Do Dogs and Cats Needs Their Teeth Cleaned? YES!

One of the more frequent conversations I have with pet owners before or during a teeth cleaning procedure (or dental treatment procedure) is about having to extract teeth. Usually it goes something like this:

Doctor: "Pet owner, your pet has multiple teeth with end stage periodontal disease. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to fix this, so I need to extract X number of teeth"
Pet Owner: "Oh no! Why so many? Do you have to? How is he going to eat? Will he be in pain?"
Doctor: "Yes, there may be some discomfort, but actually the teeth that are diseased are already causing pain. We will treat the discomfort of extractions with medicine at home after the procedure. He will eat fine, but you may need to soften the food for a week or two. We have to take out the teeth because the disease has progressed too far and there's nothing else we can do."

You may wonder why I'm writing an article about this. I'm hoping to explain a little bit about the mouths of dogs and cats, and the reason why we have to perform extractions, so that it may not be a big shock if your pet needs teeth extracted.
I have heard comments about "vets who likes to extract teeth." Actually, that's not the case; most of us prefer not to. If there are no teeth to extract that would mean that there isn't disease present and your pet is healthier. Extracting teeth is sometimes hard work. Most animal professionals prefer to prevent extractions. The fact of the matter is that most animal patients haven't had the dental care needed to prevent extractions, and by the time I perform a dental treatment procedure it is too late.

Let's think about how we take care of our own teeth. When we are children we are taught how to brush our teeth well before the permanent teeth develop. Then we continue that oral hygiene regimen, usually twice daily, often floss daily, and visit out dentist once or twice a year. We have very clean teeth and periodontal disease is avoided. Humans need all their teeth to chew because we grind our food and cannot swallow it whole, so proper oral hygiene is important to prevent tooth loss. We only have 32 teeth (28 if you've had your wisdom teeth removed), so it's necessary to keep them all healthy.

Now let's contrast what happens with our pets. Most pet owners don't realize that their dog or cat has baby teeth and lose them. Sometimes dogs will not lose all of their baby teeth, and if your vet doesn't notice this, (or if your pet isn't taken in to the vet) those extra baby teeth can cause problems. Most pets will have all of their permanent teeth present by 6 months of age. Dogs have 42 teeth (that's a lot!) and cats have 30 teeth. After 6 months of age tooth brushing should begin, but many pet owners don't do this because they've never had instruction or been told to, and many pets resist it. So if a pet is lucky, they get their teeth brushed occasionally, like when they go to the groomer. It's inevitable that plaque and tartar will accumulate and cause gingivitis. Plaque, tartar and gingivitis wouldn't be a big problem if the pet was given a professional, anesthetized dental cleaning once it started to accumulate. But for a number of reasons this doesn't always happen, so eventually that plaque causes gum and bone damage and loosening of the teeth. Now we have end stage periodontal disease, which requires extractions.

Luckily dogs and cats don't need teeth to eat. They don't grind their food like we do, and we can prepare food for them that's in small bites and soft enough to just swallow whole. In fact, many dogs and cats who have no teeth at all still eat dry food! It's not a terrible thing to extract bad teeth, in fact it usually makes the pet feel quite a bit better. Many clients tell me that after having diseased teeth removed their dog is more active, acting like a puppy again, and is eating better.

Pet owners need to understand that tooth extractions are an unfortunate fact of dental treatment procedures for most pets. However, extractions can be avoided if pet owners will take the necessary steps to try to prevent dental disease. These preventative steps include regular visits for dental health evaluations, regular (daily) tooth brushing, and regular anesthetized dental cleanings.

Author Sarah Bashaw can be reached at El Dorado Animal Hospital, a full service, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic designed with client comfort and patient care in mind.

Canine Eyes

"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language", Martin Buber. Not all people love dogs or not even close to liking them. But some change their minds after some close encounters with the canine kinds. After all, they would not be called as man's best friend for nothing. There must have been things or events consistently happening to different kinds of people from all over the world (and under) that has made this adage so socially accepted.

