Here are some Dental Home Care Tips from Creekside Pet Care Center:

1.  Brushing
 a.  Most effective dental home care.
 b.  Must use pet specific paste.
 c.  Introducing dental brushing to your pet
  *  Allow the pet to lick a small portion of paste from your finger once daily for four days
     to become accustomed to the taste and begin positive reinforcement.
  *  Then begin to rub your pet’s gums with your index finger with a small amount of paste
     to introduce the action and continue positive reinforcement.  Repeat this for four days.
  *  Finally graduate to the regular full sized pet dental brush with sharper bristles.
 d.  Routine brushing
  *  Best if done daily, but as often as possible is better than not at all.
  *  Not recommended if tarter and gingivitis is already present.  The gums will be sensitive       and this could be painful.  If tarter and gingivitis is present, begin introducing brushing        two weeks after veterinary dental procedure.

2.  Hill’s T/D diet
 a.  Unique kibble proven to scrub away laden plaque in the mouth, slowing tarter accumulation.
 b.  Very nutritious and balance maintenance diet for healthy adult pets.  Supplementation is unnecessary and not recommended.
 c.  Intended to be the pet’s daily regular food.  Regular food with special scientific kibble.
 d.  Compliments other dental home care techniques such as brushing, rinses and chews.

3.  Oral Rinses
 a.  Oral rinses can be used daily after brushing, between brushings or along with other dental hygiene techniques.
 b.  Contains safe enzymes that decrease tarter from forming bacteria in the mouth.

4.  CET Chews
 a.  Contains bacteria fighting Chlorhexidine that is released as the pet chews.
 b.  Offers mechanical chewing action to aid in plaque reduction.
 c.  Daily treat.
 d.  Compatible with all other home dental hygiene techniques.

5.  OraVet Plaque Prevention Gel

 a.  Sealing gel reduces plaque and tarter formation by creating an invisible barrier that helps prevent bacteria from attaching to your pet’s teeth.
 b.  Requires professionally applied sealant at time of dental cleaning before beginning.
 c.  Weekly applications beginning two weeks after dental cleaning and foundation sealing (foundation sealing can be done at time of spay/neutering)
 d.  Compatible with all other home dental hygiene techniques.
 e.  Demonstration video and additional information available at www.oravet.com

A minimum of two of the above techniques is recommended as part of a
comprehensive home dental hygiene program.  Annual professional cleanings are
 important in conjuction with home care to ensure optimal dental health.

In our area, a very common substance that triggers allergies in dogs is flea saliva. It is not the fleabite itself that causes the reaction, as most people may believe, but the saliva of the flea being deposited under the skin as the flea feeds. This is why some dogs may be covered in fleas and has little discomfort, whereas a dog that is allergic to flea saliva may have intense itching associated with even a single fleabite.

Flea allergies cause the dog to scratch and chew at itself. Most commonly the pet will chew, lick, and scratch their rump and belly and less commonly their feet and legs. The outcome is usually a sore and secondary bacterial infection commonly known as a “hot spot”. Once the sore develops, the discomfort intensifies leading to even more licking and chewing.

The most important treatment for this condition is of course to remove the fleas from the pet and it’s environment (including the yard and house). Another important treatment is to curb the immune systems over exaggerated response. This can often be accomplished using antihistamines, but in some animals cortisone is required. In those dogs where the “hot spot” has formed, antibiotics are often necessary to cure the secondary bacterial infection of the skin.

Fleas are annoying for all pets and people, but especially to those that are allergic to their bite. Fleas can also carry dangerous diseases that infect the blood of pets. The best way to approach flea control is before fleas are present. Ask your veterinarian to suggest a flea prevention method that is best for your family and protect your pets before they encounter fleas and other parasites common to our area. Remember, our furry family relies on us for love, attention, and protection.

Summer is a fun and exciting time of year. During the warm months, pets are less confined to the interior of the house and spend much more time outdoors. Special precautions must be taken to ensure that Rover and Kitty remain healthy and cool during the hot summer days.

Sweating is an efficient mechanism for cooling down an overheated body. The human body has millions of sweat glands located in the skin. When the body temperature is elevated, these glands secrete moisture (sweat) on the surface of the skin. Evaporation of this sweat is responsible for cooling down an overheated body.

Dogs and cats, unlike humans, do not cool off by sweating. Instead, they cool themselves by panting. Panting is the process of breathing in through the nose and breathing out through the mouth. As the air passes through the nose and mouth, some evaporation occurs. Panting is not as efficient as sweating, therefore pets have a difficult time coping with the summer heat.

Heatstroke is a serious problem and is a major cause of accidental death in dogs. A pet left in a hot car or an animal that has no shade or water can die from heatstroke in just a short period of time. When you travel with your pet, or if he’s left at home, plenty of cool, fresh, drinking water should be available at all times.

Certain animals are particularly sensitive to heatstroke. These include:

        Young, old and overweight animals

        Animals with shortened muzzles (Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Pekinese, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzu, Boston Terriers, and Persian cats)

        Animals with heart and / or respiratory problems

        Animals with thick, heavy coats (particularly the northern or cold-breed animals)

During the hot summer months, pets should be kept cool. An outdoor doghouse or kennel should be well ventilated and located in the shade. Allowing a dog access to a child’s shallow wading pool, filled with an appropriate amount of clean water, is an excellent method for keeping Rover cool during the heat of the day.

Overexertion and intense exercise should be avoided during the middle part of the day. Long walks and heavy exercise should be reserved for the early morning and late afternoon. When taking Rover for a walk, remember that he does not wear shoes. Dogs’ paws are sensitive and burn easily on hot blacktop. Blacktop and other hot surfaces should be avoided.

On warm sunny days, a pet should never be left unattended in an enclosed vehicle. If your pet absolutely must remain in the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended:

        Completely open all windows and vents

        The pet should remain in a well-ventilated cage or kennel

        The vehicle should be parked in a shaded area, out of direct sunlight

        Fresh water should be available

        Return to the vehicle every 10-15 minutes to check up on him (her)

On a warm sunny day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach 150 degrees within a period of 10-15 minutes. Trapped inside a hot vehicle, a pet can suffer from heatstroke and die very quickly.