Dog Oral and Dental Diseases and Care

Dental and oral problems are important to learn, to prevent and to cure. Dogs may not live to the fullest if there's something that bothers on their mouth. Mouth and teeth diseases will also keep the dog owner from getting too close because of unpleasant odor. Proper hygiene and oral care is important, and it ensures our dog is healthy.

Tartar Build Up. The most common form of canine dental disease is tartar buildup. This causes irritation of the gums around the base of the teeth (gingivitis), resulting in exposure of the roots. Ultimately, this leads to infection and tooth loss. Infection will accumulate in the mouth, resulting in gingivitis, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis (sore throat). Infection within the mouth will be picked up by the blood stream and carried to other parts of the body. Kidney infections, as well as infections involving the heart valves, frequently begin in the mouth. One of the main factors determining the amount of tartar buildup is the individual chemistry in the mouth. Some dogs need yearly cleanings; other dogs need a cleaning only once every few years.

Bad Breath and Halitosis. Dog bad breath is a common problem that makes unpleasant situation for dog owners. Bad breath could keep from enjoyable playing and getting close with dogs which upsetting for the dog too. Dog halitosis bad breathe is a particularly foul and offensive odor coming from dog's mouth. While it's unpleasant, dog bad breath can also be a sign of a serious health problem like infection or any internal health issues that releases the foul odor. Furthermore symptoms like facial swelling, pawing at the mouth, sneezing, and nasal discharge can all be signs of mouth disorders. However, even if you only observe the foul odor, it's still important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian so that the cause of your pet's halitosis can be identified and treated, preventing continuation of the unpleasant odor as well as protecting your furry friend's health and happiness.

Periodontitis or Periodontal Disease. Periodontitis is the inflammation of the structures that support teeth, the gum tissue, periodontal ligament, alveolus (small cavity) and cementum (bonelike connective tissue covering the root of a tooth and assisting in tooth support). It is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world in dogs and is caused by bacteria that make up plaque. 'Periodontal' comes from two Greek words that mean 'around the tooth.' Periodontal disease is a series of changes that are associated with the inflammation and loss of the deep supporting structures of teeth. Periodontal disease is inflammation of some or all of the tooths support structures (gingiva, cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone). When compared to gingivitis, periodontitis indicates bone loss. Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria. Initially a pellicle forms on the clean tooth. This pellicle attracts aerobic gram positive bacteria (mostly actinomyces and strepococci). Soon more bacteria adhere forming plaque. With in days the plaque thickens, underlying bacteria run out of oxygen and anaerobic motile rods and spirochetes begin to populate the sub gingival area. Endotoxins released by the anaerobic bacteria cause tissue destruction and bone loss. Small breed and brachycephalic dogs are at greater risk of periodontal disease because their teeth are often crowded together. This results in an increased accumulation of plaque because the normal cleansing mechanisms are hindered. If gingivitis is left untreated, it will progress to periodontal disease which is irreversible. Periodontal Therapy is one of the treatment that controls plaque.

Mouth Infections and Stomatitis. Infection or inflammation in the mouth - stomatitis - can be caused by cuts, burns, foreign bodies stuck in the mouth, and diseases of the gums and the structures that support the teeth (periodontal disease). Metabolic diseases such as kidney failure can also cause painful stomatitis. Stick are common and potentially serious, especially those in the back of the mouth. To treat stomatitis, the cause is addressed: physical injuries are treated, foreign objects are removed, dental conditions are corrected , and any underlying metabolic disorder are controlled to prevent recurrence. Secondary bacterial infection is common, so appropriate antibiotics are almost always used.

Foreign bodies in the mouth and throat. Dogs love to chew sticks, stones, bones and other hard materials but also potentially dangerous: sticks can cause damage to the mouth and can also crack teeth, especially molars. This may lead to tooth-pulp exposure and infection. Sticks can also lodge in the back of the throat, too far for easy removal with a spoon handle. A dog with something in its throat gags, paws anxiously at its mouth, and may drool or vomit. A foreign body in the throat may cause swelling that interferes with breathing. If the object blocks the voice box, the dog chokes and faints. Treat the dog immediately for choking. For severe cases, surgery is needed. Always supervise what the dogs chew, or rather give them balls and other chewing toys instead of sticks and other not safe to chew materials.

Dog Mouth Tumors. Tumors are uncommon but can occur on the gums, tongue or roof of mouth, or in the salivary glands. When possible they are surgically removed, followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Dog Oral Examination. The annual physical exam must include an oral exam to recognize problems with teeth, periodontal disease, and other oral diseases. The comprehensive oral exam begins by observing the face, recognizing that there are normal breed variations but carefully observing for abnormalities.

Diet and Chewing Behavior. Studies show that hard kibbles are slightly better than canned foods at keeping plaque from accumulating on the teeth. Dogs that chew on various toys or edible dental chews may remove some of the plaque build-up.

