- The Importance of
Dental Care for your Dog
- How To Brush your
Dog's Teeth
- Your Newsletter
- Mailing List
- In
Loving Remembrance
- Foster Caregivers
Needed
The Importance of
Dental Care for your Dog
Periodontal disease is the
most common
dental condition affecting
dogs and cats.
Infection and inflammation of the gums and supporting tissues of the teeth
are caused by bacteria present in plaque and calculus (tartar). The problem
begins when plaque and calculus are allowed to build up on a pet's teeth,
especially below the gum line. Bad breath, bleeding and inflammation of the
gums, receding gums, loosening and the eventual loss of teeth are
characteristic of the condition. Prophylactic treatment to keep the teeth
clean is therefore of great importance. Your veterinarian may recommend an
oral hygiene program that includes regularly brushing your pets' teeth with
a toothpaste formulated for animals. Diet is a major factor in the
development of plaque and calculus. Soft or sticky foods should therefore be
avoided, while certain chewing toys are beneficial. A specially formulated
diet with dental benefits (reduced accumulation of plaque and calculus) is
now available for
dogs and
aids in preventing infection and inflammation of
the gums and supporting tissues of the teeth.
Dental disease affects up to 80% of pets over the age of three, and just
like humans, there can be serious consequences of poor dental health.
When should dental care
start with my pet?
The earlier the better. Dogs start out with 28 deciduous (baby) teeth. By
six months of age, these baby teeth fall out and are replaced by 42
permanent teeth. With the help of your Veterinarian, be on the lookout for
retained deciduous teeth and malocclusion (bad bite) problems. Your
Veterinarian can teach you how to care for your pet's teeth and gums early
on.
How can I tell if my dog
has a dental problem?
Bad breath is often a first indicator of dental disease. Gently lift the
lips and check for tartar, inflamed gums, or missing/broken teeth. Cats may
exhibit increased drooling. Some dogs can exhibit reluctance to eat or play
with toys, "chattering" of the teeth when trying to eat, lethargy, bleeding
gums, eroded teeth. Dental disease progresses in stages -- if caught early,
you can prevent further damage and save as many teeth as possible.
Can bad teeth affect the
dog’s body in other ways?
Yes. Infected gums and teeth aren't just a problem in the mouth -- the
heart, kidneys, intestinal tract, and joints may also be infected. The
tartar and any infected areas of the mouth contain a multitude of bacteria
than can 'seed' to other parts of the body. With regular dental care, you
can prevent some of these more serious side effects.
Where and when should I
start?
Talk with your Veterinarian at the vaccination appointments on how to
initiate a good dental care program at home. Most Veterinarians are happy to
provide brushing lessons, and many carry brushes and toothpaste specifically
for dogs. (NOTE: do not use human toothpaste on your pet!)
If your pet is an adult
over 3 years of age, it would be wise to schedule a dental check-up with
your Veterinarian. If a dental cleaning is necessary, it is advisable to do
pre-anesthesia blood work to make sure your pet does not have any underlying
problems.
If my Dog’s teeth need
professional cleaning -- what is involved?
Pre-dental blood work is recommended. This is a check on the overall health
of the pet to make sure that liver, kidneys, and blood counts are within
normal ranges and to reduce any risks possible prior to the anesthesia. Many
dogs with bad teeth will be put on an antibiotic a few days prior to the
dental to calm the infection and reduce the possibility of complications.
Your pet will need to fast the evening before for the anesthesia. The dental itself is similar to
a human dental cleaning - tartar removal, checking for cavities, gingival
(gum) pockets, loose teeth, any growths on the gums or palate, removal of
diseased teeth, and finally, polishing. The polishing is to smooth the tooth
after tartar removal, as the tartar pits the tooth. A
smooth
tooth will not encourage tartar formation as easily as a roughened tooth.
In conclusion, a greater awareness of
canine dental disease amongst veterinary practitioners and pet caregivers
means early recognition and prevention of dental problems, in particular
periodontal disease. This is important, because periodontal disease may have
a serious impact on your dog’s well-being and general health. Great
advances have been made in veterinary dentistry and a wide spectrum of
dental therapeutic options are now available. With good dental care, your
pet can enjoy a long and healthy life.
How to Brush your Dog's Teeth
Step 1- Select an appropriate time
Find a
quiet, convenient time when you and your dog are both relaxed
Step 2 - Acquaint your dog with the process.
