Remember… pets can live longer, healthier lives if oral health care is managed and maintained throughout theirs.

Unchecked plaque in your pet’s mouth allows bacteria to flourish or overgrow, causing periodontal disease. These bacteria can enter the blood stream through lesions in a pet’s diseased gums. And it doesn’t always take advanced disease for this to happen. Once in the blood stream, the bacteria can travel throughout the body and potentially impact your pet’s organs.”

The formation of plaque on teeth leads not only to calculus or tartar buildup but also to gingivitis. And if gingivitis is left untreated, it will progress into more advanced periodontal disease. Anecdotal reports have suggested that chronic periodontal disease causes problems in the heart, kidneys, and possibly the liver. Recent studies have shown a correlation between oral disease and systemic diseases in people, and researchers now have a better understanding of how oral disease affects the systemic health of dogs and cats.

The bacteria in the oral cavity of a pet with periodontal disease can be released into the circulatory system and travel throughout the body. This can cause damage to cardiac tissue and lead to endocarditis. Studies have shown a link among bacteremias originating from oral infections.  There are also studies that link periodontal disease to an increase in insulin resistance. When bacteria invades kidneys, it damages glomerulus membranes, causing them to function improperly. Bacteria also can cause functional changes in the liver of dogs.

Because of periodontal disease’s affect on overall health, it’s more than a localized problem that leads to bad breath and tooth loss—it’s also the beginning of more severe systemic issues. By sharing this message, we can help you understand the importance of oral health, why we suggest  dental cleanings, and encourage homecare compliance, thereby ensuring a healthier life for your pet.

We utilize a state-of-the-art dental unit that uses air and water to create the vibration of our ultrasonic scaler.  This is safer and protects teeth from damage due to excessive vibration commonly found with older ultrasonic scalers. Our high speed dental drill allows us to section teeth and extract them in a safer manner so that nearby structures are not damaged by excessive force.  We have the ability to do crown resections, gingival (gum) flaps and other advanced dental treatments.

Once we have completed the procedure, your pet will be closely monitored until he is awake and steady on his feet.  We generally discharge your pet between 4:00PM and 5:30PM so they can be home and settle in for the evening with you.

A dental chart becomes part of the pet’s medical record.

Brushing Your Pet´s Teeth

STEP 1: Introduce a brushing program to pets gradually. Avoid over-restraining your pet and keep brushing sessions short and positive. A cat or small dog can be held in your lap. Praise and reassure your pet throughout the process.
STEP 2: At first, dip a finger into beef bouillon for dogs or tuna water for cats. Rub the soaked finger gently over the pet’s mouth and teeth. Make the initial sessions short and positive.
STEP 3: Gradually, introduce gauze over the finger and gently scrub the teeth in a circular motion.
STEP 4: Finally, you can introduce a soft toothbrush.  Use a sensitive or ultra-soft brush designed for people or a brush designed for pets. Special pet toothbrushes are available from your veterinarian or specialty pet store. Don’t use toothpaste designed for people because it could upset the animal’s stomach.

Watch a video from Cornell University on taking care of your pet’s teeth….click here.

 Feed a dental diet

Several commercial diets have been shown to promote periodontal health compared with regular dry food diets. Studies document a significant reduction in the plaque, calculus, and gingivitis index for the foods tested. The mechanism of action for these dental foods is based on either enhanced textural characteristics of the kibble to mechanically cleanse the teeth (e.g. Prescription Diet t/d—Hill’s; Science Diet Oral Care—Hill’s; Purina Veterinary Diets DH—Nestlé Purina; and Friskies Feline Dental Diet—Friskies Petcare) or chemical coating of the food with polyphosphate (e.g. Iams Dental Defense—Iams and Eukanuba Adult Maintenance Diet for Dogs—Iams).

Offer appropriate chew treats

Chew treats such as rawhide can also help remove plaque and tartar from a dog’s teeth. Rawhide hasn’t been observed to cause digestive problems in the studies documenting its efficacy in plaque and tartar control. However, swallowing larger pieces of rawhide could cause gastrointestinal tract problems so provide size-appropriate rawhides that cannot be swallowed as a whole; smaller pieces of rawhide should be discarded. Plaque and tartar reduction is enhanced with rawhide treats coated with calcium-sequestering substances such as sodium hexametaphosphate.

