7 things you need to know about your dog’s oral health

1. Dental care doesn’t just impact teeth and breath.  It has significant impact on a dog’s stomach and other organs.
2. 80% of all dogs over the age of 3 have some form of periodontal disease that can be prevented.
3. Small dogs have a particularly acute issue with periodontal disease.
4. Good oral care is the primary dog owner concern over all other health and nutritional benefits.
5. 42% of all dog owners purchased edible dental treats in the past year. Are you one of the 58% that did not?
6. 50% of non-edible users (those that did not purchase edible dental treats in the past year) would prefer toys that provide some oral health benefit.
7. 37% of non-edible users are bothered that chews do not freshen a dog’s breath.

Make sure you are aware of the benefits of dental care for your dog.

Pet Dental Health is not what it used to be.

… and we are not talking about more mutts getting cavities, or more kittens with periodontal disease, we mean that caring for your pet’s oral health is getting easier and easier.

Year’s ago, a trip to the Vet for your pups or kittens regular visit would be all the oral attention he or she would get – but now there are a huge selection of options available to keep your pet’s mouth in tip top shape.

To start, the selections in toothbrushes and toothpastes has exploded.  There are traditional finger toothbrushes that became popular close to a decade ago – but there are also traditional looking toothbrushes that work very well for some pets.

The selection of pet breath fresheners have expanded quite a bit, too.  Not many of us like dog breath, but more and more owners across the US are doing something about it, using sprays, mints and other doggie breath fresheners to make their pooches mouthes smell a tad better.

New to the market are dental floss and tartar removal products for pets.  Flosses come in traditional flossing type toys like ropes, as well as liquid floss for pets.  There are a number of different tartar removal products available these days also.   The foaming tartar removal is newest to the range of products and proving to be both effective and well liked by pet owners.

In general, dog dental treats are pretty good at freshening your furry friends breath too.  There are bones made in mint, spearmint and other popular freshening flavors.  NutriDent is a popular brand of dental treats, as well as Greenies and Smartbones.

Finally the variety of dental toys available for pets is a literal explosion.  The toys range from specialty dental ropes,  textured chew toys and dental rings.  Your dog or cat is going to love some of these.

80% of all dogs suffer from periodontal disease by the age of 3.

Preventative dental care reduces the risk of developing periondontal disease, which can lead to serious health issues for dogs and cats.  The new Advanced Oral Care line of Dog and Cat products can help.

Establishing a daily routine of proper dental care may extend the life of your pet.
Nylabone offers a full line of dental care products for your pet.

From edible treats, to dental kits and tartar removers, Nylabone makes dental care easier offering solutions that will:

• Clean Teeth
• Reduce Plaque & Tartar
• Freshen Breath

GregRobert is thrilled to announce that they are stocking Nylabone’s Advanced Oral Care line of dental products from Nylabone.  Sign up for an alert to make sure you are first on the list when these brand-spankin-new products come in!

The biggest thing to remember in a disaster regarding your pets is to take your pets with you.  Do not leave them behind, a disaster area is no place for a pet dog, cat, horse or other pet.

Every member of your family should know what is needed during the evacuation.

You need to prepare supplies for your pet.

• It’s always a good idea to have a stock off non-perishables at home and  have everything ready to go at a moment’s notice.
• It’s a good idea to keep your emergency supplies stored in sturdy containers that can be carried easily (suitcases, covered trash containers, Vittles Vaults etc.).
• Make sure all medications and medical records (stored in a waterproof container) are available and a first aid kit is packed also.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets can’t escape.  Remember that your pet may have to stay in the carrier for hours at a time – so make sure it is large enough.
• Bring a current photo of your pet for identification in case your pet gets lost.
• Food, water, pet bowls, cat litter and litter box, and a manually-operated can opener if you use canned food.
• Information on medical conditions and the name and number of your veterinarian should be packed in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.
• Only bring pet beds and toys, if you can easily take them.

Other useful items include newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items, and household bleach.