There was once a story of a mother who hates it when dogs come near her. Belonging to a family who adores dogs, she tolerates her coexistence with them but takes no particular liking on owning them herself. She got married to a guy who shares her sentiment (could be the reason why they got married in the first place!). But their furry friend just wouldn't let go until their hearts are softened. It happened when their eldest daughter cajoled them into giving her permission to adopt a dog on her apartment where she was staying. On one of their visits to her apartment, the dog, though they were strangers to him, couldn't be as sweeter and as playful to the couple as to their daughter. They were so touched by the closeness of the two (the dog and their daughter) that they decided to extend their stay and try liking this mysterious dog as well. To their astonishment, it wasn't so bad after all. With his chocolate brown eyes that always seem to want to play and with all his sweetness, he won their hearts. All it took was constant staring at those eyes and alas, they started adoring him as well. 

The idea that the eyes are indeed the windows of the soul couldn't be truer than in this case. Dogs may not have souls but they act as though they do have one. What's worse is when a person acts as though he has no soul when he has one! This is one of the reasons why there are those who prefer dogs as their companions rather than getting a wife or a husband or maybe adopt a child. When they need silence, the comfort they get just by walking along side with their dogs or blankly staring at the wall, sitting on the sofa beside their dogs (as seen on movies), is incomparable. It so soothes their minds that they wouldn't exchange their dogs for a possibly nagging wife. Sometimes, just looking at the eyes of their pet dogs give them the comfort they need, for their eyes never lie (they don't know how anyway). For whatever language the eyes of the dogs speak of, they indeed bring comfort to those who need it, and that's as invaluable as a priceless gold.

Pet Boots and Shoes

Why dogs need pet boots and shoes 
In the winter time, especially in snowy areas, cities often put down chemical de-icers as well as salt on pavement. If you walk your dog on this pavement, his paws will become covered with this salt and chemicals. This causes problems for many dogs. Their paws can chafe and crack. You can use emollients on their paws to help them heal.
You can also use paw wax to help toughen the paws. And you need to wash your dog's paws when he walks on pavements where these chemicals are found. Do not let your dog lick his paws after he has been walking on pavement in the winter until they have been washed. These chemicals can be dangerous for your dog. You can also put pet boots or shoes on your dog when you walk him so you can keep his paws free of these chemicals. Boots and shoes will keep the salt and chemicals off your dog's paws so they won't crack and they will prevent your dog from ingesting the chemicals. 
In the summer, dogs who walk on hot pavement can appreciate wearing boots or shoes to keep their paws from getting too hot. Rain boots can also be a good idea if you want to keep your dog's paws dry. 
Senior dogs with arthritis or other mobility problems can often have trouble walking because they can't get enough traction on the floor. This is especially true if you have hardwood floors. If you put pet boots or shoes on your dog's paws, especially on his rear paws, it will often provide the traction he needs so he can walk again.
Some hunting dogs wear boots or shoes if they will be hunting in tough terrain that could injure their paws.  Of course, there are many boots and shoes that are made for fashion reasons. You can always buy them for your dog just because they look good.

Choosing boots and shoes 
Pet boots and shoes usually come in small, medium, and large sizes. You should choose the size that's appropriate for your dog. Some boots and shoes have Gore-tex or other gripping soles. These boots and shoes would be especially good for dogs that need good traction.
There are several good brands of dog boots and shoes. You can find them online or in pet stores. Brands include Guardian Gear, UltraPaws, and Muttluks. Some dog boots and shoes come in four-packs and some come in two-packs. Boots and shoes tend to be rather expensive but they do last a while.
Your dog may have trouble walking in the boots or shoes at first or try to remove them but most dogs quickly adjust to them. Elderly dogs should adapt and become more mobile as soon as they realize they can get their footing again.

