Happy Dental Month!

February is the month dedicated to Pet Dental Health, but the health of your pet's mouth depends upon preventative care all year round.

Dental disease is one of the most common issues we encounter in our hospital. The pain and infection can break your pet's spirit, though this may not always be obvious. The detrimental effects on the mouth and internal organs often result in other serious and expensive diseases.

One of the most important things you can do for your pet is to have him or her examined for signs of dental disease. Proper treatment and future preventative care can prolong and even save a healthy life for your pet.

For Pet Dental Awareness month we have chosen a few informative articles that we hope will help you understand the nature of dental disease, and how to prevent and treat it. 

Bad Breath (Halitosis) in Pets (pdf)

Ten Steps to your Dog's Dental Health

How to Brush a Dog's Teeth


Additionally, during the month of February we are offering a 10% discount on dental cleanings!

Post by Herschel Animal Clinic.

It's not too late to make a New Year's resolution - For your pet!

  
2015 has just begun, and now is a good time to think about taking care of everything on your "to do" list for your pet's health. Here are our recommendations for preventative health care to help keep your pet healthy and help you avoid high vet bills.

1. Update your pet's vaccines.

2. Take steps to ensure that you have your pet on Heartworm Prevention and Flea Control.

3. If your pet is not spayed or neutered, get it done as soon as possible.

4. Get those extra pounds OFF! Not only will your pet have more energy and feel better, but you will help prevent many diseases related to being overweight.

5. Have your pet checked for any concerns that have been nagging at you. It may be wise to get that worrisome lump removed, or get a dental cleaning.

6. Consider routine bloodwork for an elderly pet.

Winter Pet Dangers: The Cold Hard Facts

Even in the South, winter can be harsh on pets. Low temperatures are stressful and can be dangerous, but there are several other potential threats that are not as obvious. Could your pet be vulnerable to more than just the cold?

Many dogs and cats use pet doors to go in and out. During colder months, wild animals are more likely to find these doors when seeking shelter. In addition to being a nuisance to humans, these animals may attack your pet.

 
Antifreeze is deadly to pets! It can become accessible when a leak occurs in a car's radiator or if the antifreeze is changed and the old fluid is not disposed of properly. The liquid is sweet and tasty and it takes very little to be fatal.

Outdoor cats may try to get warm by climbing up under a car's hood. When the engine is started, the fan belt can cause devastating injury and death.

*Professional stunt cat. Don't try this at home.

Your dog or cat may be unaccustomed to a radiator or heater being on--and hot! Also, curious pets may suffer burns or worse from a lit fireplace. Supervise carefully to ensure your pets' safety.

Winter is often a time for an increased use of rat poison. Like antifreeze, this product is deadly, so proper use is essential.

Cooler temperatures can make arthritis pain worsen or show itself for the first time. Soreness, stiffness, limping, and other signs of discomfort can be alleviated with medications, and in some cases, lifestyle changes.

Some cats may be reluctant to use a garage or basement litter box in an area that is now much colder than it was in warmer months. The same may be true for a litter box next to a formerly dormant heater or furnace which is currently making a rumbling sound.

With a few precautions and a little common sense you can make the winter season "warm and fuzzy" for your pet.

Do you really need to worry about heartworms?

"Please don't bite me!"

Heartworm disease is one of the most common and preventable diseases encountered in pets. Caused by a parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworm disease can result in devastating lung inflammation, heart failure, and damage to other parts of the body. Successful treatment can be risky and quite expensive. Prevention of heartworm infections is the key and that is why it is on our list of the Top 10 Ways to Avoid High Vet Bills.

Dogs are the natural and intended hosts for heartworms. Cats are not natural hosts, so they are less frequently affected.

If you live in any region of the country that has mosquitoes, then you live in an area that has heartworm disease. And if you own a dog that is not routinely tested, and kept consistently--year round--on heartworm preventative medication, then there is a high risk that your dog will be infected.

Myth:

"My dog is an inside dog, so heartworm disease is not a concern."

Buster:

There are plenty of opportunities for a mosquito to bite a dog that only goes outside to eliminate. Also, mosquitoes love to feed indoors on a dog that uses potty pads. When it comes to mosquitoes and heartworms in the Southeast, there is no such thing as an "indoor dog".

Myth:

"Mosquitoes can't penetrate a long or heavy haircoat."

Buster:

Mosquitoes are very adept at getting down to skin through any haircoat, and they often feed on the top and relatively hairless part of a dog's nose.

Adult Heartworms

Myth:

"It is expensive to keep my dog on heartworm prevention."

Buster:

The cost vs. benefit analysis of heartworm prevention cannot be overstated. Heartworm disease continues to be very common and the expenses associated with the resulting illness and treatment far exceed the cost of prevention. And fortunately, many low cost options for heartworm prevention are available.

"Me? Worry?"

So, do you really need to worry about heartworms? 
With timely testing and consistent prevention, we can work together to help ensure that you and your dog never suffer the consequences of Heartworm Disease, thus making the answer to that question - NO!

What do Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years mean for your pet?

