Your Dog's Mouth Could Be Poisoning Him From the Inside Out

Photo Credit:
http://www.tallangattavets.com.au/dental.aspx

    Oral hygiene in our pets is so much more than just bad doggy breath; it is just as important as our own. Canine oral hygiene is associated with a list of disease nearly identical to those of human dental disease. The term “Periodontal Disease” is a general term referring to the disease of the oral cavity including teeth, gums and tissue.  This includes but is not limited to such things as Plaque, Calculus, and Gingivitis, much like in our own mouths. By the time these symptoms are visually present, the progression of periodontal disease is already spreading at an alarming rate, therefore should be treated at the very first sign.

  One of the earliest signs of periodontal disease is Gingivitis; 

Gingivitis
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www.theanswervet.com/petoralhygiene.html

an inflammation of the gums identified by bad

breath odour, redness and swelling along the gum line. This inflammation often promotes plaque build up which is the first sign of bacteria and organic matter accumulating at the gum line of the tooth. Although it is quite common and nothing to be alarmed of, at this stage brushing is necessary. The physical abrasion of a toothbrush along with an enzymatic dog specific tooth-paste will keep the build up at a minimum and prevent advanced build up such as calculus.

Plaque buildup
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www.veterinarydentalcenter.com/faqs.htm

  Calculus is the advanced stage of plaque in which calcium phosphate and carbonate in conjunction with organic matter and bacteria build up into a hard substance along the gum line and in advanced cases covering the entire tooth. Calculus provides a safe haven for pathogenic bacteria to live and multiply. It must

be physically scaled away from the tooth using proper dental procedure and at this stage brushing is absolutely useless.As these bacteria inhabit and reproduce at the gum line, the battle between bacteria and your dog’s natural anti-bodies and enzymes produce toxins in the mouth. These toxins are much like the by-product of having an abscess in your own mouth. As your dog swallows his own saliva he is literally poisoning himself by ingesting these toxins. These toxins are then absorbed into the blood stream and his filtration system begins to process them in an attempt to rid them of the body. In turn, the organs that manage this system such as the kidneys, liver, heart and brain are exposed to these toxins and if untreated, can cause irreversible damage to the tissue, and in extreme cases, failure of these organs. Much like we discussed in my post about nail trimming, this strain on the organs caused by tooth decay can indirectly be the premature death of your pet.

Calculus buildup
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http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/ChxmlcPzYGA/maxresdefault.jpg

  

   If you check your dogs mouth regularly for these signs you can spot them early on and prevent toxic illness, unnecessary vet bills, and keep your pet comfortable and free of oral pain and disease. With the internet close at hand there is so much information available to us on websites like this one, that can help us educate ourselves on the needs of our pets. Do some research and educate yourself on everything to do with your dog’s health, from general hygiene to CPR, because as a pet owner you need to be ready for anything; it could mean the difference between life and death to your dog someday, weather through slow and gradual physical strain, toxin, parasites or sudden injury. We are their guardians and we need to know as much as we can, and continue to learn - inquire, question, observe and share knowledge with other pet owners - retain all the information you can, it’s a constant learning curve and the more you know, the safer, healthier and happier your dog will be.

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ww.prweb.com/releases/2012/9/prweb9947497.htm

Ear Hygiene

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www.petsugar.com/Pet-Peeves-My-Dog-Has-Dirty-Ears

  Ear hygiene is an important factor in a dog’s over all health. Wax can build up in the outer ear and needs to be wiped away using a tissue with a small amount of ear cleaner. There are many different brand of ear cleaner and they can be purchased at your vet office or any local pet store. Never put a Q-tip, or your finger for that matter, down in the ear canal. Only clean what you can see in the outer ear. The wrinkles and folds can be stretched out and wiped between by bending the ear leather in a way that allows you to access the crevasse you need. If an ear becomes infected it will have a smell to it, along with a dark or discolored discharge. If you notice your dog has an excess of discharge or wax it is important to consult a vet as it could be an infection or ear mites. 