Some chew toys should be avoided because of their tendency to cause tooth fracture.  Products such as nylon bones, cow hooves, and real bones are too hard and often are associated with slab fractures of the carnassial teeth in dogs.  If you want to be very certain the product you want to give your pet is good for his teeth, look for the VOHC seal.  The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) provides an objective means of recognizing products that meet standards of effectiveness in controlling the accumulation of dental plaque and calculus in dogs and cats.  More information on the VOHC and the products that have earned the VOHC seal can be found at http://www.vohc.org/.

State of art blood analyzers complete in-house lab results quickly.

The Cazenovia Animal Hospital recently upgraded the in-house lab equipment to be able to provide complete and more timely results for you and your pet.  In-house blood testing lets you be more involved in your pet’s care, as you and your veterinarian can discuss the results sooner and develop a health care plan that will benefit your pet  and ease your worries.

With this new lab equipment we are able to perform a complete blood count (CBC) and a diagnostic blood chemistry panel, including electrolytes.  The CBC tells us if there is infection, inflammation or anemia.  The chemistry panel and electrolytes tell us if your pet’s liver, kidneys and pancreas are healthy and functioning as they should.  We can also run a thyroid function test in-house which is important because thyroid disease is common in dogs and older cats.

Heather, LVT running a blood sample on our new blood analyzer.

Another way our new lab equipment is providing quality care for your pet is with preanesthesia screening done the morning of your pet’s scheduled procedure.  The licensed veterinary technicians (LVT) run a CBC and chemistry panel to make sure the kidney and liver are functioning normally and there are no hidden infections, anemia or dehydration. This information may reveal problems that are not apparent on physical exam or that are not yet causing symptoms.  If we have concerns after reviewing the results, we may reschedule the surgery for when your pet is feeling better.  The doctor may adjust the anesthesia according to your pet’s needs or may decide that IV fluids would be beneficial while your pet is in the hospital.  We always call to discuss our findings and health care plan with you, so please make sure we have contact numbers to reach you.

As a result, supplies of various popular over-the-counter products will be affected, including Excedrin, Theraflu, Triaminic, Maalox and Lamisil.   As for veterinarians, the popular Interceptor preventative for heartworm and intestinal parasites will also be harder to come by.  A Novartis spokeswoman was unable to say how long the shutdown will occur or whether the action was precipitated by regulatory inspections.

Currently we are unable to purchase Interceptor but we have an ample supply of other preventatives we will be recommending until Interceptor is available again.

Tri Heart Plus is a heartworm preventative along with a reliable treatment and control of hookworms and roundworms.

Trifexis has the same product ingredients as Interceptor along with a product for flea control.  If your dog has been diagnosed with a whipworm infection, or you want to provide more complete protection from internal and external parasites, you may want to consider Trifexis for your dog.

Remember, neither of these products do anything to protect against, repel or kill ticks.  You will still need to use a tick control product such as Advantix or a Salibor collar starting as soon as temperatures are in the 40 degree range.

If you have questions or concerns about using a different product from the one your pet has used for years, please don’t hesitate to call for more information.  We feel very confident in the products we have chosen to use while Interceptor is unavailable and we feel you and your pet will not notice the difference.

The thing is, nobody’s filled pets in on all of these benefits of exercise. Without someone to lead the way, they’re not going to run laps or do leg lifts in their spare time. So as a wonderful pet parent, part of your job is ensuring your animal family members get safe, enjoyable exercise on a regular basis–whether they’re cats, dogs, turtles, or ferrets! All pets need some physical activity to live a happy, healthy life.

Different pets need different amounts of exercise, so you’ll want to talk to your veterinarian before starting your pet’s workout program. With your veterinarian’s approval, you can embark on an exercise program that won’t seem like work at all–to your pet, it’s play.

Dogs on the run

Dogs can be great fun to exercise, because they can get you out and moving yourself. You don’t want to hit the ground running with your pooch, though. Just as with any animal–or person– you’ll want a doctor’s okay before you start your dog’s fitness routine. “Begin with a visit to the veterinarian to discuss your plans and ensure your dog has a clean bill of health,” says Dr. Jay Geasling, member and past president of the American Animal Hospital Association. “After your veterinarian gives you the go-ahead, start your dog on suitable exercise for beginners.”

