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Open wide: Pets need proper dental care too

adam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:37:56 +0000

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Doggie breath is no joke. It may be the first symptom that could lead to a more serious health problem.

The American Veterinary Dental Society says more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop gum disease by age 3. February is Pet Dental Health Month, and was established to raise awareness of the importance of a good dental health for pets.

Just like humans, pets can get periodontal disease, says Dr. James Bowen at the Island Animal Hospital on Marco Island. “Once they get plaque, it can cause gum disease just like in people. Bacteria can then get into the blood stream and affect the kidneys, heart and liver.”

And bad breath is only one warning sign. Some dogs or cats will refuse to eat dry food, or even drop the food on the floor. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re fussy eaters; they might have an abscess making it painful to chew.

“Sneezing or discharge of the nose might actually be an infection in the teeth,” says Bowen.

Red, swollen or bleeding gums indicate a problem as well.

To help avoid a serious problem, there are several things you as an owner can do. Brushing your pets’ teeth daily is optimum, and at least twice a week will result in good maintenance, says Dr. Brent Garrison of Marco Veterinary Hospital.

To make the process less traumatic for your pet, start gradually when they’re young.

“First get them used to you putting your fingers in their mouths,” he says. “Work up to a piece of wet gauze then switch to a soft pet toothbrush.”

The last step is adding toothpaste — either poultry or beef flavored. Don’t use your own toothpaste. Dogs don’t like the foaming and stinging and it may upset their stomachs.

“Dog diet plays a big role,” says Dr. Bowen. Feeding larger kernel dry food with enzymes added help protect the teeth, and using a water additive, something he describes as “doggie Listerine,” will help as well. Also using a sealant product just under the gums seals the enamel and lessens plaque buildup. Give them toys embedded with enzymes that release into the dog’s mouth when chewed.

If you still see yellow-brown plaque on the teeth, a professional cleaning is in order says Bowen.

“For advanced cases we will sedate the animal and use ultrasound to get the plaque off the teeth and go under the gum — in that area is where most of the disease occurs.”

“We see pets all the time with abnormal blood work, but after cleaning their teeth, the numbers are improved,” says Dr. Garrison. “Don’t wait until something is wrong. Bring your pet in at least once a year, ideally twice a year.”

To put it into perspective remember that pets age faster than we do, so if you had your pet’s teeth cleaned every six months, Garrison says that would translate to every 3 1/2 years for people. Not many of us would go that long without seeing a dentist. So next time you make an appointment for your dental checkup, you might want to think of Fido’s teeth, too.

Keeping your pet’s teeth pearly white is more than just cosmetic.

“Don’t view it as an aesthetic problem because it’s not,” says Dr. James Bowen. “It’s an overall health issue.”

Baby on the way? Make time to prepare your pet

adam — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:34:41 +0000

A baby changes everything for a pet — from how its home looks, smells and sounds to what the rules are.

Low energy, friendly, social dogs are the most adaptable pets, while independent, excitable, high maintenance, busybody dogs are the least adaptable, said San Francisco veterinarian and animal behaviorist Sophia Yin.

“Little dogs can be more jealous and more snippy,” said Lynn Sullivan, community health program manager for The BirthPlace at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital.

When Saya Barrett learned she and husband Jack were going to have a baby, she worried that their 15-pound, 5-year-old poodle, Latte, would be jealous.

Instead, Barrett said, Latte “was curious. He could hear her little noises from the crib but had no idea what they were or where they were coming from. He figured it out pretty soon though. He did what any other confused dog would do — looked around, sniffed, then soon found her in her crib.”

Almost immediately, she said, they knew “Latte would be a good big brother” to baby Aila, now 4 months old: “Latte is very good to her. He will lick her hands and feet if we are sitting on the couch together.”

While Latte adjusted easily, Yin said making some changes before the baby arrives can help a pet and ease new parent anxieties.

Maybe your dog needs to learn some basic commands like sit, down or stay, she said. If your dog is used to jumping in your lap or up onto furniture, new boundaries should be set before the baby comes home. Maybe you have to move the cat’s litter box to make way for a crib.

If your dog is uncomfortable around visitors, add some social activities like trips to the dog park.

You can buy CDs or find online recordings of baby sounds, including rattles and cries, Yin said. Pairing noises with treats will make the newness easier to accept.

Use baby powder, shampoo and lotions before the baby is born. While the baby is still at the hospital, take a shirt or blanket the baby has used and let your pet get familiar with the scent, Sullivan said.

A trip to the vet will assure that pets don’t have fleas, parasites or other problems, but cat owners who are pregnant must also guard against toxoplasmosis, Sullivan said. The parasite that causes it is most often found in cat feces, so use gloves or get someone else to change litter boxes.

Cats can be an ideal pet for new parents because they often ignore the baby, but they are also curious and can jump and crawl, Sullivan said, recalling an incident when her son, now grown, was an infant and her cat wouldn’t stay out of the crib. “When she scratched the baby, that was it,” Sullivan said. She immediately found a new home for the cat.

“Infants are helpless,” Sullivan said. “No matter how good-natured a pet is, never leave any pet alone with a baby.”

Yin said when she talks about cats and babies, the same question always comes up — can a cat suck the life out of a baby while trying to lick milk off the infant’s face?

Not true, she says: “Cats will not suck the air from a newborn, but they do like to snuggle up to a warm body.”

Cats don’t like sticky surfaces, so to keep cats away from a crib, cover the outside with sticky paper or double-sided tape.

When babies start moving and crawling, that poses new challenges for pets, especially fearful dogs.

“Their first response is to get away,” said Yin. “As long as they can do that, it’s OK. But when the object keeps coming after them and corners them, they might become defensive.”

Most dogs will accept their new roles as pal and protector, Yin said, but there might be reasons they can’t, don’t or won’t.

Maybe you have an older dog with arthritis. Getting pounced on by a young child could hurt, causing the dog to snap. Dogs may also lash out in response to rough or even mean-spirited behavior from children, like spitting or wrestling. If a dog pants for no reason or won’t lean into a child for a hug, that could be a sign that the dog feels stressed by the child’s presence, Yin said. “Some children are very aggressive with animals and they need to learn early how to treat animals,” she said.

New mothers might also consider a dog walker or even doggie daycare to give everyone a break, Yin said.

Finally, don’t take on a baby and a puppy at the same time. “That,” said Yin, “would be like having twins.”

Random pets tweets for the day

adam — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:05:01 +0000

RT @Stepto: This is why people should not be allowed to keep dangerous exotic pets (via reddit) http://t.co/mPna4WFi – by utterlyannie (Annie )

Helping Kitties Get Adequate Exercise

By Dr. Becker

As my regular readers and visitors to Mercola Healthy Pets… http://t.co/ko1Q9s3E – by AyudaAnimales (Ayudando Animales)

Harley is going on his first walk with @Happy_Pets_ today!!! #joy #happypuppy – by m3lly78 (Melissa Williams)

Major ads coming on Sunday, but we dog lovers cannot wait for THE PUPPY BOWL. Study up on the starting line up. http://t.co/GJnoc242 ^MC – by Periscope (Periscope)

I love meeting new pets! It looks like I may have made a new friend today! – by TickledPinkPets (Tickled Pink Petcare)

An Introduction to Shakespeare in Stratford-Upon-Avon http://t.co/LZvQnk02 – by PeerTravel (peertravel)