I would like you to address the issue of diet and dental disease. I only feed my cat K.T. canned food. She loves it and will have nothing to do with dry food. Plus, I think the canned food is better for her.

Several of my pet-owning friends say that I’m doing harm to her, that the canned food will make her teeth worse. They say she needs dry food to help prevent bad teeth. I disagree with them. What is the truth?

Many veterinarians, including myself, were taught that dry food was better for the teeth because of the abrasive action of the pellets against the teeth. However, clinical experiences during the last few years have shown this to be a myth. For example, just about every pet needs its teeth cleaned at least once a year, yet most of these pets are eating dry food.

Obviously, the dry food is not preventing dental disease. I see no difference in the amount of dental disease regardless of diet.

Several references I consulted on diet and dental disease agree. In the textbook Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, the editors say, “Although consumption of soft foods may promote plaque accumulation, the general belief that dry foods provide significant oral cleansing should be regarded with skepticism.”

New recommendations on feeding cats encourage wet food to increase water consumption and to decrease the chance of diseases such as diabetes.

The best thing you can do to control dental disease is to regularly brush your pet’s teeth and have a professional cleaning whenever needed.

— Dr. Shawn P. Messonnier is a veterinarian and pet care advocate.