All you need to know about brushing your pet’s teeth!   

   Yes – it really needs to be done!   

You know that slimy feeling your teeth have first thing in the morning and right before bedtime – well that’s a thick layer of bacteria colonizing your teeth and creating a protective layer.  This is known a dental plaque.  When the bacterial plaque is not removed frequently it combines with the minerals in saliva to form hard deposits called tartar, which leads to gum disease.  It has been well documented in us and our pets that oral disease is the beginning of significant systemic disease.  Below are some known complications of oral disease.   

  All known complications of oral disease:    

1. Shorter life expectancy (animals and people)
2. Oronasal fistula (animals and people)
3. Pain (animals and people)
4. Poor diabetic control (animals and people)
5. Oral cancer (animals and people)
6. Ocular damage (animals)
7. Osteomyelitis (animals and people)
8. Valvular endocarditis (dogs)
9. Nephritis and hepatitis (animals more than people)
10. COPD (dogs)
11. Brain abscesses (dogs, cats and people)
12. Miscarriage (people and dogs)

 How to train your dog (or a very tolerant cat) how to accept teeth brushing:  

Ø  Training for brushing is best started as a puppy or kitten, but even adult dogs and cats can be trained.    

Ø  At Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital, our preferred method is to start with your finger and gently rubbing the teeth for a few brief moments and immediately reward the pet (praise, toy or treat) afterward. You don’t have to lift their lip.  Just feel – you’ll find their teeth!   

Ø  Continue this exercise daily for 7-14 days.   In time, this gets the pet used to having the teeth touched and allows the pet to anticipate the reward for better behavior.  Gradually lengthen the time spent touching the teeth with your finger, and then graduate to a tooth brush.   Never just go straight to a brush.  

 Ø  Some very small breeds (toy poodles, Chihuahuas) may have such a small mouth that a child or cat sized tooth brush is used. These pets have a VERY narrow space between the jawbone and molars.    

Ø  Brushing should be gentle back and forth or small circles front to back.  Focus should be on the outside of the teeth. Tartar can form on the inside, but usually only by extending around the crown from the outside.  At least 2 full minutes of brushing for each side of the mouth should be done.   

Rule of thumb: a minimum frequency of twice weekly brushing is recommended in order to make a difference.  The more frequent the brushing, the better your pets health will be.  Just think, you wouldn’t want to go even 24 hours without brushing your teeth TWICE.  Imagine your pet’s mouth after 7 days of not brushing much less after a year or two.  Disgusting thought isn’t it!  No more puppy kisses!  

Tooth pastes     

Ø   These are very helpful, but not essential.     

Ø  When using tooth pastes, you MUST use pet tooth pastes!     

Ø  Tooth pastes provide two helpful attributes.   

1.       They are generally flavored. In fact, some veterinary dentists advocate applying the tooth paste to a brush and allowing the pet to chew the brush as a way to introduce the brushing stages.    

2.      The second helpful attribute is tartar destroying enzymes (especially the C.E.T. products). If a pet is wiggly and doesn’t allow complete brushing, the enzymes continue to work. So with a wiggly pet, you should first smear the paste on all 4 of the arcades then brush as much as they can.   

Other means of maintaining oral health 

Brushing is by far and away the strongest prophylaxis we can do. There are additional means of maintaining your pet’s healthy mouth and body.  These should never be considered as replacement for routine brushing and annual professional dental prophylaxis. 