We all look forward to the holiday season, and when fall hits the air we know that a long period of celebration is just around the corner. During this time, it is important that we take precautions to protect our pets from the stress and dangers that they may face. We see many preventable illnesses during the holidays. Here are some tips to keep your pet happy and safe:

Be mindful of the many plants, treats, and food items that can be toxic (poinsettias, lilies, holly, onions, chocolate, dough, and items sweetened with xylitol). For a more complete list of toxic substances, see the poison control information at ASPCA.org. 

Vomiting and diarrhea are common reasons for a trip to the vet during the holiday season. Food from the table or the trashcan, even if not on the "toxic list", seems to be ingested more frequently during celebratory gatherings, and may cause gastrointestinal upset.

When toys, tinsel, and other decorations are around, the chance for foreign body ingestion rises sharply. Open flames are also a danger for swishing tails and curious noses. Traffic often increases during the holidays, so the chance of being hit by a car rises. Keep a sharp eye out for potential hazards, and as always, SUPERVISE!

Family gatherings involving people--especially children--unfamiliar to your pet can be stressful. Consider your pet's need for a safe and quiet place away from the chaos.

Don't forget the fireworks on New Year's Eve and their potential effect on your pet. Be sure to plan ahead if your pet will require medication to ease his or her fear of loud noises.

With a little forethought and planning, the holiday season can be as joyous as it should be and need not be a time for an unexpected trip to the vet!

Lumps, Bumps, Growths, and Masses

Lumps, bumps, growths, and masses: these are all vague and non-specific words for the same thing. And as far as pets are concerned, they are a common occurrence. How do we know which ones are harmless and which ones are threats to our pets' health?

As with humans, "lumps and bumps" in dogs and cats can arise from many different types of tissue. Although there are certain growths that may affect pets of any age, many don't appear until later in life when cells tend to misbehave and the immune system's defenses are not up to par. When we discover any new or abnormal growth, we must start by asking ourselves the following:

- How long has the growth been there? Did it suddenly appear? Or, looking back, did it start awhile ago as a perceived pimple, insect bite, or infected area that persisted to reveal itself as a mass?

- Has it stayed the same size for a long time, or is it steadily growing? Some lumps will appear to have grown because they have become secondarily infected or inflamed. Others, whether benign or malignant, can grow rapidly and change quickly.


There are some common misconceptions that have little value in determining the potential dangers of a growth, such as:

- The observance that the mass "doesn't bother him or her".

- The idea that a lump doesn't "look" cancerous.

- The thought that only large growths are cancerous.

Even needle aspirations of a growth can be misleading or inaccurate when trying to classify it as benign or malignant. The only reliable way to evaluate a growth is by submitting it for analysis by histopathology. 

WE SEE MANY LUMPS, BUMPS, GROWTHS, AND MASSES!

The following recommendations can help you avoid high vet costs and the unnecessary suffering of your pet when that dreaded "lump" appears:

- Take the important preventative care steps that can decrease the occurrence and progression of cancer in your pet. These include spaying/neutering, maintaining an ideal body weight, and yearly examinations by your veterinarian.

- DON'T WAIT! Have growths checked early. Once a mass has progressed in size or spread it becomes more expensive--and sometimes impossible--to remove using standard surgical methods. Even if you and your veterinarian agree to watch the mass for change, it is important to follow up quickly if change occurs.

- If possible, consent to having histopathology done on a removed growth to answer the question "what is it?", determine a prognosis, and develop a future course of action.

- If you are planning on having another procedure done to your pet, i.e., routine spay, neuter, dental, etc., consider having that worrisome "lump" removed at that time before it changes. Remember that even if a mass is truly benign, it can still cause problems if it fills with fluid (i.e., cysts) or becomes infected, inflamed, or necrotic.

Lumps, Bumps, Growths, and Masses can be scary, but can usually be treated successfully, resulting in a good outcome, when you and your veterinarian work together for your pet.

Signs That Your Pet May Have Dental Disease

                                                       

 
 The benefits of a healthy mouth (and the pain, infection, and inflammation of a diseased one) extend to the whole body. Therefore, dental cleanings can have an enormous beneficial effect on your pet's overall health. Ideally you should brush your dog's teeth daily with a pet toothpaste. Make sure you use a toothpaste made especially for dogs. Human toothpaste and mouthwashes can often upset a dog's stomach. A healthy mouth should have pink gums and show no signs of swelling. Additionally, toxic free rawhide, nylon and rubber chew toys can help keep the teeth clean.  You can also give your pet special formulated food that will help keep the tartar off in between brushing and cleanings. (ASPCA) 
Here are five signs to watch out for:

- Difficulty Eating  can result from the pain associated with the inflammation and infection caused by dental disease. 

- Pawing at the Mouth may also be a sign of pain, inflammation and loose teeth. 

- Excessive Salivation often occurs with any disease of the mouth, including dental disease. 

- Odor from the Mouth and/or Bad Breath are common symptoms of infection caused by dental disease. 

- Facial Swelling Below the Eye or on the Bottom Jaw can mean that your pet has an abscess of a tooth root causing a draining hole to appear.

If your pet shows any of the above signs, he or she should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.  Prompt assessment and treatment are vital when it comes to dental disease in pets.