Dog hair falls out because it is making room for a new coat to come in.  The best thing to do is to remove the hair yourself.  This way, your dog will not gradually lose his hair as he walks around your house.  Daily brushing sessions are a must.  Take your dog outside, or in a room that is not carpeted so that it is easy to sweep it up.  Regular brooms are not that great for pet hair clean up, so you should use one that is specifically made for pet hair clean up.  I use the Arrgh Pet Hair Broom, which has rubber bristles that will not leave any dog hair behind.  The best part about this broom is that the rubber bristles can be retracted when you want to use this broom for regular cleaning.  Arrgh Pet Hair Broom can sweep up dog hair on tile, wood floors, or even rugs.

For daily brushing sessions, you should use a comb that will remove the dog’s undercoat.  The Dog Undercoat & Dematting Rake is a multi-functional brush.  One side is an undercoat brush, will does a great job of removing your dog’s winter coat.  The other dematting side is great if your dog’s thick fur gets matted.  You do not want to use a regular brush on fur that is matted, it will be very painful for your dog.  The Dog Undercoat & Dematting Rake is comfortable to hold and does a great job of removing excess fur.

One of my favorite tools to remove dead hair is a dog shedding blade.  These do not need to be used every day, because they do a wonderful job of removing your dog’s undercoat.  I try to use them about once a week.  The shedding blade I use is the Double Sided Open Shedding Blade, pictured to the right.  It gets rid of dead hair before it was even going to start to fall out.  My dogs feel softer and look much better after I use the Double Sided Open Shedding Blade on them.

• When your pet is outside, he or she always needs access to fresh drinking water.  Animals can dehydrate very quickly which can lead to heat stroke.  If you and your pet are hanging out in your yard, be sure to bring out your dog’s water bowl, and continually re-fill it to be sure your dog never gets dehydrated.  You can also add ice to make sure the water is nice and cold for your pup.

• If you are going for a walk with your dog, bring the Porta Le Bistro Pet Waterer with your.  This is a great portable waterer that has a hook that can attach to your leash, belt loop, or backpack if you are hiking.  You can buy the Porta Le Bistro Pet Waterer in a small or medium size, depending on the length of your outdoor excursions.

• Never, ever, EVER leave your dog in the car in the summer.  A car is like a furnace and can heat up incredibly fast.  Even leaving the windows open does not prevent the car from rapidly heating up.  Not only can leaving your dog in a car dehydrate him to the point of heatstroke, but it can lead to death.

• If you are taking your dog with you on a car ride, be sure to take the Road Refresher Dog Bowl, pictured above.  The Road Refresher Dog Bowl can hold up to 54 ounces of water, but will only allow a small amount of water to be in the reservoir at once.  It is specifically designed to never spill, which will allow your dog to drink water while you are driving.  You won’t ever have to pull over to give your dog water!

• Pay special attention to your dog when he is around pools.  Many dogs are not naturally good swimmers, and falling into a pool can pose problems for your dog.  Never let your dog drink from a pool, the chlorine and chemicals can cause terrible stomach problems for your dog.  Be sure you provide your dog with fresh water to prevent him from drinking from pools.

Dog ticks, are the creepy blood suckers that get under the skin, sucking up and causing irritation and illness in their victim.

Ticks spend most of their lives and their mouths buried inside a mammal’s flesh, feeding on blood of there host.  Although ticks are very small, they expand to about 50 times their normal size after they have finished feeding.  Dog ticks are also responsible for spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

4 ways to keep ticks from feeding on your pet:

1. In order to give the ticks fewer chances to hop and attach themselves to your dog, always keep your grass and weeds trimmed to below ankle height.
2. To help eliminate ticks, make your yard as  uninviting to rodents as possible.  Secure your trash cans with strong lids and take out any rock piles and brushy cover.
3. If you see ticks, lightly spray your dog with a tick insecticide and then comb his coat using a fine-toothed flea and tick comb.
4. If you see a tick – remove it with a tick removing product or tweezers.  After removing the tick, rub the infected area with an antibiotic ointment or topical antiseptic.

Dog allergies can be caused by a number of triggers.  One of the most common allergens is flea  bites.  When fleas bite, they leave a protein on dog’ skin which many dogs are allergic to.  The best way to prevent flea allergies is to obviously prevent flea bites. Luckily there are plenty of options for long term flea control.

Another dog allergen is food.  For example, dome dogs are allergic to beef or corn.  Besides symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, dogs will also have itchy skin.  If you notice skin problems in your dog soon after switching his food, this could be the culprit of his allergies.  Environmental triggers like pollen and dust can also cause allergic reactions in dogs.  If the dog inhales something in the environment that causes an allergic reaction, your dog will have itchy skin, particularly in the front half of his body.

