September News

October is Pet Dental Hygiene Month at Companion Animal Hospital of Wakefield.  Just as it is with humans, dental health is paramount to avoiding serious medical conditions with your beloved family pet.  

We have designated October 'Pet Dental Hygiene Month' because poor oral hygiene has become one of the top health issues affecting pets today. If your pet's oral hygiene is not taken care of, it has the potential to cause serious health problems such as periodontal disease, loss of teeth, and in a worst-case scenario, kidney, liver and even heart disease.  Our objective is to call attention to this problem because it's so easily solved. 

Dental care for your pet may be handled daily at home. Before beginning any home dental care plan, make sure your pet's teeth are checked by your veterinarian during a routine exam.  They can educate you on how to check out your pet's oral issues.  For instance, they can point out how to look for warning signs of periodontal diseases such as excess tartar and gingivitis.  Some of these warning signs are bad breath, red and swollen gums, pain or bleeding when you touch the gums, a yellow-brown crust around the gum line and discolorations or fractures of the teeth.  Once you determine the level of health of your pet's teeth, you can take appropriate steps.  

The first line of defense for home dental care is daily brushing of your pet's teeth.  Pet toothpaste and brushes are readily available at pet stores, in the pet section at supermarkets or at veterinarian offices. (Human toothpaste should never be used on your pet because it is not meant to be swallowed and could be detrimental to your pet's health.)  Your pet may be jumpy when you first attempt to brush his or her teeth, but will eventually become used to it.   

Pet food studies have shown that hard kibble is better for your pet's dental health than soft foods.  That hard texture helps to knock some of the tartar off teeth as they eat.  There are also a number of products on the market that help combat dental problems, including specifically-formulated dental diets, dental chews, biscuits and beef hides.  Certain toys can aid in the removal of plaque and bacteria such as dental toys and rawhide chips.  If your dog is an aggressive chewer, look for toys he cannot get his mouth around.  Be careful to avoid abrasive toys that can wear down the teeth or cause your pet to chip their tooth.  

If your pet's dental issue goes beyond a daily brushing, talk to your veterinarian.  They can clean your pet's teeth at the office.  Your pet will be sedated and your veterinarian can take x-rays and flush out bacteria.  They may clean the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler both above and below the gum line and polish the teeth.  They also can follow up with a tailored home plan that will work specifically for your pet's needs.

Does your pet exhibit stiffness and apparent pain in its joints when getting up or walking around?  If so, he may be afflicted with arthritis.  Just as in humans, the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis.  This is a slowly progressing disease that occurs due to the breakdown in the cartilage of your pet.  As it gets worse, the bones can grind against each other causing pain due the loss of cartilage that acted as a "shock absorber" for the bones.  For an optimum diagnosis, seeing your veterinarian is key.  At the exam, your vet will check for range of motion, inflammation, fever, duration of symptoms and severity

Once a diagnosis of osteoarthritis is made, several treatment options are available.  First and foremost, lifestyle changes may be in order.  If your dog is carrying extra weight, dropping some of those extra pounds can reduce the severity of symptoms.  Carefully managed exercise programs will also be crucial in boosting the mobility of your pet.  Without healthy diet and exercise, the progression of the disease is certain to occur and accelerate.

Another option is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).  These are widely used but must be monitored closely because they have a high rate of side effects that can lead to kidney and gastrointestinal issues.  The same can be said of corticosteroids which can also alleviate symptoms.  Dietary supplements such as glucosomine and chrondrotin have shown signs of aiding in increased mobility for pets but the effects take several weeks to kick in. If your dog's pain becomes unmanageable by the above options, surgery may be necessary.  Hip replacements in dogs have become quite common and can give your pet a new lease on an active life. 

The bottom line is that your pet does not have to suffer without help.  There are a myriad of options available to help your pet not only manage symptoms but in many cases, also alleviate the symptoms.  Talk to your veterinarian to get not only a diagnosis for your pet but also a personalized treatment plan that will have your pet resting and moving much more easily and comfortably.

How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

A common question asked by dog owners is "How much exercise does my pet need?"  The answer is not as simple as you might think because it depends completely on your dog.  One misconception is that the bigger the dog, the more exercise it needs.  Not true.  Depending on the breed, a small dog such as a Jack Russell Terrier may need to burn off that endless energy for much longer than a huge Mastiff, who may be just fine with 15 minutes of running around after a Frisbee.  Smaller dogs can generally get their exercise in a backyard or simply running around the house.  Equip them with toys to run around with and their daily exercise needs are adequately met. For mid-size and large breeds, it also varies.  Hunters or natural herders, such as Australian Shepherds or Border Collies, require a lot more exercise than a standard breed.  Without at least 30 minutes of cardio exercise, many dogs will become restless, and that can lead to destructive behaviors.  If you have a working breed (ex. German Shepherd, Siberian Husky), 30-60 minutes will suit them better.  If you have a mixed breed dog, it will really depend on its personality.  If any dog appears to be totally content to lounge around and catch a few rays or snooze all day, then they may not need as much exercise as other dogs.  But if they appear restless and become destructive in their behavior, get them moving.  Also, if you notice a little extra padding around the ribs or abdomen of your pet, that's another sign he may need a little more exercise.  The type of excercise that your dog enjoys will also depend on your dog.Some are perfectly content with a quiet walk, while others like a brisk run at the park or around the neighborhood.  Dog parks are great fun for many socialized dogs. Another form of excellent activity is doggie daycare.  Whatever the activity, make sure you watch how hot or cold it is.  Just like humans, temperature can take its toll.