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 tooth’s 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.

Five Sharp Shar Pei Dog Trivia

Loose skin, prickly coat, small ears, unquestionable courage at home and outside.... The shar pei dog is all this and more! The Shar-Pei is an ancient breed that has called its home for centuries the southern provinces of China. Certain similarities make it a probable relative of the smooth-coated Chow Chow and the Tibetan Mastiff. This remarkable breed is now all over the world, but its odyssey started out at home simply enough with tasks like cattle herding, property guarding, and hunting assistant.

1. The Shar Pei are a brainy breed. They also make good in obedience training. The best way to maintain their interest is to vary their training routine.

2. The shar pei dog has a bluish-black tongue, just like its likely relative the Chow Chow. But if you are into show dog competitions, you may have hear many times over that spotted and all-pink tongues are “undesirable” or do not have much chance, from the judges' point of view; lavender, on the other hand, is permissible.

3. Aside from seeing extra yummy food, the only other way that a shar pei dog will get slobbery is when water gets trapped in the folds of their muzzle.

4. Just because a Shar-Pei is somewhat exotic in origin does not mean it can also live in exotic temperatures. This means that a Shar-Pei is in danger of overheating if left under the sun for long periods of time, and will also suffer if kept as an outdoor dog during cold weather.

5. Finally, let's go over this dog colorful history. Did you know that at some point, these dogs were even on the brink of extinction?

We have already mentioned the dog's peasant roots. When Communism rose to power in China, raising dogs either as pets or for fighting were considered an excessive activity. By 1950, the breed's low numbers were in big trouble.

Somewhere along the way, a few breeders in the British colony of Hong Kong acquired a few of these Chinese Fighting Dogs. Chinese businessman Matgo Law was one such fancier of the wrinkled dogs, and in 1973 he and fellow breeder C.M. Chung began a campaign to save the breed with a plea for help in Dogs magazine.

Incredible as it may seem, the founding batch sent to the US from Hong Kong were of an inferior quality than the Shar-Pei observed today. More specifically, some of the original 12 dogs imported to the United States that make up the breed's genetic foundation in this country were actually street dogs with nasty dispositions! Just the same, most Americans responded positively to the campaign. Soon enough, the Shar-Pei was like a fad in its early years in the US, with pups commanding prices that reached thousands of dollars and dog breeding ballooning without any regard for the breed's overall temperament, health, or structure.

While Chung and Law ended up with more than 2000 responses and requests, they only sent puppies to some breeders they tried to select as much as possible. Eventually, some of these early breeders would organize the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America in order to formulate a breed standard and collaborate to improve the breed. The breed's numbers are now currently a far cry from their status when the magazine plea was put up; in 1994, the registration of 15 thousand individuals and 6600 litters was able to make the breed the 25th most popular in the US, out of 137 breeds.

Dog Disease: Bladder Stones

As you read more and more about the diseases of man and dog, you'll see that there are many which they may have in common. Take bladder stones for example – it forms in the bladder of the host which causes many complications such as pain when peeing. This disease can occur in dogs as well, having the same effects and symptoms. This disorder is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. If left untreated, it will slowly develop into a bigger and more sophisticated problem, such as the development of tumors and bladder cancer; which will eventually lead to the demise of your pet.

So as a responsible owner of your animal, take note of any symptoms that could possibly point out the ailment. As I've stated above, your pooch will feel pain which could really be intense if it has a bladder stone. It can't tell you straight out that it's hurting while peeing, so observe its reactions and behavior. The pain doesn't develop into really painful just yet, but gradually over a course of time. It would be urinating more often, but in lesser amounts. The time (slower than usual) it takes the stream of urine to come out is also to be considered as a preliminary sign.

Other urinary abnormalities such as blood in its pee is also a possibility, and that's just about when it'll start yelping in agony. Your pet may also show a sudden loss of appetite – it would refuse to eat plenty or none at all. With this disorder corresponds lethargy, or being lazier than usual. The pooch wouldn't want to go on walks with you and skip out on playing sessions. If your dog displays any, many, or all of the symptoms stated above (especially the pain in pee symptom), then it's best you pay your veterinarian a visit. From there, he will be able to assess the severity of the bladder stone using several tests, one including an ultrasound.

He'll then explain to you how the stone/s develop in the first place, which goes something like this: “Bladder stones are actually formed when there is a build-up of excess minerals and other waste materials inside your pet's bladder. It will than solidify and increase in size as more and more minerals and waste pile up. That's what has been causing the difficulty in urination and the pain its been feeling while doing so.” More or less that's what he'll tell you, then he'll explain the importance of knowing the exact composition and size of the stone, so that he'll be able to prescribe the right kind of medicine to help break that stone down.

Yes, different compositions need different treatment to break it down effectively, but usually all treatments include a combination with antibiotics. Having your dog admitted to the vet as early as possible is vital for it's well-being. When the development of the bladder stone has worsen enough, medicine won't be of much use – so that's when surgery will be needed. There will also be a point where surgery will do no good at all, leaving euthanasia as the only option left. This isn't something that you and your pet wouldn't want to go through, so please get professional help immediately if you suspect your dog to have developed the disorder.

Judging Liability For Dog Bite Injuries

There are about 4.7 million dogs in the United States. Everyday, an average of 1,000 Americans are treated in Emergency Rooms for dog bite injuries.

Dog bites are common to both children and adults. It can have serious consequences including disfigurement, trauma and in many cases even death.