Trimming Your Dachshund's Nails

I hear it time and again, "I won't trim my dachshund's nails because I can't handle the possibility of hurting him." With a little knowledge and patience, it will be a much less scary process for both of you. Your dog will pick up on your emotions, so the more nervous you are, the more nervous your dog will be. So take a breath, relax, and read this article.
  One grooming step that all dogs need is to have their nails trimmed regularly. This should be started right away when they are just weeks old. That is the responsibility of the breeder to get them used to the process. Depending on when the breeder will let their puppies go home, their nails should have been trimmed at least two or three times already. If you have found a good breeder, they will be handling their puppies all of the time anyway, so they should be well socialized and not afraid of having their nails trimmed. If your dog has not been properly socialized and is skittish when you try to trim their nails, you can slowly get them used to being handled for a trim. When you are sitting or lying with your dog, touch and hold their feet, one at a time, just so they can get used to you handling their paws. This process can go on for weeks before they are comfortable. When you start trimming your dachshund's nails, just take the tips off so there is very little chance of cutting too short. 
 You will need to make some plans before you decide to trim your dachshund's nails. One of these is what kind of trimmer to use. I do not recommend the use of a guillotine type trimmer as these are trickier to use and the nails can catch if your dog decides to move their foot at the wrong time.
The trimmer I like to use is the basic bypass trimmer, not a guillotine type. There are wide varieties to choose from, so pick the one you feel most comfortable with. Nail grinders are available, but they can be loud and it takes longer this way. It does leave a nice smooth surface; however, I would only recommend this for experienced groomers. 
 You should also buy some styptic powder while you are getting your trimmer. Even professional groomers and veterinarians will sometimes get the nail trimmed too short and the nail can start to bleed. The styptic powder will act as a clotting agent and will stop the bleeding fast. To use the powder, pinch some styptic in between your pointer finger and your thumb, gently grab your dog's foot with your other hand, and push the powder onto the bleeding nail and hold it there for 15 to 30 seconds. This should successfully stop the bleeding. If it still bleeds through, put more powder on the nail until it does stop bleeding. 
 If you have someone who can help you hold your dog while you do the trimming, that would be great. Since the dachshund's legs are short and do not stretch or bend as easily as other breeds, I recommend that your partner holds your dog vertically against their chest while supporting their but. Definitely use two hands! That way their paws are out front and easier to access. 
 Start by gently but firmly holding your dog's paw. Pushing softly on the pad of each toe will set the nail out further to give you better access to the nail. If your dog has white nails, you should be able to see where the quick is and trim the nail just a bit longer than the quick. If your dog has dark nails, you will want to start out a little further and trim off small bits until you get close enough that you can just barely see a lighter color on the inside of the nail. That means you are getting close to the quick. You should also be able to see how your dog's nail starts to curve just after the quick ends. That is a good guide on where to start trimming. Most dogs will still have their dew claws on their front feet, occasionally; a dog will have them on their back feet also. Do not forget to trim these dew claws every time. These claws can easily curve around and dig into your dog's leg if they get too long. 
If you go into this with confidence and patience, you will have a much better experience and your dog will be more comfortable and easier to handle. After just a few times, you will wonder why you were so worried in the first place.

Simple Tips To Help You Choose The Right Kittens For Sale

Twenty years is a very long time and very few people can live with the same person or animal for so long. Twenty years, what am I talking about? This is the expected lifespan of a cat. While these animals are not loved by many people, kittens for sale happens to be so sweet and cuddly and this happens to be the reason why many people make the wrong decision when choosing a lifelong partner. The deception only becomes clear after a few months when these furry little creatures begin to grow and their owners learn about their own little ways and personal behavior. Never be deceived by the way a kitten looks and some of the things you think about when purchasing puppies for sale comes into play when you are thinking to buy a kitten. 
Kittens for sale and how to choose the right one 
When buying a kitten, many people focus on one thing and one thing alone and that is how adorable and fluffy the kitten is. While this method can be used, if you are going to choose a kitten based on its outward appearance, you will need to do some things in order for you to maintain that beauty. A Moggy, for instance, requires daily brushing and grooming to keep them looking beautiful and it is advised that you only invest in one of these cats if you have the time to brush them on a daily basis. While you can choose kittens for sale base on their look, it is strongly advised that you do not because you cannot tell what traits they will have simply by looking on them. 
Once you have overlooked a kitten's outward appearance, you need to think about the environment that you will have the cat living in. Did you know that aggression in cats oftentimes come from the environment that they live in? Hard to believe but true; a gentle, friendly cat can inherit its genes from its mother or father but in most cases, these cats are the way they are because they grow around soft gentle people. When looking for kittens for sale, it is best to go with ones that have been in a situation where over four people have had a hand in their life thus far. 
This tip is recommended because kittens need to interact with a number of people in order for them to be friendly. If the kitten that you are buying has only been socialized with one or two humans, it will be very hard breaking it otherwise because the first two to seven weeks are the most crucial period in every cat's life. During this period, kittens learn most of their traits that will take them through the duration of their life.
When choosing kittens for sale, it is crucial that you take your household and lifestyle into consideration. Kittens that are confident and very outgoing will settle well in busy households and large families. Take your other family members into consideration as well and if you have children and other pets, keep in mind that it will take some time for the kittens to get use to them; therefore, you will need to be patient and gentle with your new kittens.