If you and your vet have decided that your dog’s skin problems are being caused by allergies, there are a  variety of ways you can prevent itching and help your pet’s skin heal.  For itching, your first line of defense should be Allergy and Itch Relief Shampoo 16 oz., shown to the right.  This vet’s best formula contains oatmeal, Tea Tree Oil, and D’Limonene, and will relieve itching and remove active allergens on your dog’s skin.

Another way to soothe skin problems resulting from pollen allergens or flea bites is to give your dog Seasonal Allergy Relief for Dogs – 60 Tablets.  This allergy relief comes in pill form and contains a beneficial combination of antioxidants.  It also contains Nettle Leaf, which works as an antihistamine.  It is for use in dogs only, and should not be used in pregnant dogs or dogs who will be used for breeding.

When your first notice that your dog is infested with fleas, you can use a flea comb to get rid of the pests.  This is a temporary solution, just to provide your dog some relief for the horrible biting.  The Pet Flea Comb is useful because it has extra fine teeth that are perfect for removing fleas in any type of coat.  However, you will need to enact a long-term solution to kill fleas and prevent them from coming back!

Luckily for dogs, there are flea medications that are safe and effective for long term flea prevention.  These medications are safe because they are designed because you can kill the fleas without hurting your dog!  Spot treatments like Frontline are incredibly effective.  I would recommend you to purchase FRONTLINE Plus Dog 6 months supply, shown above, as you get a good deal from buying in bulk.  Just a few drops a month is all it takes to kill fleas and their eggs, ticks, and chewing lice.  Best of all, the formula is waterproof, and each treatment will lasts for about a month.

In addition to spot on treatments, you will need to consistently clean the dog’s environment.  Be sure to wash your pet’s bedding, and vacuum around the areas your dog most frequents.  Also, another great preventative measure is to spray your dog’s bedding with a product like Natural Flea & Tick Household Spray.  This spray not only kills fleas, but it will prevent flea’s eggs from hatching, successfully breaking the flea’s life cycle.  This product is safe enough to use around your family and your pets.

Pay attention to the tips above and be prepared to say goodbye to fleas forever!

Did you know that 80 percent of dogs show signs of oral disease by the time they’re three years old?  Those signs include inflamed gums, bad breath and tartar buildup.  Poor oral hygiene can lead to other health concerns for your pet, from gum disease to liver and heart problems.  In severe cases, the plaque that builds up can even cause life-threatening conditions.  With regular teeth cleanings, you can help keep your pet healthy and keep his breath fresh.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you start to brush your dog’s teeth:

1) Buy a good toothbrush. You will need a larger toothbrush for larger breeds.  I would suggest the Dual End Petrodex Pet Toothbrush, which has a long handle perfect for reaching the teeth at the back of the mouth.    A finger brush like the Pet Dental Finger Toothbrush is all you will need for smaller dogs.  You can use finger brushes on smaller dog breeds and cats.

2) Buy toothpaste specifically for dogs. Human toothpaste can be very harmful on your pet’s stomach.  Petrodex Peanut Flavored Toothpaste is a popular brand because the peanut taste makes your pet think he is getting a treat!  Let your dog get used to the taste of the toothpaste flavor before you start brushing.  For example, you can let him lick the toothpaste off of your finger.  If your pet does not like the flavor of the toothpaste, it will make brushing their teeth very difficult.

3) Make sure your dog is comfortable before you begin. Do not approach your dog when he is hyper or in a bad mood.  You should also remain calm, as dogs are very sensitive to their owner’s anxiety level.

4) Have a plan before you start. A good plan of action when brushing your dog’s teeth is to start with the upper teeth and then move onto the lower teeth.  To begin, lift the upper lip with one hand and brush the gum line at a 45 degree angle in a circular motion.  Pay special attention to removing the plaque on the gums.

5) Reward your pup! Whether you give your pet a treat or take him for a walk, make sure you let your dog know he did a good job!

Regular preventative care can improve the health, quality of life and longevity of your pet.  It’s never to late to start practicing good pet health habits, so start brushing your dog’s teeth today!