For the
first few sessions don't even use a toothbrush. Gently stroke the
outside of your dog’s
cheeks with your finger. After your dog becomes comfortable with that,
place a dab of toothpaste on your finger and let your dog taste it.
Step 3 - Introduce the Toothbrush
Place a small amount of toothpaste on the brush. In a slow circular
motion, gently brush one or two teeth and the adjoining gum line. The
purpose of this step is to get your dog accustomed to the feel of the brush.
Step 4 - Begin Brushing
Over the next several days, gradually increase the number of teeth
brushed. It is important to eventually brush the rear teeth where plaque
and tartar have a greater tendency to accumulate. Go slowly and gently –
keep each session positive. Stop brushing before your dog begins to fuss.
If your dog learns to dislike the procedure and finds out that fussing makes
you stop quicker, then this brushing business is going to get harder, not
easier.
Build up to about 30 seconds per side. Dogs don't get much tartar on the
inside surfaces of their teeth, so you mainly need to concentrate on the
outside surfaces. Be sure to brush the big teeth way in back.
5 - Make tooth brushing a pleasurable experience
Proceed slowly and gently. Stop each session while it is still fun and
lavishly praise your dog afterwards. Your dog will soon start looking
forward to tooth brushing and it will become a pleasant activity for both of
you.
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Your Newsletter
We
hope you enjoy reading this issue of Fuzz Buzz and that the information is
helpful to you and your Kees. We would like this to be your Newsletter
and value your input and suggestions. So, get your thinking caps on
now and tell us please: Have you attended a class on a topic
related to animal welfare or animal health care and learned something
valuable you can share with fellow Kees lovers? Do you have
information on specific topics you would like to have published? Do
you just want to share a story, poem or thoughts about your rescued
Kees that you feel others would enjoy? If you answered "yes" to
any of these questions, please send your thoughts. Any format, printed,
faxed, or e-mailed will do, but it would be easiest for Newsletter
production if the article is sent either as an attached text or word
processing file or as the body of an e-mail. Thank you for your
consideration and contributions - we look forward to hearing from
you.
Mailing List
If you would like to be included for future
mailings or emails containing helpful information or bulletins, please send your information to us at: Hollikees@aol.com.
Thank you for your interest in Florida Keeshond Rescue and the dogs we serve.
We will let you know when we add you to our list.
In Loving Remembrance
Left:
Cheryle's beautiful little Angel, Annie. Center: Amber, much loved foster fur child.
Right: Handsome and beloved fur child of Carole and Ken and big brother to
Sunny - you are forever loved.
  
Foster
Caregivers Needed
Each dog
is so special and deserving of respect and the love of a forever
family. What a wonderful blessing our adopters are for these dogs and
we thank each one of you for opening your hearts and home for a rescued
Keeshond. We're four months into 2009, and we have already been
contacted to help many, many dogs! At this time we have only two active foster homes and
hope you will consider becoming a foster caregiver - the dogs need you and
so do we! All approved expenses are paid by Florida
Keeshond Rescue. Volunteer Application click
here: Foster
Application . If you would like more information, please contact us at:
Hollikees@aol.com. On behalf of the dogs we serve, thank you.
You ought to be in
Pictures
Want to have your
Keeshond's picture showcased in Fuzz Buzz? If so, please send
pictures in .jpg format to Hollikees@aol.com.
Each quarter we will share at least one picture with everyone. So, get out
your cameras and start capturing your Keeshond's antics. Pictures can be
comical, serious, showcase the dog's fluffy coat or personality ... you name
it, we're open to taking a look. Since
each Kees is so special, it's challenging to pick just one picture to share but we managed to narrow it down
and selected a picture to brighten everyone's spirits! What fun!
ZeuKee Green exudes happiness! Just look at the gleeful
grin! Life is GREAT!
. 
Assistance
Requested
Florida
Keeshond Rescue needs loving foster families willing to care for rescued
Keeshonden in their homes until the
right permanent homes are found. All approved expenses paid. We also need
volunteers to assist with transportation. Please contact
us at HolliKees@aol.com
if you would like to volunteer to help us help needy Keeshonden. We
depend on public support to continue saving lives - please donate as
you are able. Tax deductible donations may be made by clicking on the
PayPal button below or mailed to us: Florida Keeshond Rescue
14286-19 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, FL
32250
A
copy of our application for our 501(c)3 classification and the IRS ruling
letter are available upon request.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL
INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY
CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT
IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. OUR
REGISTRATION NUMBER IS CH22285.
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