Dental hygiene is as important for dogs and cats as it is for human beings. Just like in people, your pet’s teeth can gather plaque after eating. When plaque builds up and hardens it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar. As tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections, gum disease and damage to vital organs.
Veterinarians recommend that owners brush their pet’s teeth at least twice a week to keep the buildup of tartar at a minimum. Most pet supply stores carry specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste just for pets. Remember that a pet’s sense of taste and smell is far more acute than that of a human and human toothpaste may not appeal to a pet. Many stores carry toothbrushes, toothpaste and wipes for your furry friends.
If you cannot brush your pet’s teeth regularly you can care for their teeth by providing crunchy treats. A dog’s natural tendency to chew is a built-in dental care mechanism. Dog biscuits break into small chunks when chewed and rub against the teeth, providing a cleaning service. There is no substitute for brushing your pet’s teeth, but if you cannot do that, make sure they get some sort of crunchy dog treat on a regular basis.
Pets that do not receive proper dental care and do not have access to crunchy treats run the risk of several types of mouth disease. These can be as mild as gingivitis (a gum disease that results in swollen, inflamed gums) and as serious as a bacterial infection that can spread through the dog’s bloodstream causing damage to vital organs. You owe it to yourself and your dog to take care of his teeth.
Dental services are available for pets, just as they are for people. Their teeth can be filled, capped, and extracted if necessary, just like yours. The best course of action, however, is to avoid the need for such services by properly caring for your pet’s teeth. If you can avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort for your furry friend, you should do so. Preventative dental care can save you money as well as dental procedures can be quite costly.
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Skunks and Pets
Our dog Casey loved to go out in the evening and sleep next to the gate in our fenced in yard. Casey would sometimes stay there for several hours, just enjoying the peace and quiet.
One night I was watching TV and almost simultaneously, I heard Casey bark, then I smelled the spray of a skunk. Without thinking, I went to the door, let Casey in, and realized that the skunk sprayed her. By the time this registered with me, she had gone to the couch and was rubbing her face trying to get the spray off. I never worried about this happening to my dogs because we had the fenced in yard, but we surmise that she was sleeping next to the gate, a skunk walked up to the gate, surprised Casey and it sprayed her. So consequently, I did not have anything in the house to neutralize the odor, or so I thought.
My first instinct was to wash her face with water. Big mistake. I made the issue worse because the spray contains oils. The next morning I went to the pet store and purchased a neutralizer for Casey, my couch and everything else she touched. I also made an appointment for the groomer and learned that in an emergency, most of us have the ingredients in our homes to take care of this issue. The groomer told me that in a pinch, I could make a mixture with equal parts of vinegar and water and that will help to neutralize the odor.
Fast forward a few years when I would let Dakota out in the middle of the night for a quick potty break. We lived on a dead end street with only four houses and she did not roam, so I would let her out on the front lawn while I watched. One night Dakota took off for a minute or two and a skunk sprayed her. This time I was ready and took her immediately into the kitchen and made a concoction of the vinegar and water, put it in a spray bottle and immediately started applying it to her and by the next morning, there was still a faint odor, but it was not bad at all. The only thing I neglected to do was wear plastic gloves and my hands smelled like skunk, but it was the middle of the night and I really was not thinking clearly at the time.
After this incident, I posted a few skunk neutralizer recipes on our bulletin board in case this happened again. I encourage anyone with a pet to have the ingredients on hand to deal with this because you never know when it will occur. I researched some recipes online and some common ingredients in the recipes include Dawn dish detergent because it helps break down the oils, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, water, baking soda and rubbing alcohol. I recommend that you find a recipe that works for you and can easily access it if your pet is sprayed, because as in my case, the pet store might not be open and you have to act quickly.
One night I was watching TV and almost simultaneously, I heard Casey bark, then I smelled the spray of a skunk. Without thinking, I went to the door, let Casey in, and realized that the skunk sprayed her. By the time this registered with me, she had gone to the couch and was rubbing her face trying to get the spray off. I never worried about this happening to my dogs because we had the fenced in yard, but we surmise that she was sleeping next to the gate, a skunk walked up to the gate, surprised Casey and it sprayed her. So consequently, I did not have anything in the house to neutralize the odor, or so I thought.
My first instinct was to wash her face with water. Big mistake. I made the issue worse because the spray contains oils. The next morning I went to the pet store and purchased a neutralizer for Casey, my couch and everything else she touched. I also made an appointment for the groomer and learned that in an emergency, most of us have the ingredients in our homes to take care of this issue. The groomer told me that in a pinch, I could make a mixture with equal parts of vinegar and water and that will help to neutralize the odor.