1. Periodontal vaccines. Not helpful in preventing tartar, but showing VERY promising results in protecting the tooth’s root and surrounding bone from destruction if dental disease starts. Pets who receive the vaccine should still have some routine preventative measure for tartar, but the vaccine gives greater latitude before periodontal disease sets in.
2. Chew toys.
   • Greenies work well but must be the appropriate size.
   • Rawhides work well but should be chaperoned to prevent swallowing large pieces and thrown out if old.  It should also be known that frequent rawhide chewers tend to develop more fractured teeth that require either bonded crown sealants, root canal therapy, or surgical extraction. 
   • Kong toys can help but may stain the tooth with the color of the rubber. Not a big deal, but be aware. Peanut butter can be applied to Kong toys to really get a pets attention.
3. Dental diets such as Hills Prescription t/d or Purina Veterinary Diet DH have been shown to be very effective in helping to remove small thin bits of plaque. They are not always appropriate for obese animals due to higher fat.   At Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital, we encourage their use but as daily treats versus a sole diet.
4. Be careful with bones. Although dogs like them they can have problems. If brittle they can cause chipped and broken teeth or dental abscesses. If dirty or improperly sterilized, they can cause bacterial gastroenteritis. If they contain fresh marrow, they may cause pancreatitis. If swallowed, your pet may need expensive and risky emergency surgery. Even though I understand many people successfully give bones for years to their dogs, as veterinarians we see the side when things go wrong so we generally advocate NOT giving them, especially when so many alternatives are out there.
5. Dental sealants (Oravet): Professional base is applied after a cleaning, and the owner touches up the base weekly by smearing a “replenishing” layer over the base. Very effective, but must be kept up diligently. Takes the place of regular brushing, is only once a week, and is very fast. The downside is some people find the pet’s response to the spatula awkward, and it has to be applied after and anesthetized dental cleaning to be effective. Expense is only medium.
6. Mouth rinses and water additives: Might help reduce the total amount of mouth bacteria and help the odor of the breath, but remain largely unproven.

Please remember, absolutely nothing replaces once yearly professional dental prophylaxis.  Start your pet on the path to a healthy, LONG, pain free life by having your veterinarian perform annual dental prophylaxis starting no later than 3 years of age.   

Stay tuned for upcoming information in October 2011 for the next “Food for Nails”.   AND REMEMBER, you do not have to be a Pine Creek Vet Hospital client to participate in “Food for Nails”.  

Thank you again -

The Doctors and Staff at Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital.

February – which means it times to check your dogs’ or cats’ teeth!  Also means a $20 discount on your pet’s dental prophylaxis.

Scientific studies reveal that dental disease is the single most common disease in our companion pets.  Our pets are now living longer and healthier lives thanks to advances in veterinary medicine AND our pets dental and oral health. In years past, when the life expectancy of pets was drastically less, the importance placed on healthy teeth was also much less. Experience and science are revealing that oral disease can lead to systemic complications.

We have learned that poor oral health can lead to unannounced pain, heart valve disease, kidney infections, and loss of teeth. However, these consequences can be easily avoided by a regimen of dental care and regular veterinary check-ups.

Maintaining your pet’s oral health continues with your veterinarian.  He will evaluate your pet’s mouth for tartar, bad breath, and inflamed or receding gums and will advise you when a professional cleaning is recommended.  In general, all cats and dogs should have their teeth professional cleaned at least once a year after they are 3 years of age!

Unfortunately, pets don’t sit still like we do for a hygienic cleaning.  This may seem like an obvious statement, however many clients believe incorrectly that it is too risky to anesthetize a pet for a dental cleaning, and the pet seems to be doing just fine.  Ironically, pets that undergo “awake” dental procedures are the pets that experience more complications and have a higher risk factor than pets properly and safely anesthetized for a more thorough and proper dental prophylaxis.

At Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital, a complete dental prophylaxis includes the following:

• A complete physical examination
• Analyzing laboratory values to measure the function of internal organs prior to anesthesia
• Safely and properly anesthetizing your pet, tailoring the anesthesia to a pet’s individual needs
• Extensive monitoring of your pet’s vitals while anesthetized including ECG, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, expired CO2, and temperature all by a trained technical anesthetist.
• Once asleep, the dental technician performs a complete oral examination looking for problems such as fractured teeth, discolored teeth, oral masses, jaw misalignment, etc.
• Then the work starts. The technician will ultrasonically scale all teeth removing the tartar from the crowns.  However, the tartar under the gum line must also be cleaned.
• Each tooth is independently probed for mobility, cracks, or deep pockets along the gum line.
• If a tooth appears diseased, it will be further evaluated with a dental x-ray. If disease is present, options such as extracting the diseased tooth or a root canal should be explored to prevent a problem from spreading.
• Finally, the teeth are polished to a smooth and healthy shine filling in the microscopic defects the ultrasonic scaling creates.  Just like in people except we’re not anesthetized!

Many veterinarians honor National Pet Dental Health month through a wide variety of special offers or educational material. Please take this opportunity to begin a new life of better dental health and comfort for your pet.

February Pet Dental month is celebrated at Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital this year with a $20 discount on your pet’s dental prophylaxis.

Doctors and Staff of Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital dedicated to helping your pet live a longer, healthier, pain free life!

“Mougli’s Munchies”

Ingredients
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
1 cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375F. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.

**Be careful, the cookies burn easily.

We hope you enjoy these cookies.  Please do not offer to pets with wheat allergies.

Thanks to your extreme generosity, we collected over 740 lbs of food and supplies for Care and Share.

If you missed out last year, don’t fret! You have another chance to make an impact in your community. Hunger affects so many people and some may be your next door neighbor!

We are kicking off our second annual 2010 “Food for Nails” food drive.

Here’s how it works:

1. Bring in 5 separate items
2. Receive a free nail trim for your dog or cat
3. Bring the items down to Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital from NOW until Dec 31^st.
4. You can “bank” nail trims – this is very popular!

Example:

Bring in 5 items = 1 free nail trim

Bring in 30 cans of food = 6 free nail trims

Bring in 20 tubes of tooth paste = 4 free nail trims

Bring in 10 individual soaps = 2 free nail trims

Items needed:

• Canned food
• Toiletry items (shampoo, tooth paste, soap, TP, paper towels, etc, etc. etc.)
• Baby supplies (diapers, baby formula, cereal, jars of food)
• Pasta, rice, etc.
• Anything you think would be helpful to fight hunger!
• Items cannot be accepted if expired or opened! Sorry!

We hope to surpass our total from last year and collect at least one ton of food and supplies for Care and Share.

We wish to thank you all in advance for your tremendous generosity and support in our small fight against hunger!

Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital is participating in our first annual Komen Race for the Cure in Colorado Springs on Sept 12, 201o.   Please help us raise funds for this worthy cause. 

Visit our team website: PAWS for the CAUSE at

http://secolorado.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/COS_SoutheasternColoradoAffiliate?pg=team&fr_id=1822&team_id=140726

Mushroom Poisoning in dogs

Mushroom poisoning of companion animals, particularly dogs, is occurring at an alarming rate recently here in our Colorado Springs area.  Mushroom poisoning occurs as a result of ingesting toxic mushrooms. Not all mushrooms are poisonous, but each type of poisonous mushroom can cause different signs of illness. Poisonous mushrooms are classified into four main categories, based on the clinical signs they cause, or into seven categories, based on the toxins they contain. The onset of clinical signs may occur anywhere from minutes to hours following ingestion.

Mushroom toxicity is most commonly associated with curious puppies, however is seen in adult dogs of all breeds and sizes.

What to Watch For

• Excess salivation
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Lethargy
• Jaundice (yellow skin color)
• Seizures
• Coma
• Vomiting

While these are not specific for mushroom poisoning, when coupled with known ingestion or at least suspicion of ingestion, they should alert you to the possibility.

Diagnosis

When poisonous mushroom ingestion is suspected, initial blood tests are done to evaluate the overall health of the dog. Elevated liver and kidney enzymes may be seen 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of certain mushrooms, together with low blood sugar and blood potassium levels.

