The relationship between nutrition and oral-dental health in cats and dogs, and pet owners' awareness of this relationship

As the number of cats and dogs kept at home continues to rise, it is also believed that the rate of irresponsible ownership or inadequate animal care is increasing accordingly. Improper or low-quality feeding causes numerous health and welfare problems in animals, one of which is the deterioration of oral and dental health. The lack of knowledge in this area negatively affects the oral and dental health of our animal companions, creates adverse outcomes for animal well-being, and particularly impacts the sustainability of the relationship that household cats and dogs build with their social environments.In our country, the impact of nutrition on oral and dental health and the awareness of this issue among pet owners is limited. The current study aims to assess the knowledge levels of cat and dog owners regarding their pets nutrition , to determine the possible effects of this knowledge on oral and dental health, and to contribute to information accessibility for all relevant stakeholders, to effective knowledge sharing between veterinarians and pet owners, and to the adoption of proper feeding practices. Especially , the study aims to raise awareness on issues such as animals age-related sensitivity to oral and dental health, the negative effects of dominant feeding patterns on tartar formation and oral health, factors to consider when choosing pet food, and the hygiene and cleanliness of food and water bowls. Another goal is to enhance both the flow of information and clinical service effectiveness in collaboration with veterinarians. The objective of our study is to increase pet owners knowledge levels in order to raise awareness on these matters. It also aims to understand the relationship between pet owners knowledge levels and the oral and dental health of their animal companions through questions directly posed to the owners on an online platform.