Just like people who aren’t used to exercise, dogs should start off slow. Moderately paced walking and swimming are a good way to start–they let canine athletes build their  cardiovascular and muscle strength without putting undue stress on their joints. A daily ten- to 15-minute walking or swimming session is a good start; you can build to an hour a day if Rover seems up to it. If, after a few months, he’s doing well and can handle long, fast walks without fatigue, he can graduate to jogging with you. Once he’s adapted to the exercise, you and your dog can run and walk to your heart’s content, if you take a few precautions:

• Keep a close eye on your dog: watch for any unusual signs of fatigue or trouble breathing. If your pup wants to stop, let him. Dogs that overdo it can suffer strained tendons or ligaments or other orthopedic problems.
• Don’t expect your fuzzy buddy to be a weekend warrior, even if you only get exercise on the weekends yourself. After a long week without exercise, your dog may be ready to get out and burn off energy. But because of their enthusiasm, many of the popular breeds, such as Labrador and golden retrievers, will overdo it.
• Safety first–keep Rover on a leash when you run. Even the best-trained dogs can run into the path of a car or a territorial animal. And if you have to run when it’s dark out, put reflectors on your dog’s collar as well as on your clothes.
• Concrete and asphalt are tough on the paws, especially on hot days. Try to run on dirt paths or grass as much as possible. Gravel, cinders, and road salt can also irritate paws.
• Take it easy in extreme weather. If it’s freezing cold or hot and steamy out, either keep your run short or play a little indoor fetch instead.
• The more active your dog is, the more water he’ll need. Make sure he has plenty of fresh water before and after your run. If you’re going for a long run, take some water along for him.

If your dog is getting bored with running or walking, take heart: there are other ways to get him the exercise he needs. A 15-minute game of fetch makes for a good workout. Supervised play with other dogs is a good option too. Tug-of-war is not a good game because it can damage his teeth and may increase aggressive behavior. If you have the time and your dog has the
inclination, you could even try running him through some agility obstacle courses, which incorporate a range of activities. If you’re interested, your veterinarian may know of a dog agility organization in your area.

Getting the cat off the couch.

Cats can make laziness into an art form: snoozing in the afternoon sun, stretching a little before they plop down on your lap for the night. But as immobile as they seem, they still need to get up and moving on a regular basis. Cats are a bit different than dogs, however–they’re designed for short, frequent periods of intense activity, rather than longer, slower-paced exercise sessions.

There are some wonderful toys you can buy to get your cat active, including kitty trees that will let her climb to the ceiling and mechanical animals she can chase around the room. There’s no reason to reach into your wallet for toys your cat may or may not like, however, when there is endless entertainment around the house. There are a few main ways you can entice your kitty into activity:

• Things she can bat. Anything light that moves easily across the floor can give your cat a chance to practice hitting and chasing. Balled up pantyhose and paper work well; for some reason the rings that come off of milk jug caps also seem to be irresistible. Just make sure that she’s not batting anything she could chew up or swallow.
• Things she can chase. The end of a moving string should bring out the predator in even the most sedentary cat. Again, just make sure she doesn’t swallow the string.
• Things she can explore. Empty boxes and paper bags may get your cat to climb in, out, and on top.
• Things she can scratch. Scratching stretches and tones the muscles in your cat’s shoulders and back. A scratching post–or even a piece of cardboard or carpet–can keep her active without shredding your sofa.

Whatever game you play with your cat, don’t use your hand or fingers as “bait” or as the object of teasing. This teaches him that it is all right to scratch and bite your hands–a lesson you will want your cat to unlearn in the future.
The key is to find out which kind of toy is the most tempting to your cat and to use it consistently. You may have to try a lot of different activities to before you find your kitty’s favorite. Some cats can even be trained to walk outside on a leash.

If you have found ticks on your dog, please call and schedule an appointment to check for Lyme and other tick borne diseases. The deer tick that carries Lyme disease is very small and
may be easily missed, especially on heavy coated dogs. Consider having your dog tested, even if you didn’t find ticks. This is a simple blood test that we perform here at the hospital with results in about 15 minutes. If your dog tests positive, he will be started on a course of Doxycycline antibiotic to help prevent the disease from progressing.

Ticks are active any time the temperature is 40 degrees or above and there have been many such days this fall. We are recommending you continue to use a tick preventative until there is a good snow pack on the ground and to start up again as soon as thawing begins in the spring. We also recommend having you dog vaccinated against Lyme disease in February or March to make sure he has that extra layer of protection when the ticks start moving again. If your dog has not been vaccinated before, he will need a series of 2 vaccinations, 3 weeks apart , and a booster every year. If you dog has been vaccinated, remember to get the booster each year.

If you have questions or concerns regarding ticks and Lyme disease, give us a call.