Since there is no specific test for mushroom poisoning, identification of mushroom parts in the vomit or stomach contents is the only definitive means for making a diagnosis of mushroom poisoning.

Treatment

Treatment varies, and largely depends on the specific mushroom that has been ingested and potential clinical signs associated with the mushroom. One or more of the following may be recommended.

• Induction of vomiting
• Administration of activated charcoal (to potentially absorb toxins)
• Fluid therapy to maintain hydration
• Treatment for kidney or liver failure if it develops
• Treatment for seizures when present 

Home Care and Prevention

There is no adequate home care for poisonous mushroom ingestion. If you suspect that your dog has eaten a dangerous mushroom, contact us immediately.

The best way to prevent ingestion of poisonous mushrooms is to keep your dog away from mushrooms. Periodically check your yard and remove any mushrooms, and do not allow your dog to roam unattended through the neighborhood.

It is unknown why some pets become afraid of noises such as thunder and fireworks; it is a common problem in dogs, but less so in cats. The fear can soon become a phobia, which is defined as a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear response. In the case of thunderstorms, pets may also be fearful of storm-associated events such as a change in barometric pressure, lightning, electrostatic disturbances, and even smells associated with the storms. Noise phobias can include fear of thunderstorms, fireworks, gunshots, and even the sound of birds.

A noise phobia may be traced to a particular bad experience of a noise, but often, no triggering event can be ascertained. In almost all instances, the fear of noises and storms escalates, worsening with each exposure. Soon the pet may become fearful of similar sounds or events associated with the noise. For example, a pet afraid of thunder may also become afraid of rain, or a dog afraid of gunshots may show fear at the mere sight of a hunting rifle.

The owner’s attitude can influence the severity of the fear. For instance, if owners themselves are nervous during storms, noise phobias in their pets may occur more often or become more severe. Similarly, if the owner attempts to overly comfort the animal, the animal interprets it as confirming there really is something to be afraid of. The over petting or comforting is really positive reinforcement of an undesirable behavior.

What are the signs of noise phobia?

Different animals may display different signs of noise phobias which include:

• Hiding (most common sign in cats)
• Urinating
• Defecating
• Chewing
• Panting
• Pacing
• Trying to escape (digging, jumping through windows or going through walls, running away)
• Drooling
• Seeking the owner
• Expressing anal glands
• Not eating
• Not listening to commands
• Trembling or shaking
• Dilated pupils
• Vocalizing (barking or meowing)

Consult with a veterinarian experienced in animal behavior problems, and/or an animal behaviorist if your pet is showing signs of noise phobia. They can help develop a treatment plan for your pet.

How is noise phobia treated?

There is no guarantee that a noise phobia can be totally resolved, but in many instances the fear can be managed effectively. The effectiveness of treatment depends on a number of factors including the severity of the phobia; how long the pet has had it; whether it is ongoing, seasonal, or unpredictable; and the amount of time the owner is willing to commit to the behavior modification techniques.

The first thing to remember is that you should refrain from giving excessive attention or punishment for fearful behavior. Constant petting or consoling may be interpreted by the pet as a reward for the fearful response. In the event of overcomforting a dog during a storm, for example, it may signal to the pet that the storm really is something he should be afraid of.

Similarly, the pet should not be punished for showing fear. This will only increase his anxiety level. Instead, project confidence, and give your dog attention in the form of playing, grooming, or other activities your pet enjoys.

