Newsletter

Dental care is vital to your pet's health! If you've already established a dental care program for your pet, you're off to a great start. But if your pet hasn't received a dental exam from your veterinarian, it's time to get started. February is National Pet Dental Health Month, the perfect time to schedule a dental exam for your pet and develop a home care regimen for your best friend.

Why is dental care so important for your pet? Periodontal disease is the number one diagnosed problem in pets - by the age of two, more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have periodontal disease in one form or another. The buildup of plaque and tartar on your pet's teeth leads to bacterial infections that can enter the bloodstream and infect other parts of your pet's body. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, osteoporosis and other problems.

The good news is that periodontal disease is easily prevented. Routine dental cleanings and a home dental care regimen can eliminate the plaque and tartar that lead to gum disease and oral infections. During a dental cleaning, your veterinarian also performs a complete oral examination of your pet. This includes screening for oral cancer, broken teeth and cavities. Spotting these problems early on makes them easier to treat and improves your pet's overall oral health.

Your pet's dental cleaning is more involved than the same process you go through at the dentist's office. Anesthesia is required to keep your pet still and comfortable during the procedure. Because of this, your pet undergoes a thorough physical examination before each dental cleaning. Laboratory blood tests, as well as other diagnostic procedures are also used to screen for potential problems and risks before anesthesia is administered. Using these results, we develop a safe anesthetic protocol specifically for your pet.

During a dental cleaning, tartar is removed from your pet's teeth with a hand scaler. Next, a periodontal probe is used to check for pockets under the gumline - where periodontal disease and bad breath start. An ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gumline and a curette is used to clean and smooth the teeth under the gumline and in the crevices. Finally, the teeth are polished and an anti-bacterial solution is used to help delay future tartar build-up.

Dental care doesn't end in your veterinarian's office. Brushing your pet's teeth at home is an added level of protection against gum disease. In order to be most effective, brushing must be done at least three times a week; however, daily brushing is ideal. Brushing your pet's teeth can be supplemented with antiseptic rinses. Some pet foods and treats are also effective in preventing plaque and tartar buildup. However, there is no substitute for regular brushing and professional dental cleanings.

Schedule a dental examination and cleaning for your pet today. Your best friend will thank you!

One of the reasons why dogs make such good pets is the remarkable way in which they can communicate with humans. Pet dogs see us as an extension of their own canine family and are very quick to interpret our own mood and intentions. An understanding of how dogs communicate with other dogs helps the observant owner to correctly decipher the message their pet is trying to convey.

Dogs communicate with other dogs through a series of signals that include a variety of facial expressions, body postures, noises and scents. Your dog uses his mouth, eyes, ears and tail to express his emotions. By reading the combination of body signals, you should be able to work out who is top dog in any confrontation or situation.

A dog who is feeling confident or aggressive may try to convey the impression of being a larger more powerful animal. He stands tall with ears and tail erect, thrusts his chest forward and may raise the hairs around his neck and along his back (his hackles). He may also wave his tail slowly and growl.

A submissive dog, on the other hand, will try to appear small and puppy-like. Adult dogs will chastise puppies, but they do not attack them. A submissive dog approaches a more dominant dog from the side, crouching low with the tail held low and wagging enthusiastically. The submissive dog may also try to lick the hands and face of the dominant dog (or person) and if this is not sufficiently appeasing, he might roll on to his back. While on his back, he may pass a small amount of urine.

The dog's tail is often a barometer for emotions. Most people recognize the loose, free tail wagging that is indicative of friendliness. Exaggerated tail wagging is often seen in subordinate dogs. A tail waved slowly and stiffly, in line with the back, expresses anger. When the tail is clamped low over the dog's hindquarters, it is a sign that the dog is afraid. Anxious or nervous dogs' tails are often stiff and drooping.

Some dog breeds have a distinctive way of carrying their tails. The Whippet and the Italian Greyhound naturally carry their tail in the clamped down position In general; however, a tail that is held more than 45 degrees to the spine expresses interest and alertness.

The facial expression of your dog tells you a lot about his mood. He can look anxious, excited, frightened, playful or any one of a vast repertoire of emotions.

Your dog's ears are erect when he is alert or listening intently. When the ears are held back or flattened onto the head, this could signify pleasure, submission or fear. To read his mood correctly, you need to watch for other body signals as well.

The eyes may be narrowed or half-closed when your dog is showing pleasure or submission, but are wide open when aggressive. In the wild, the pack leader can maintain control simply by staring at a subordinate animal. The two animals continue to stare at each other until one challenges the other or until one lowers his head and turns away. If the staring continues after the submissive dog has looked away, he may feel confused and bite out of fear. If eye contact is not broken, the dominant dog will reinforce his threat by snarling, growling or even attacking. You should not try to out-stare your dog if he has aggressive or nervous tendencies as this could provoke an attack. Nevertheless, regular, gentle eye contact with your dog is necessary as it reinforces the relationship.

