, it is recommended that you should give your cats vet-formulated diets that meet all their dietary requirements.
What Dental Issues Can My Cat Develop?
Cats can develop a range of dental issues, just like you can. Oral health is often overlooked in house cats, but it can severely impact their overall health. Most dental problems in cats develop because plaque is accumulated above the gums. This plaque is laden with a host of bacteria.
These bacteria can not only infect the gums, but it can also travel from the mouth to other parts of your cat. Any infections in the mouth can spread to become systemic infections. The most common dental problems that cats get are periodontitis, gingivitis, and tooth resorption.
Periodontitis often starts as gingivitis but becomes periodontitis as it progresses and becomes worse. Both of these diseases are caused by plaque building up on the teeth and then becoming infected as it rots. Tooth resorption is a dental disease where the teeth rot and develop lesions.
What Are Some Signs of Dental Disease in Cats?
One of the most obvious signs of dental disease is bad breath. If your cat's breath is terrible, you should check their teeth. Plaque or tartar is often visible as a discolored layer on the teeth. You could also notice that your cat has difficulty eating and is pawing at their mouth area a lot.
Your cat's teeth can also fall out, and you might notice that they are drooling. If you check their mouth, you can even notice swollen, red, or bleeding gums as well. Finally, your cat can experience weight loss because they have difficulty eating. If you see any of these signs in your cat, it's time for a visit to the vet!
How Does Hill's Prescription Diet T/D Dental Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food Help?
Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Dry Cat Food uses a multi-target approach to support gum disease treatment in cats. Firstly, the kibble itself is shaped uniquely to help remove the tartar or plaque build-up in your cat's teeth. This formula also utilizes a unique fiber matrix technology that prevents buildup as well.
The ingredients in Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Feline cat food cleans your cat's teeth while also providing wholesome, high-quality nutrition. Any infection can harm overall health and immunity as your cat's body fights it off. These are why you need cat food with great ingredients like vitamin supplements, taurine, and minerals.
The Veterinary Oral Health Council also approves Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care cat food as a great way to fight plaque and tartar buildup in cats. This diet is also supported by the Association of American Feed Control Officials to provide complete feline nutrition.
Finally, it contains Hill's S+OXSHIELD, which prevents crystal formation in the urinary system.
How Much Should I Give My Cat?
Your first step in feeding your cat is transitioning your cat off his current food. The best way to do this is to introduce Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care cat food slowly to your cat's life. You can start by keeping some in a small bowl for your cat to graze on throughout the day.
Then, you can introduce this food to your cat's mealtimes. Start by substituting 25% of your cat's current food with Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food. After a few days, increase this to 50%. Once your cat is comfortably eating 50%, increase this to 75% and then 100% with a few days intervals between increases.
The amount of Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Feline cat food you should feed your cat depends on your cat's weight. You can use the following guidelines:
Your Cat's Weight | Amount You Should Give Daily |
6 lbs | 50g |
8 lbs | 65g |
10 lbs | 75g |
12 lbs | 85g |
14 lbs | 95g |
16 lbs | 105g |
18 lbs | 115g |
If your vet has provided special instructions to feed your cat, you should follow them instead of this. Always listen to your vet's advice when giving any prescription food or medicine to your cat.
What Does Hill's Prescription Diet T/D Dental Care Dry Cat Food Contain?
Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Dry Cat Food is made of the following ingredients:
Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Powdered Cellulose, Pork Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Calcium Sulfate, Lactic Acid, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Calcium Carbonate, Iodized Salt, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Cat Food AAFCO Approved?
Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food has been tested on cats using AAFCO procedures. These trials have shown that this cat food gives your cat everything he needs to meet feline dietary needs.
Do I Need a Prescription to Buy This?
This is a clinically formulated cat food used for cats currently being treated for gum disease or those who are being monitored by a vet for dental issues. You need a prescription to buy Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care. If you think this food is an excellent fit for your cat, you should speak to your vet about getting a prescription.
How Should I Store This Cat Food?
When you get your bag of Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Dry Cat Food, you should store the kibble separately in an airtight container. Make sure you keep this in a place where your cats can't steal food! You don't want your cat overeating and getting sick. This food is best stored away from heat or moisture to ensure maximum freshness.
Can I Give This to My Other Cats?
This food is perfectly safe to feed to your other cats, so if your other cats ate some of this food, it should be fine. However, this is a prescription diet. Thus, you should speak to your vet before allowing your other cats to eat this. Do not give your cats any prescription food or medication that is not meant for them without speaking to your vet.
Can I Give This to My Dog?
You should not give your dog cat food in general, as cat food is more nutritionally dense than dog food, and it is of a smaller size. Your dog is likely to end up overeating, which can lead to obesity and a host of issues in the long run. Do not give your dog any prescription food that is not meant for him.