Usually treatment includes three other facets:

1. Medications
2. Changing the environment
3. Behavior modification.

1)  Administer medications: Medications may be given individually or in combination. In some instances, the medication may be administered during an entire thunderstorm season. Others may be given when a storm or noisy event (Fourth of July fireworks) is expected. A common protocol is to give amitriptyline during the storm season, and valium when a storm is predicted. The valium or other quick-acting medication needs to be given prior to the development of any behavioral or physical signs of anxiety. If there is a chance of a storm predicted for the afternoon, the pet should start receiving the valium or similar medication in the morning. Pets who also exhibit separation anxiety may need a different combination of medications. Several combinations may need to be tried before the optimum regimen for a particular animal is determined. Many of the medications that would be used on a daily basis, e.g.; Amitriptyline, Prozac, and Buspirone, may take 3-4 weeks to see an effect. Others, such as Alprazolam work within 30 minutes. Often a combination of medications is needed. Examples of medications used to manage noise phobia include:

• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Amitriptyline (Elavil)
• Buspirone (Buspar)
• Clomipramine (Clomicalm)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac) 
• Paroxetine (Paxil)

Alternative therapies have also been used with some success. These include melatonin and flower essences such as Rescue Remedy. These two therapies take effect within an hour of administration, and should be given prior to the storm or other fear-producing event. Pheromones, such as dog appeasing pheromone (DAP), found in Comfort Zone® products, and cat facial pheromones found in Feliway® products may help some pets.

2) Change environment: By changing the environment of the animal during the storm or noise, the anxiety level can be reduced. Changing the environment may reduce the volume level of the sound or help make the pet less aware of it.

• Increase vigorous exercise: The pet should receive vigorous exercise daily, and more so on a day when the fear-producing noise is likely to occur. The exercise will help to tire the animal, both mentally and physically, and may make her less responsive to the noise. In addition, exercise has the effect of increasing natural serotonin levels, which can act as a sedative.
• Reduce or block the noise level: “White noise,” such as running a fan or air conditioner may aid in blocking out some of the fear-producing noise. Playing a TV or radio can have a similar effect. Allowing the pet access to the basement or a room without outside walls or windows may decrease the noise level. Closing the windows and curtains can also help reduce the noise. Some owners have placed foam earplugs or cotton balls in their pets’ ears.
• Create a safe haven: Some pets feel more comfortable in a small space such as a crate or a small room like a bathroom (run the fan and leave the lights on). Some pets seek out the safety of the bathtub or shower during a storm. (Some have hypothesized that a pet may feel less static electricity if on tile or porcelain.) If the pet is comfortable in a crate, the crate can be covered with a blanket to add to the feeling of security. The door to the crate should be left open and the pet should not be confined to the crate, which could dramatically increase the stress level. Some pets, especially cats, may find that a closet or area under the bed makes a good retreat.
• Project a calm attitude: Pets are very aware of the mental state of their owners. If you are worried or nervous, this will add to the pet’s fear. Your pet will look to you for direction, so keep an “upbeat” and “in charge” attitude.

3) Behavior modification: Special techniques can be used to help change the animal’s response to the noise.

• Counterconditioning: Using counterconditioning, the animal is taught to display an acceptable behavior rather than an unacceptable one as a response to a certain stimulus. In this way, a negative stimulus can become associated with a positive event. For instance, the only time the pet gets his absolutely most favorite treat, game, or toy, is just prior to and during a thunderstorm. Dogs who enjoy traveling may be taken for a car ride, or cats who love catnip, may be given their favorite catnip mouse. (Dogs who enjoy swimming will need to wait inside until the storm is over!) After a time, the pet will start associating an oncoming storm with getting to have his favorite thing.
• Desensitization: Using desensitization, the animal’s response is decreased while he is exposed to increasing levels of the fear-producing stimulus. For noise phobias, the animal is taught to be calm when the noise level is low, and then the noise level is gradually increased. This process is generally more successful in dogs than cats. It works best during the ‘off’ season for thunderstorms. To desensitize a pet to thunderstorms:

1. Teach your pet the command ‘relax’ in the absence of any noise. When your pet is lying quietly, gently pet him and say the command ‘relax’ or ’settle’. If the pet would get up or become more active, wait until your pet relaxes again. When your pet is relaxed, provide a very tasty treat every 10 seconds or so. Continue saying the command and giving treats several times provided the pet does stay relaxed. Repeat this several times a day and gradually extend the time your pet needs to be relaxed before he gets his treat. Once your pet can relax on command, you are ready to proceed.
2. Obtain a commercial tape or CD of a storm, or tape record one yourself (commercial products generally work better). Play the recording at normal volume to determine if it will induce the fear response. If it does, continue with the desensitization; if not, you will need to obtain a different recording. For some animals, a recording alone may not work, since there may be a combination of occurrences that provokes fear, e.g.; thunder plus lightning or changes in barometric pressure. For these animals, darkening the room and adding strobe lights may more closely mimic the storm, and may need to be included in the desensitization process.
3. Play the recording at a volume low enough that the pet is aware of the sound, but it does not induce a fear response. For instance, the ears may be cocked towards the source of the sound, but you still have the pet’s attention. In some instances, that may mean the pet needs to be in a different room from where the recording is playing. While the recording is playing at the low level, either have him relax or engage the pet in an activity in which you give the commands, such as obedience training or performing tricks. Give food or other rewards during the activity when the pet accomplishes what he is supposed to. If the animal shows signs of fear, stop and try again the next day, playing the recording at an even lower level. It is important that the pet not be rewarded while he is fearful or anxious. Sessions should last about 5-10 minutes.
4. If the animal does not respond fearfully, during the next session, increase the volume slightly. Again, involve the pet in an activity or have the dog ‘relax’ and reward him for obeying commands. Continue increasing the volume gradually for each session. If the pet starts to show fear, decrease the volume. Repeat the sessions in various rooms of the house and with various family members present.
5. When the pet does not show fear when the recording is played at a loud volume, you may want to try playing the recording for a short time while you are absent. Gradually increase the time you are gone while the recording is playing.
6. When the pet appears to have lost his fear, the sessions can be reduced to one per week. In most instances, these sessions will need to be repeated weekly for the life of the pet.
7. During an actual storm, use the same activities and rewards you used in the training sessions.

To increase the chances of successful desensitization, the training process should take place during a time of the year when the actual noise will not be encountered: if the pet is afraid of thunder or fireworks, try desensitization during the winter; if afraid of gunshots, the training should take place outside of the hunting season. In most instances, it is best to discontinue any behavior-modifying medications during the desensitization process. Consult with your veterinarian before discontinuing any medications.

Conclusion

Fear of thunderstorms, fireworks, and other forms of noise phobia are common problems in dogs, and some cats. Administering medications along with changing the pet’s environment, and using behavior modification techniques can help ease the fear.

NOTE: Sources of audiotapes and CD’s for noise desensitization include:

• http://www.scarednomore.com/
• http://calmaudio.com/thunderstorms.html
• http://www.f7sound.com/dog.htm

This list is for informational use only. Inclusion in this list does not denote product endorsement.

So, on July 10th from 10am – 2 pm…bring your furry friend dressed up in his best Hawaiian outfit. If voted best dressed Hawaiian dog, you will win a free DNA analysis for your dog!

I have attached a photo of our hospital dog to give you some ideas!  

PetaPawlooza flyer

Come join us for our 2nd Annual Pet-A-Pawlooza event

Sat, July 10^th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

We’re havin’ a Luau! Come and enjoy…

• Free BBQ and beverages
• MuttMasters on site to demonstrate Agility / Obstacle course
• Discounted microchip clinic
• Air bouncer for the kids
• Wild Blue Rescue and Sanctuary with adoptable pets
• HemoSolutions – local animal blood bank
• Paws n’ Tails Hydrotherapy – a natural approach to pain therapy and rehab
• Swimming pools for dogs
• Free raffle with great prizes
• And much, much more. 

Bring your family dressed in their best Hawaiian dress!

Everlasting Images will be taking Family Luau Photos with your pet

And…Learn all about the current Colorado Springs rabies outbreak.

Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital 

955-0966

Located on NW corner Union & Powers