Fast forward a few years when I would let Dakota out in the middle of the night for a quick potty break. We lived on a dead end street with only four houses and she did not roam, so I would let her out on the front lawn while I watched. One night Dakota took off for a minute or two and a skunk sprayed her. This time I was ready and took her immediately into the kitchen and made a concoction of the vinegar and water, put it in a spray bottle and immediately started applying it to her and by the next morning, there was still a faint odor, but it was not bad at all. The only thing I neglected to do was wear plastic gloves and my hands smelled like skunk, but it was the middle of the night and I really was not thinking clearly at the time.
After this incident, I posted a few skunk neutralizer recipes on our bulletin board in case this happened again. I encourage anyone with a pet to have the ingredients on hand to deal with this because you never know when it will occur. I researched some recipes online and some common ingredients in the recipes include Dawn dish detergent because it helps break down the oils, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, water, baking soda and rubbing alcohol. I recommend that you find a recipe that works for you and can easily access it if your pet is sprayed, because as in my case, the pet store might not be open and you have to act quickly.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Sunscreen for Pets
May is National Skin Cancer Awareness month, which got me thinking about our dogs and the amount of time they spend outdoors. Our dogs spend a lot of time outdoors during the warmer months we usually take our walks during times when the sun is at its hottest. I have been researching the use of sunscreen on pets that spend a lot of time outdoors and the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Pets that are prone to sunburn and skin cancer are those with light colored noses, pets with thin or short fur, or with missing fur in the groin area, inside legs and abdomen. Collies and other breeds of dogs with no pigment in their noses can develop nasal solar dermatitis, which is caused by hypersensitivity to the sun. Cats with white ears are susceptible to burning the tips and edge of their ears. Sunburn in pets can appear as red skin and can exasperate or irritate existing skin conditions.
The two most important tips to prevent sunburn are to provide sun block and shade. When the pet is outside, they should always have access to a shaded area and water to lower the risk of sunstroke and sunburn. Shading can come from leaving a pet in an area with a shelter, trees or you may purchase a sunblock top to put over pet’s area.
To protect your pet, you may also apply sunscreen on susceptible areas. There are some specifically created for pets, but you may also use a baby sunscreen as an option. Most human sunscreens have ingestion warnings because the ingredients may be toxic to a child or pet that ingests them. If your pet is likely to lick the sunscreen, look for pet specific products. The sunscreen should be fragrance free and should be applied liberally and should be reapplied every 4 – 6 hours.
Sunscreen should fragrance free, contain UV (A & B) barriers. Apply it liberally to the bridge of the nose, ear tips, around the lips, the belly, and the groin area, especially if you cat or dog likes to bask in the sun belly up. Keep in mind though that some protective ingredients like Octyl Salicylate, Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate may be toxic to cats.
Just to be safe, we will discuss this with our vet to see what she recommends because we want to protect them, but we also want to choose something safe.
www.outofthedoghousect.com
Pets that are prone to sunburn and skin cancer are those with light colored noses, pets with thin or short fur, or with missing fur in the groin area, inside legs and abdomen. Collies and other breeds of dogs with no pigment in their noses can develop nasal solar dermatitis, which is caused by hypersensitivity to the sun. Cats with white ears are susceptible to burning the tips and edge of their ears. Sunburn in pets can appear as red skin and can exasperate or irritate existing skin conditions.
The two most important tips to prevent sunburn are to provide sun block and shade. When the pet is outside, they should always have access to a shaded area and water to lower the risk of sunstroke and sunburn. Shading can come from leaving a pet in an area with a shelter, trees or you may purchase a sunblock top to put over pet’s area.
To protect your pet, you may also apply sunscreen on susceptible areas. There are some specifically created for pets, but you may also use a baby sunscreen as an option. Most human sunscreens have ingestion warnings because the ingredients may be toxic to a child or pet that ingests them. If your pet is likely to lick the sunscreen, look for pet specific products. The sunscreen should be fragrance free and should be applied liberally and should be reapplied every 4 – 6 hours.
Sunscreen should fragrance free, contain UV (A & B) barriers. Apply it liberally to the bridge of the nose, ear tips, around the lips, the belly, and the groin area, especially if you cat or dog likes to bask in the sun belly up. Keep in mind though that some protective ingredients like Octyl Salicylate, Homosalate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate may be toxic to cats.
Just to be safe, we will discuss this with our vet to see what she recommends because we want to protect them, but we also want to choose something safe.
www.outofthedoghousect.com
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