Home Care. The owner plays an important role in the oral health care for their companion animals. We consider the pet owner and the family veterinarian as key members of our dental health care team. Out Comprehensive Oral health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) as well as all of our services may be ineffective without the pet owner's involvement. It is important that the pet owner has interest in their pets' oral health. Regular teeth brushing are strongly recommended because it is a huge benefit for pets and it allows for close observation for oral problems

Rollerblading With Your Dog

Rollerblading with your dog? Seems somewhat dangerous? Well, actually it is. Rollerblading with your dog takes coordination, talent, confidence and it is essential you understand your dogs obedience level. You need to have control over your rollerblading skills as well as have control over your dog. Many are thinking thats absurd, but it is possible and is a lot of fun for you and for your dog as well. Rollerblading is not for everyone, therefore, its advised to have mastered the skill before taking your dog out.

You must consider your skill level before incorporating your dog into the mix. Several things to ask yourself : Are you able to stop quickly? Are you able to react and maneuver? Can you multitask (roll while changing leash hand to hand, then stop quickly so your dog can go potty)? Do you have hand eye coordination? Are you able to move around your dog when he runs in front of you and or scares easily from approaching cars and or other animals? Can you run in grass if you need to react quickly?

There are many circumstances to consider when rollerblading with your dog. The most important is to be confident and have control. Be aware of your dogs strength and conditioning as you dont want to run him into the ground.

The following guidelines should be considered when rollerblading with your dog :

? Keep in mind weather conditions as early or late hours are typically best for your dog (dogs perspire through their feet; if the ground is hot, he wont be able to cool down).
? Fresh water and bowl for you and your dog is essential.
? Protective equipment is always recommended for you.
? Dont forget the Poop bags.
? A leash long enough to manipulate is essential as you will need to pull in and let loose at various times.
? Its best for your dog to run on grass
? Utilize a harness.
? Keep your dogs nails trimmed short.
? Talk to your dog and offer praise

Rollerblading with your dog can be enjoyable for you and your dog. Be flexible, yet have control over your dog. Watch for hazards, such as other animals, vehicles, children, etc that could get in the way of your rollerblading experience. Have fun and happy exercising.

5 Signs of Illness & Health Problems in Dogs

Did you know that people grieve the loss of their animals harder and longer than we often do the loss of our friends and family member?! We want them to be happy, but often we don't even know our animal friends are suffering -- until it's too late.

Being able to detect if your dog is sick quickly can mean the difference between recovery or not, in some cases. Our job is to listen to them so we can learn about their experiences and discomforts and then take appropriate action.

Begin by paying attention to subtle cues:

1. Energy levels -- watch out for changes in your animal's energy levels and behavior. I promise you, what your animal does makes perfect sense -- to them! If you notice your friend slowing down or not wanting to go as far or as fast as before, or not wanting to play anymore... this could indicate a pain problem or illness.

For instance, if your dog would happily play fetch for hours, then all of a sudden quits after only 30 minutes of play or won't bring the ball back to you, chances are he may be feeling sore or getting winded, so he doesn't want to run anymore. You might feel glad for the break! But you should also check him for other signs of distress.

2. Hiding or running away/escaping -- this can be a common management problem, such as leaving them alone too long or overwhelming them with too much stress and activity... or this could indicate something unknown, like an undiscovered abuse situation.

One dog I worked with was being teased by the kids in the neighborhood so she escaped from her yard and ran away when they were around. Then she happily came home to wait for her humans to get home from work!

3. Aggression -- growling, biting, not wanting to be touched are all signs that something is wrong. Pay attention to what areas of your friend's body evoke this kind of response, and what kinds of triggers spark the reaction.

Evasive reactions to certain areas of their bodies can mean different things. Ducking the head reaction from a dog can mean either a dominance issue problem, or it could mean they have a headache or vision problem. Sensitivity in the hips or back or shoulders can mean pain, as in "Ouch! That hurts! Stop That!"

4. Refusing food or not drinking water -- be alert for any changes with eating and elimination. Problems here can mean many things, from food allergies to kidney or bowel problems.

It could be the food you're offering them isn't good for them or it is no longer meeting their nutritional requirements, or has been contaminated in some way (remember the pet food recalls). Or they have ingested something toxic. Dogs will often impose a fasting period on themselves while their system works to clean itself up and heal. Or they could have a bowel impaction or are suffering from bloat, which can be a life threatening condition requiring an emergency vet visit. The sooner you notice and start asking them the right questions, the sooner you can take action to prevent whatever is wrong from getting worse.

5. Sad eyes -- always an indication of something wrong. Our animals grieve and feel emotional pain. They also can get depressed and sad about changes in their lives. Or they may just have a headache or other pain issue that you aren't aware of.

Do your best friend a favor and learn what to watch out for. Learning how to communicate with your animal can help you detect physical discomforts and the reasons for their behavior. Then, you can more easily correct the problem through appropriate caretaking, because you need to understand their experiences of illness and health problems. Talking with them can also help to properly prepare an animal for surgery or other medical interventions will facilitate a speedy recovery with less trauma or complications.

Catching these kinds of things early can mean the difference between life and death - literally!

Val Heart, Expert Animal Communicator, Behaviorist, Author, Master Healer -- Providing Communication, Clarity, Balance and Healing for You and Your Animal.

Are you Ready? Take a pro-active approach to improving your relationships with yourself & your animals through improved communication, energy medicine, health & balance for body, mind & spirit. Working with chronic pain, illness, trauma, training, behavior, performance, euthanasia?specializing with dogs and sport horses.