Submissive dogs as well as certain dog breeds (Labradors), may appear to be 'smiling' and show their teeth in a lop-sided grin of friendliness. In the snarl of aggression; however, both lips are drawn right back to expose most of the teeth and it is often accompanied by a growl.

A dog will indicate his desire to play by raising a front paw or by performing the play bow. This gesture is often accompanied by barking in order to attract attention. Other gestures for play include offering a favorite toy or object, or bounding up to another dog in order to initiate a chase.

NOTE: This advice is in no way meant to replace the advice from your veterinarian. PLEASE consult your veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the best care for your orphan kitten.

Determine the age of the kitten to see if it needs to be bottle fed or if it can go directly to soft food.

• Eyes closed, ears folded over: kitten is in the vicinity of 1 to 14 days old
• Eyes open, kitten moves but is wobbly: kitten is about 2-3 weeks old
• Eyes open, ears up, can walk around: kitten is approximately 3 weeks or older. You can offer soft food but you may still need to bottle feed.

If the kitten is cold, warm it slowly by holding it against your bare skin, allowing it to absorb your body heat. Do not submerge it in water or do any other drastic warming measure. Simply wrapping the kitten up in a blanket or towel is usually not sufficient as it is not able to generate its own heat. The kitten needs to absorb heat from you. Do not attempt to feed a cold kitten; wait until it warms up.

Make a kitten box—put a heating pad in a box large enough to accommodate the heating pad plus more room so the kitten can crawl off if it gets too warm. Cover the heating pad with several towels. Do not lay the kitten directly on the heating pad. Set the temperature to LOW. Change the towels two to three times daily.

FEEDING:

KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) or JUST BORN are two of the best commercial formulas to feed. Call your veterinarian or pet store for these formulas. Do not give cow's milk. If necessary, use the following emergency recipe for up to 24 hours only:

2/3 cup homogenized whole milk
3 raw egg yolks
1 tablespoon corn oil
1 dropper pediatric liquid vitamins

Warm the formula in a nursing bottle or medicine dropper. Test it on your wrist to check the temperature. If it feels too warm or too cold on your wrist, it is the same for the kitten.

Place the kitten on its stomach (just as he or she would nurse from its own mother) and let her nurse until she turns her head. Do not squeeze the bottle while nursing, but place a drop on her mouth to get her started. Do not place the kitten on its back, as it can aspirate formula into its lungs and suffocate.

After the kitten is full, it is necessary to stimulate its elimination. Kittens cannot eliminate on their own until they are three weeks old. Take a washcloth or paper towel and gently massage the anal region in a circular or back and forth motion. This is the same kind of activity that a queen (mother cat) would do for her kitten.

FEEDING SCHEDULE:

This is a general guideline. Some kittens eat more or less often. Generally, if a kitten cries, it is either cold or hungry. A contented kitten sleeps quietly.

Age in weeks and feedings per day:

• 1-2 weeks: 6 feedings per day
• 3 weeks: 4 feedings per day
• 4 weeks: 3 feedings per day

At five weeks, you can begin weaning with baby food or canned cat food mixed with KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer). Warning: Never use baby food that contains onion. Onion is found to cause a specific type of anemia.

DOs and DON'Ts:

The greatest danger to a kitten is chilling. Keep kittens warm in a draft-free area

Avoid getting air into the kitten's tummy. Hold the bottle at an angle to keep liquid toward the nipple.

Don't force formula into a kitten unless it is in crisis and must be tube fed. If it gets to this point, seek veterinary assistance. This is very risky if done by an untrained individual. If done improperly, esophageal, stomach damage or death is possible.

Don't hold a young kitten on its back for feeding. It's cute but dangerous!

Don't panic if the kitten does not eat for the first day. She may have just come off the mother, whose milk is quite rich and can sustain her for a longer time than replacement formulas.

Don't bathe a baby kitten unless absolutely necessary. If there are fleas, use a flea comb. If it must be bathed, use a very mild pet shampoo. Flea shampoo is too harsh for kittens. After bathing, towel dry the kitten as much as possible, then put it directly back on the towel covered heating pad. Do not use a hairdryer.

One aspect of cats' behavior which some owners find difficult to accept is hunting, especially when the cat insist on bringing her prey home. Hunting is a very strong instinct in cats and the techniques can be while watching young kittens at play. As the kittens grow older, the skills are finely honed through further play and by watching the mother and mimicking her when she hunts.