  A prolonged ear infection can spread to the inner ear and cause severe damage. Ear mites tend to resemble a coffee-grind like discharge and are actually a microscopic mite, chewing at your dogs ear. These problems need to be treated by specific drops from your veterinarian, and anything you purchase over the counter at a pet store is not likely to have a sufficient effect on the particular micro-organism at hand.

 Another useful piece of information as published by Cesar Millan on his webpage, is that “Dogs [who] suffer from allergies, either environmental, such as pollens (grasses, trees and weeds), dust mites, molds or food (beef, chicken, fish, soy, etc.) are predisposed to ear infections. This is due to the microscopic inflammation that allergies cause in the skin allowing overgrowth of bacterial and yeast organisms that normally inhabit the skin.”

Ear Mites
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www.squidoo.com/dog-shaking-head

Overgrown Toe Nails Can Kill Your Dog

photo credit:
www.admiredoggrooming.com/information/nails

   Overgrown nails can actually lead to the death of your dog in a round about way. I realize

that sounds a bit extreme, but when the nails are overgrown it becomes very uncomfortable for your dog to walk on his feet. Have you ever has your toenails grow out to the point that you can start to feel them push on your socks? Now imagine the intensity of that feeling if they were so long they hit the ground as you walked and actually supported your weight, pushing on your nail beds with extreme pressure every step you took. This is what happens with dogs and a result they shift their weight to try and reduce the pressure, putting that pressure on their hips and back to compensate for this weight. The nails can even grow in a complete circle and begin growing into the flesh of the dog's pad, can you imagine what that must feel like for your pet!? With prolonged strain on their nails, back and hips irreversible damage can occur that with age, can result in a pet loosing its

Photo Credit:
www.godsc.com/animal-info/creature-tips/dogs/

mobility due to pain of the hips and back and inadvertently lead to early euthanasia because the pet is in too much pain in its old age. All of this can be avoided by something as simple as regular nail trims, and can save you thousands of dollars in vet bills tending to the damaged hips and back. Not to mention the comfort of your pet in its everyday life, but if that’s not enough to provoke pet owners to maintain the length of their pets nails, maybe awareness of the potential vet bills can be sufficient reasoning.
   Nail trimming is a simple procedure that should be performed once a month at a minimum. The more frequent, the better. It takes approximately five minutes to do, and if you have trouble doing it yourself there are many grooming salons in your area that can help. The average price range for a nail trim at a grooming salon is about $10.00, but some salons (like the one I work at) do it for free. Most grooming salons offer it as a drop in service, and it takes a matter of minutes, so phone around your local area and find out what their prices are; I bet you will be surprised at how inexpensive and convenient it can be in comparison to a $2,000.00 hip surgery, which can inadvertently result in your pets premature euthanasia.

  Pets don't always sit still for their nail trims, and sometimes put on quite a show. This is nothing more than a four year old child throwing a hissy-fit because he doesn't want to brush his teeth, and needs to be treated the same way; it's not grounds for letting the dog get its way. As we discussed it's health concerns far outweigh the dogs distaste for having it done. If you would like to learn how to do it at home, this is a great instructional video with all the information you need. I highly recommend scissor-style cutters to the guillotine style.

A Matted Coat Can Be Detrimental To a Dog's Health- Here's How

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 http://www.gracielushihtzu.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/matted-dog1.jpg

