Halloween Dangers

To ensure your pet has a safe and Happy Halloween, please consider these helpful tips.  These suggestions will help make the night fun for everyone!

Chocolate and other candy

Keep the candy bowl where curious noses can’t get to it! Consumption of even small amounts of chocolate can cause seizures, muscle tremors, diarrhea and vomiting while larger doses can be fatal.  Ingestion of high-fat, sugary candy can lead to gastro intestinal upsets like vomiting, diarrhea and also pancreatitis.

Candy wrappers

Be sure to pick up any wrappers that may be accessible to pets – these can cause gastro intestinal issues as they work through your pet’s system.

Running out the door

If you are handing out candy you will be frequently opening up your front door.  If your pet has a curious nature they may try to slip past you so please make sure they are in a safe place where access to the outside will be limited.  Also, make sure your pet has tags or some form of identification on in case they manage to get out and take a walk around the neighborhood. 

Anxiety

Some pets can become easily frightened as the doorbell is ringing and children are coming to the door in unfamiliar clothes and masks.  Set up a safe haven for your pet where they can calm their nerves and take refuge from the commotion.  Their crate or a closed room can work well in this situation.

Costumes

Our pets sure do look adorable in costumes so if you dress your pet up in a costume please make sure they are comfortable!  While some pets love to dress up, others are uneasy and feel restricted.  Also make sure that their vision and movement is not impaired and that they are able to breathe well and pant if necessary.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!

-Jennifer

Dental Home Care

Keeping your pet’s teeth clean and healthy is a very important part of pet ownership!  Tartar buildup leads to gingivitis, periodontal disease as well as abscessed teeth.  These conditions are a recipe for a very painful and unhealthy mouth.  As bacteria is absorbed from the mouth into the bloodstream it is circulated throughout the body which can lead to disease in vital organs such as the kidneys, liver and even the heart.  Here are a few tips to help develop and maintain a dental home care routine with your pet!

1.     Start young if you can!  We recommend introducing your pet to the process at about 8 – 12 weeks of age to get them used to brushing once their permanent teeth have grown in. However, take a break during the teething process as there is likely to be some irritation associated with their permanent teeth growing in.

2.     Establish a routine - try to set aside the same time each day so it becomes a part of your pet’s normal schedule.  If your pet is food motivated try brushing right before dinner so they will be rewarded for their co-operation.

3.     Make it fun!   Use lots of rewards, love and praise throughout the process and remember to be patient.

4.     Do not rush the process.  Start simply by handling your pet’s mouth, rub their lips and gums to get them used to being handled in that specific area.  Try a drop of low sodium chicken or beef broth or some tuna juice for cats on your finger to help them look forward to your sessions together.

5.     Once your pet is more comfortable with their mouth being handled, wrap a piece of gauze or a wash cloth around your finger and add some pet friendly toothpaste to the tip.  Pet toothpastes do not include detergents so they are safe for our pets to swallow.  There are a number of different flavours available like poultry, seafood, malt and vanilla mint! 

6.     Finally, add a toothbrush.  There are a number of different toothbrushes designed for pets and we would be happy to help you select the right one – you can even use a baby tooth brush from the drug store.  Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle and use a back and forth motion focusing on the gum line as this is where bacteria and tartar start to form and build up.  Concentrate your efforts on the cheek side of the teeth - the tongue side is not as critical.  Make sure to offer treats and rewards as your pet allows you to brush.

7.     Once you and your pet are confident with your brushing routine Dr. Dunn recommends at least twice a week as a minimum and every day as a maximum.

If brushing is difficult or not an option for you and your pet, there are other measures you can take to help dental health.  Dental diets are veterinary exclusive foods which are formulated as a large kibble that resists crumbling and helps with the mechanical cleaning of the teeth.  While they will not get rid of tartar that has already formed, they are very helpful at inhibiting the progression of new tartar and can lengthen the time between dental cleanings. 

Please let us know if you have any questions about dental home care or any of the dental diets.  We would love to discuss this with you and help you develop an appropriate dental health routine for your pet!

Jennifer