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- Health  Tips -

By Dr. Jeffrey Werber, small animal veterinarian and
host of "Petcetera" on Discovery's Animal Planet Channel.

Pets,

like people, have special medical needs -- but unlike people they can't tell us when they're not feeling well. So it's very important you and your pet visit your veterinarian on a regular basis to prevent and treat health problems.

Here are some important tips to help your cat or dog stay happy and healthy:

• Keep your pet up-to-date on his or her vaccinations; for dogs this includes distemper, parvo and rabies shots; for cats, this includes respiratory, leukemia and rabies. Your veterinarian can set a schedule of vaccinations to suit your pet's needs. Remember, vaccinations are important; without them, cats and dogs are susceptible to serious diseases, some of which can be fatal.

• Start your cat or dog on a flea control product before it becomes a problem. Flea-related problems account for more than 50 percent of all the dermatology patients we see at our veterinary clinic. Advantage (imidacloprid) Topical Solution is what I recommend since it kills fleas fast and continues to work even after your pet is bathed or goes swimming.

• Make sure to have your pet spayed or neutered! Every year U.S. shelters euthanize between 11 million and 19 million cats and dogs. According to the Humane Society of the United states, 2,500 to 3,000 dogs and cats are born every hour. So have your pet spayed or neutered and leave breeding up to the professional and expert breeders.

• Provide plenty of fresh drinking water for your pet. If you live in warmer climates, make sure the bowl is placed in a shaded area where it cannot be heated by the sun. You can always help yourself to a nice cool, clean glass of water. Make sure your cat and dog can too.

• Start your pet on a healthy diet early. Remember that 70 percent of obese puppies and kittens grow up to be obese dogs and cats.

• Exercise your pet. Fun, attention-grabbing toys allow cat and dog owners to not only bond with their pet but exercise them. Make sure the toy you select is the correct size and is safe for your pet.

• Brush your pet's teeth on a regular basis. Home dental care is just as important for your four-legged family members as it is for the two-legged ones.

Brush my dog's what ?        

Written by: Crystal Pender

What,

• would happen if your stopped brushing your own teeth? Even if you only ate hard food as most dogs do, there still would be problems. You should be brushing your dog's teeth at least twice weekly, daily if you can manage it. Its not as difficult as you might imagine.

• What are the benefits? Brushing removes the daily accumulation of plaque from the teeth. Even though dogs do not commonly get cavities, they do suffer from periodontal disease. If untreated the gum disease can lead to pain and loss of teeth.

  How to brush teeth?

• Step one is to pick an appropriate pet toothbrush. Save your self time by not buying a child's toothbrush which is usually too hard for dogs. The ideal dog toothbrush will have a long handle, an angled head to better fit the mouth and extra soft bristles. Another option is the finger toothbrush that fits over the tip of your finger.

• Step two is to select an appropriate toothpaste. The best pet toothpaste contain enzymes that help control plaque. Try to avoid toothpaste's with baking soda, detergents or slat sometimes found in human pastes. Fluoride may be incorporated to help control bacteria. Rather than placing the paste on top of the brush try to incorporate it between the bristles. this allows the paste to spend the most time next to the teeth.

• Step three is to get the brush with paste into your dog's mouth and all the teeth brushed. Most dogs accept brushing if they are approached in a gentle manner. If you can start when they are young, it's quite easy, but even older pets will accept the process. Start slowly, you can use a wash cloth or piece of gauze to wipe the teeth front and back in the same manner you will eventually be using the toothbrush. Do this twice daily for about two weeks and your dog should be familiar with the approach. Then take the pet toothbrush, soak it in warm water and start brushing daily for several days. When your dog accepts this brushing, add the pet toothpaste.

• The toothbrush bristles should be placed at the gum margin where the teeth and gums meet at a 45 degree angle. The movement should be in an oval pattern. Be sure to gently force the bristle ends into the area around the base of the tooth as well as into the space between the teeth. Ten short back and forth motions should be completed, then the brush moved to a new location. Cover three to four teeth at a time. Most attention should be given to the outside of the upper teeth.

• In summary, dog home care should include daily (or at least every other day) brushing using an enzymatic pet toothpaste. Taking an active role in the care of your dog's dental care will help reduce dental disease, bad breath and potential life threatening heart and kidney disease.
  Everyone wins.