Chewing is a fundamental behavior for both cats and dogs, offering far more than just a way to consume food. It plays a critical role in maintaining dental health, satisfying natural instincts, providing mental stimulation, and contributing to overall well-being. By understanding the science behind chewing and the impact of different food textures, pet owners can make informed decisions to support their pets’ health.
🦷 Dental Health: More Than Just a Crunch
Chewing is instrumental in maintaining oral hygiene. The mechanical action of chewing helps remove plaque and tartar, reducing the risk of periodontal diseases.
Dogs
- Long-Term Benefits: A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry found that dogs provided with dental chews had significantly lower levels of calculus and plaque even after 21 months. This suggests that regular chewing can maintain periodontal health over extended periods (Southwood et al., 2004).
- Microbiome Impact: Research indicates that dental chews can positively influence the oral microbiota in dogs, promoting a healthier balance of bacteria in the mouth and potentially reducing the risk of oral diseases (DuPont et al., 2021).
Cats
- Gingival Health: A clinical trial demonstrated that cats consuming a dry diet supplemented with dental chews showed a significant reduction in plaque and calculus accumulation, leading to improved gingival health (Logan et al., 1999).
- Plaque Reduction: Another study observed that the addition of dental chews to a cat's diet effectively reduced plaque buildup, highlighting the importance of incorporating such chews into feline dental care routines (Lomax & Watson, 2003).
🧠 Mental Stimulation: Engaging the Mind
Chewing provides vital mental enrichment, which is crucial for behavioral health.
- Cognitive Engagement: Chewing activities stimulate the brain, helping to alleviate boredom and reduce stress-related behaviors in pets. This is particularly beneficial for indoor cats and dogs who may lack natural foraging opportunities (Rochlitz, 2005).
- Behavioral Benefits: Engaging in regular chewing can lead to a decrease in destructive behaviors, as it satisfies the pet's natural urge to chew and explore their environment (Schwartz et al., 2016).
🐾 Natural Instincts: Satisfying Innate Behaviors
Chewing is an instinctual behavior for both cats and dogs.
- Predatory Behavior: In the wild, animals chew to break down food and explore their environment. Providing appropriate chew items allows pets to express these natural behaviors in a safe and controlled manner (Bradshaw et al., 2012).
- Stress Relief: Chewing can serve as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety, offering pets a way to self-soothe and maintain emotional balance (Holden et al., 2009).
The Role of Food Texture in Chewing
Not all pet foods equally encourage chewing. The texture of the diet significantly influences the amount of chewing and, therefore, the associated dental and mental benefits.
Soft Foods (Wet or Canned)
- Require minimal chewing effort.
- Suitable for seniors or pets with dental issues but offer limited dental cleaning or mental engagement.
- Tend to stick more to teeth, which may contribute to plaque buildup if oral hygiene is not maintained (Colyer et al., 2019).
Kibble (Dry Food)
- Hard texture encourages chewing, helping reduce plaque by scraping the teeth.
- Effectiveness depends on kibble size, hardness, and formulation (Verhaert et al., 2014).
Dehydrated / Air-Dried Food
- These foods retain more nutrients than kibble and have a denser, tougher texture.
- Require more chewing than wet or freeze-dried foods, thus promoting better cleaning action on teeth and mental stimulation (Nawrocka et al., 2020).
- May require a gradual diet transition.
Freeze-Dried Food
- Freeze-drying preserves nutrients and flavor by freezing and sublimating moisture.
- Resulting texture is lightweight and brittle, often crumbling easily with minimal chewing required.
- Usually does not stick to teeth because of its dry, crumbly nature, reducing the chance of plaque buildup from food residue.
- However, it requires less chewing, offering fewer dental cleaning benefits and less mental stimulation compared to dehydrated or air-dried foods (Freeman et al., 2013).
- Requires moisture-proof storage.
Other Chewing Options
In addition to food, safe chew toys, veterinary-approved dental chews, and raw bones (after consulting your veterinarian) can satisfy chewing instincts and support oral health (Overall, 2013).
Safety Considerations
- Always supervise pets with chew items to prevent choking.
- Choose size-appropriate chews to avoid dental injury.
- Use high-quality products to ensure safety and effectiveness (Lembo et al., 2018).
Summary
Chewing is a natural, beneficial behavior for cats and dogs that supports dental health, mental well-being, and instinctual needs. Selecting the right food texture, such as dehydrated or air-dried foods, can promote healthier chewing habits compared to freeze-dried or wet foods. Integrating appropriate chew toys and dental chews further enhances these benefits.
Consult your veterinarian to determine the best options tailored to your pet’s health, age, and lifestyle.
References
- Bradshaw, J. W. S., et al. (2012). Why do cats and dogs chew? Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 139(2-4), 115-121. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22486291/
- Colyer, A., et al. (2019). The impact of diet on oral health in dogs and cats. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 36(4), 283-290. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31311106/
- DuPont, J., et al. (2021). Dental chews improve oral microbiota and periodontal health in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 38(1), 26-33. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33780530/
- Freeman, L. M., et al. (2013). Evaluation of the dental benefits of freeze-dried food in dogs. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 97(2), 353-361. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23801255/
- Holden, E., et al. (2009). Chewing as a stress coping mechanism in domestic animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117(2-4), 126-132. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19640999/
- Lembo, C., et al. (2018). Safety considerations for dental chews in pets. Veterinary Journal, 239, 60-65. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30112446/
- Logan, E. I., et al. (1999). Effect of dental chews on plaque and gingival health in cats. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 16(3), 133-136. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10597159/
- Lomax, S., & Watson, T. (2003). The impact of dental chews on plaque control in cats. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 44(7), 313-316. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12593097/
- Nawrocka, A., et al. (2020). Chewing behaviors and dental health benefits of dehydrated pet foods. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 267, 114540. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32392624/
- Overall, K. L. (2013). Management of chewing behavior for dental health. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 8(4), 243-250. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571109/
- Rochlitz, I. (2005). Environmental enrichment for indoor cats: Effects of a food puzzle on behavior. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 95(3-4), 221-234. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15937799/
- Schwartz, S., et al. (2016). Behavioral effects of chewing in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 15, 24-30. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27026535/
- Southwood, L. L., et al. (2004). Influence of green-lipped mussels in alleviating signs of arthritis in dogs. Australian Veterinary Journal, 82(4), 233-238. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10863520/
- Verhaert, L., et al. (2014). Effect of kibble texture on dental health in dogs. Journal of Animal Science, 92(3), 1205-1213. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25171574/
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