We will be having some fun dog events in March!
Dog sports are a passion at All-Pets. Dr Berge like drafting with her big furry Berners, Rachel loves clicker training and Sara exhibits Kendyll regularly in obedience and rally.
To get us all ready for "dog spring training" we will be hosting some extra fun dog events.
On March 14, join Dr. Berge for a seminar on Running With Your Dog. This will be held during packet pickup for the Leprechaun Chase. It will be at the Animal Rescue League Main from noon to 12:30. Dr. Berge will talk about selecting the correct dog for running, training for running with your dog, proper equipment and canine conditioning.
On March 22, the Heartland Bernese Mt Dog Club will be hosting an event at Cherry Glen Recreation area at Saylorville Lake. We are optimistically planning on doing outdoor training in draft and obedience. The event will start at 2 pm. Everyone is invited to train dogs at all levels of experience, watch dogs work draft or just talk dogs. We will have some adorable Bernese Mt Dog puppies there to socialize, so all are welcome!
We are all looking forward to spring and hope to see you out with your dogs!
Friday, March 7, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Dental disease
What are the two most common diseases of dogs & cats in the U.S.?
You guessed it: obesity & periodontal disease.
Neither of these seems immediately life threatening, but both contribute to ill health & decrease life span in dogs and cats, as well as people.
Most pets have some degree of periodontal disease. This occurs when the daily accumulation of plaque isn't removed, and hardens & forms calculus. Calculus & plaque cause the gum tissue to become inflamed & reactive. This inflammation of the area where the teeth & gums meets is called periodontitis.
Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, dental abscesses, pain & bad breath.
Often with pets, we first notice the bad breath. Because they can't talk, they won't complain about a tooth ache or loose tooth. The teeth must be severely diseased before dental disease affects appetite. Dogs & cats just chew around the bad tooth. So, bad breath is often the first sign of problems.
Pets should have daily dental care & routine dental cleanings, just like we do. Brushing is ideal. Some pets accept this readily, but some do not. We can show you how to brush your pet's teeth, or how to use sprays & rinses when brushing is too difficult.
Routine dental cleanings in the pet do require a general anesthesia. Anesthesia is generally well tolerated, but risks should be discussed with you and your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can advise you when your pet is in need of a dental prophylaxis or extractions by means of a simple dental exam.
February is Pet Dental Health Month, so bring your pet to All-Pets today for a FREE dental exam. Call us at 515-262-8535 or 515-244-0447.
You guessed it: obesity & periodontal disease.
Neither of these seems immediately life threatening, but both contribute to ill health & decrease life span in dogs and cats, as well as people.
Most pets have some degree of periodontal disease. This occurs when the daily accumulation of plaque isn't removed, and hardens & forms calculus. Calculus & plaque cause the gum tissue to become inflamed & reactive. This inflammation of the area where the teeth & gums meets is called periodontitis.
Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, dental abscesses, pain & bad breath.
Often with pets, we first notice the bad breath. Because they can't talk, they won't complain about a tooth ache or loose tooth. The teeth must be severely diseased before dental disease affects appetite. Dogs & cats just chew around the bad tooth. So, bad breath is often the first sign of problems.
Pets should have daily dental care & routine dental cleanings, just like we do. Brushing is ideal. Some pets accept this readily, but some do not. We can show you how to brush your pet's teeth, or how to use sprays & rinses when brushing is too difficult.
Routine dental cleanings in the pet do require a general anesthesia. Anesthesia is generally well tolerated, but risks should be discussed with you and your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can advise you when your pet is in need of a dental prophylaxis or extractions by means of a simple dental exam.
February is Pet Dental Health Month, so bring your pet to All-Pets today for a FREE dental exam. Call us at 515-262-8535 or 515-244-0447.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Pet Dental Health Month
February is Pet Dental Health Month, so lets talk about teeth!
Dogs & cats teeth differ from humans (so do rabbit teeth & that's another story). Dogs & cats are more carnivorous than people so their teeth are more pointy & vary more in shape. But, dogs & cats get many of the same dental diseases as people: their baby teeth sometimes don't fall out, they have abnormal bites, they occasionally get cavities, and most significantly they have plaque & calculus just like people.
Most pets have two sets of teeth: deciduous or baby teeth & adult teeth. Baby teeth erupt between 3 & 6 weeks of age and adult teeth between 4 & 6 months of age. The baby teeth fall out at starting around 4 months of age & adult teeth come in. Adult dentition is complete by 6 months. We can easily tell how old a pet is up to the age of 6 months. After that it becomes much more difficult. Pet baby teeth that remain in the mouth after the pet is 6 months of age should be extracted.
Abnormal bites are common & even accepted in some breeds. The boxer & shih tzu should have an underbite, wherein the bottom jaw & incisors protrudes beyond the top teeth. Abnormal bites in dogs & cats are usually not corrected with braces as they are in children. Having a abnormal bite can lead to more severe periodontal disease & sometimes even tooth loss. The truly correct bite in the dog is a scissors bite where the front incisors lay just over the bottom.
Cavities or dental caries are uncommon in dogs, but common in cats & people. In cats, they cause pain & tooth loss. Most teeth with cavities in the cat should be extracted. Fillings don't usually last very long in cats. We don't know what causes cavities in cats. We don't think it's related to a sugary diet or drinking pop! Most likely there are genetic factors in the cat that lead to cavities, just as there are in people.
Tomorrow, we will talk about plaque, calculus & periodontal disease & what you can do to keep your pets mouth healthy.
In honor of Pet Dental Health Month, All-Pets Hospital is offering complimentary dental exams & 20% off all dental services. Call us today to schedule! 515-262-8535 or 515-244-0447.
Dogs & cats teeth differ from humans (so do rabbit teeth & that's another story). Dogs & cats are more carnivorous than people so their teeth are more pointy & vary more in shape. But, dogs & cats get many of the same dental diseases as people: their baby teeth sometimes don't fall out, they have abnormal bites, they occasionally get cavities, and most significantly they have plaque & calculus just like people.
Most pets have two sets of teeth: deciduous or baby teeth & adult teeth. Baby teeth erupt between 3 & 6 weeks of age and adult teeth between 4 & 6 months of age. The baby teeth fall out at starting around 4 months of age & adult teeth come in. Adult dentition is complete by 6 months. We can easily tell how old a pet is up to the age of 6 months. After that it becomes much more difficult. Pet baby teeth that remain in the mouth after the pet is 6 months of age should be extracted.
Abnormal bites are common & even accepted in some breeds. The boxer & shih tzu should have an underbite, wherein the bottom jaw & incisors protrudes beyond the top teeth. Abnormal bites in dogs & cats are usually not corrected with braces as they are in children. Having a abnormal bite can lead to more severe periodontal disease & sometimes even tooth loss. The truly correct bite in the dog is a scissors bite where the front incisors lay just over the bottom.
Cavities or dental caries are uncommon in dogs, but common in cats & people. In cats, they cause pain & tooth loss. Most teeth with cavities in the cat should be extracted. Fillings don't usually last very long in cats. We don't know what causes cavities in cats. We don't think it's related to a sugary diet or drinking pop! Most likely there are genetic factors in the cat that lead to cavities, just as there are in people.
Tomorrow, we will talk about plaque, calculus & periodontal disease & what you can do to keep your pets mouth healthy.
In honor of Pet Dental Health Month, All-Pets Hospital is offering complimentary dental exams & 20% off all dental services. Call us today to schedule! 515-262-8535 or 515-244-0447.
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