  A matted coat is the result of neglecting to brush a pets coat thoroughly, or even at all. Quite often owners brush their dogs fairly often; however they are only surface brushing and not actually brushing through the coat, rite to the skin on every surface inch of the body, double checking with a fine tooth comb. Proper brushing techniques remove loose hairs and separate tangles before they get out of hand. The hairs that shed from the follicle in regular regeneration (yes, even “non-shedding” breeds shed hair strands when the coat regenerates it’s self) release from the pores and get caught in the coat and surrounding hair strands. They remain there and weave amongst other strands causing a matt; a clump of hair that is tangled tightly to the skin. Pet owners I encounter on a daily basis in my career, always want their matted pets “brushed out”. The only way to do this, to be perfectly honest with you, is to pull and tug and rip the hair from the skin. It is quite painful for the animal; while there are techniques to aid in reducing pain such as splitting the matts etc, the best option and in many cases the only option is to shave the pet. The length of the blade used on the clipper to remove the matted coat is determined by how close to the skin the matts are. A groomer cannot “Take half off” of a matted coat, that would mean cutting through the middle of the matts which is physically not possible. The blade must be short enough to fit between the matts and the skin; however short or long that section of hair is, is how short or long the coat can be left.

A matted coat is the result of neglecting to brush a pets coat

Photo Credit: http://www.theanswervet.com/hotspot_dog_shaved_640.jpg 

  Removing a matted coat can be both challenging and dangerous. Sharp tools around a tightly woven matted coat, on a squirmy dog who does not like the discomfort of removing the matted coat, much less sitting still for a groomer to poke and prod can be a challenge in its self to safely remove the matted coat. Even the most skilled and experienced groomer can nick or cut a matted dog trying to remove the coat. Once removed safely, without harm caused by the groomer, the skin can reveal sores, wounds, bruising and parasites such as fleas, lice, ticks etc. that have been concealed by the matts. The constant pull of a matt tugging on the skins surface can cause bruising, sores and prevents the skin from breathing. I have seen matted coats neglected so long that moisture gets under the matt and the air cannot dry the skin completely or let the skin breath, in which case infection had set in, hosting a colony of maggots, no joke, this actually happens.

  The challenge of removing a matted coat is the reason that you can expect to pay more at a grooming salon for a matted pet, so to prevent escalated prices and physical harm to your pet make sure to keep a regular scheduled routine of grooming every 8-10 weeks.

  Seeing this neglect on a daily can be frustrating to groomers and people who work with animals. As stated in this blog  “Do your research when purchasing/ adopting a dog. If you don’t have the time or money, look for a different, [lower] maintenance [breed]”

  I cannot stress enough how important it is to remove a matted coat, despite environmental temperatures or any other reason/excuse to postpone the grooming. The negative effects of a matted coat far outweigh the effects of a chilli pet. If you are concerned your freshly shaved pet may be cold, it’s a perfect opportunity to dress him up in that sporty little pet sweater you’ve wanted to purchase at your local pet store.

 Photo credit:

http://pettyartist.tumblr.com/post/46713183880/a-rant-on-matted-fur-on-dogs  

Grooming Is One of a Dog's Basic Needs

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http://ambersallbreedgrooming.webs.com/apps/faq/  2011

  Canine hygiene is far more important than a lot of pet owners think. It’s not just a bath to smell nice; it is far more than that. Your pet’s hygiene plays an important role in his/her health and happiness. From head to toe; teeth to nails, and everything in between these are the basic needs (and rights) of a domestic pet. As pet owners we need to provide these basic needs; it is our obligation from the moment we accept a pet into our life. It’s quite sad to say that the number of people who do not understand this concept far out weighs the people who do. In my line of business I encounter a minimum of three pets every work day, who are deprived of these needs, or neglected until the point that it cannot be procrastinated any longer, in some cases ordered by the S.P.C.A.(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to have their dog groomed because it is bordering on animal cruelty. In extreme cases like this one owners can face jail time for neglecting to groom their pets; it is a form of animal cruelty.

  Grooming your pet doesn't have to mean spending copious amounts of money. A grooming salon offers a service at a fee, that’s not to say that you can’t invest the time and educate yourself on how to groom your pet yourself at a fraction of the cost (tools need to be purchased, such as clippers scissors etc). The internet can be a use full tool to help you learn how to shave your pet’s coat off, trim his/her nails, clean their ears and brush their teeth. However; if this is not something you would feel comfortable doing or prefer not to take the time and energy to do so, then paying the fees for the service provided at a grooming salon is in turn your responsibility as a pet owner.