Hunting is entirely natural for cats and takes place even when they are well fed at home. They evidently enjoy the hunt, stalking patiently and carefully, moving forward and freezing with single minded concentration until they are close enough to pounce. If the cat returns with her kill and presents it to her owner, the reason is possibly because you should congratulate her on her hunting prowess. There is really no point in trying to punish your cat for hunting as it is a part of her nature that is so deeply rooted that to try and eliminate it may well cause her a lot of confusion. Playing catching games with your cat using toys may help to relieve some of her urge to hunt.

One solution is to put a bell on her collar so that the birds and other likely victims can hear her coming. If you do this, make sure that the collar has an elasticated section so that she can escape if it gets caught up on some object. It is important to worm your cat regularly, particularly if she hunts. Consult your veterinary hospital for more advice on de-worming.

If you are thinking of adding a loving and loyal canine companion to your family, you will want to consider many factors in selecting the type of animal which best suits your family and lifestyle. The time and effort you invest in making this decision is well worth it—your new family member will be a part of your life for the next 10 to 12 years, or more!

Once you and your family have agreed that the time is right to make a commitment, you will need to decide what kind of dog is right for you.

Where Do You Begin Your Search? - Your local animal shelter is a good place to start. It usually has a wide variety of puppies. Generally, these puppies receive careful medical exams and have already had initial vaccinations. Spaying or neutering is usually included in the adoption fee, and can be performed when the puppy reaches the correct age. Most shelters also have excellent support services, such as free behavioral counseling.

In addition to visiting your local shelter, you may wish to talk to local obedience training facilities, a groomer, reputable breeders and a practicing veterinarian to help you find that perfect puppy.

Consider Your Lifestyle - Breeds such as hunting or working dogs require more exercise than some smaller breeds and may crowd an apartment or small home. Do you have a fence to contain your new companion? What about grooming? Keep in mind that all dogs shed their hair coat at least twice a year in the spring and fall. Some breeds shed constantly and some breeds need to be groomed regularly by a professional.

Purebred vs. Mixed Breed - Any puppy or dog can make a great pet, no matter where it comes from. If the prospective owners take the time to properly socialize and train the puppy, then its parents should have no bearing on whether or not it is a good companion. If you still aren't sure, here is some further food for thought

• The Purebred Puppy - Each breed of puppy was bred with a specific purpose in mind. Knowing as much as you can about a breed will help you in making the right selection. Your local library or book store has books on specific breeds. Investigate the breeds of puppies you are most interested in to find out if this is the breed that will fit best into your family's lifestyle.
• The Mixed Breed Puppy - Mixed breed dogs are the most popular in America. They come in all shapes, sizes, coat styles, colors and personalities. As suggested earlier, your local shelter is an excellent source for finding your mutt. If you are simply looking for a loving companion, you need not look further than your local humane shelter.

Choosing the right puppy takes time. Owning a dog is a serious commitment and should be taken with reasonable consideration. A puppy requires just as much attention as a young child and deserves to be given a caring home. Whether you choose a purebred pup or a mix from the shelter, it is important to know that you are giving yourself a loving companion and forming a relationship that will last forever.

There is no doubt that when times are tough, families bond together to make the best of the situation. And, sometimes a new cute and fuzzy four legged family member can help make rough times more bearable! Whether you choose a purebred kitten from a breeder or an adorable mixed breed puppy from a rescue group, there are a few things you will want to know to keep your new friend happy and healthy. Watch this video to learn how our furry companions actually relieve stress and bring joy to their homes!

Of course, the best way to handle emergency situations is to avoid them by keeping your pet safe and healthy. However, in spite of your best efforts, accidents can happen. Here are some tips to consider before you need to use them.

Always keep within reach the phone numbers for your veterinarian, emergency clinic, poison control center, etc.

Keep a copy of your pet's health records where you can easily find them.

You may also want to invest in a book that covers first aid procedures. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations. For example, the ASPCA's Complete Dog Care Manual and Complete Cat Care Manual have excellent information on first aid principles, as well as what to do in case of traffic injury. The book also contains useful information on how to perform artificial respiration and what steps to follow in case of poisoning, burns, insect bites, etc.

Keep an emergency kit on hand with such items as:

Bandages
Adhesive tape
Cotton
Antiseptic cream
Sterile dressings
Gauze
Thermometer
Tweezers
Scissors
Blanket

Have a pet carrier so you can safely transport your pet to an emergency clinic or veterinary hospital.

Remember, an injured or ill pet may not act like its normal, sweet-tempered self. Handle the pet with care so you don't get bitten or scratched and need emergency treatment yourself!