Since the dogs themselves cannot be held liable in the court of law, the owner is generally the one to take the blame for the pet’s actions.

Each state may have different laws regarding dog bite injuries. But most recognize that a pet owner is responsible for his/her dog or any other pet, and should prevent them from attacking or causing harm to other people.

A dog bite injury attorney can help you in filing for personal injury claims depending on the state you are in.

The two most used animal attack statutes are Dangerous Propensity and the One Bite rule.

Dangerous Propensity

This statute say’s that the owner can only be held liable for injuries as a result of his/her dog’s attack if it can be established that he/she knew that the dog or pet has “dangerous propensity” or a tendency to attack, bite or maul other people even if not provoked.

A dog bite injury attorney will try to establish the dog’s dangerous propensity in various ways. He/she can use the dog’s breed or species, occupation, training and general character. In some cases, the owner can also be used as proof. Evidence of owner’s foreknowledge of his/her dog’s dangerous propensity may include testimonies from other people that the owner brags about the dog’s aggressiveness, muzzling of dog when in public or signs in the property warning about the dog.

One Bite Rule

Over a third of the country uses this as guideline for judging an attack.

The rule states that the dog owner cannot be held liable if the dog has no history of biting or attacking anyone before.

There are advantages and disadvantages for the owners.

On one hand, owners are shielded from liability if their dogs have no previous history. On the other, once their dog attacked a person, the next time they attack someone else, the first attack will be strong evidence against the owner.

What to do if bitten by dog

You can follow these guidelines when you are bitten by a dog:

• Identify the dog and its owner. Ask the owner if the dog has been vaccinated to check if it has rabies.

• Do not argue with the owner. Most owners will deny that their dogs will cause any harm.

• Get medical treatment, this is most essential especially if the dog has rabies. Dog bites can be fatal if not treated early.

• Do not sign any documents that the owner or an insurer asks you without consulting the lawyer. You might be signing a statement absolving the owner of responsibility or worse, you might be admitting fault for the incident.

• Report the incident to the police and obtain a copy of the report.

• Consult with a dog bite injury lawyer to help you in filing your claims.

Dog Health Problems: Obesity

Watching television is a common activity we usually do we our dogs. Believe it or not, it seems like they also know what's happening in that tube. If we are stimulated while watching cartoons or our favorite actors, our four-legged best friends too, especially when they see canines or even felines on TV. They would wag their tails, jump up and down, bark and even howl because of excitement. Then of course, watching TV will not be complete if not accompanied with your favorite snacks like Pringles, french fries, pretzels, buffalo wings, etc.

Like us, they also gorge zealously among a plethora of food groups that have doubtful nutritional values. Since most goodies are packed with nutritional contents cleverly placed so as to project that this particular food is healthy, we tend to eat as if tomorrow would never come. Unknowingly that the number of servings matter as we scoop out a handful of these treats right into our mouths. Not only to us but we serve our dogs the same tartful treats that we eat. It is pretty obvious that vegging out with less physical exertion could lead to a serious condition known as obesity.

Obesity among dogs is as serious as obesity in humans. Many vital organs most especially the heart, liver and kidneys are compromised. Having a heavy weight impedes their daily functions. It is more cumbersome to move or even run a few distance because they also tend to develop osteoarthritis. Fat also accumulates in their muscles and joints.

How can we detect if a dog is obese? Looking at it physically, try to examine the ribs. A protruding ribcage could indicate malnutrition but if its difficult to palpate when surrounded with fat and its abdomen is round, then it is quite obvious. The frame of each dog is different from each breed so accurately weighing the dog and detecting a significant amount of weight gained comparing to its baseline is a sign.

Not all dogs suffer from obesity because of too much eating. Some of them could have thyroid problems. Having thyroid problems could either make the dog obese or make it suffer from malnutrition. There are many natural supplements in stores to speed up the dogs metabolism.

How do we treat obesity among dogs?

Feed the dog with its suitable snack. just because you enjoy watching TV together with a bag of potato chips, it doesn't mean they are good for your dogs too. Fortunately there are healthy snack substitutes especially made for these adorable canines.

Since you enjoy being together why not have a change of plan with your leisure activities. A regular morning walk together or even in the afternoon is a good replacement for an all afternoon TV viewing galore. But try not put too much effort on your dog for strenuous activities are not good for their heart. It is better to take things lightly.

Try to change its diet from regular to low-fat. But try not to prolong this low-fat diet because it is recently known to cause pancreatitis.

When they try to beg flashing their "pity me look" it may seem hard to resist but giving them small amounts of biscuits or snacks at times is much fattening than keeping their meals on time.

Medical interventions with drugs such as Slentrol or Slenderpet are available in pharmacies provided that it has been prescribed by your vet.

How long does it take to see the changes in my dog's weight problem? Keep in mind that a gain in your pet's weight probably took a long time so all the interventions that you've made may take effect in due time. Managing obesity among dogs is usually coupled with the right amount of activities and food. And if you have overcome your pet's condition it might also be the right time to check your own health status as well.

Housebreaking Aids for Small Dogs

Housetraining the puppies of small breeds of dogs is indeed not for the faint of heart! The keyword when it comes to these little rascals is "errorless management", which means three things: total 100% supervision (you will need to watch them round the clock), total confinement (crate training) when you can't assure yourself that you can handle the third, total supervision (you cannot fully look out for them since you also need to go to work).

Of course the word "total" presents the most challenge. After all, perhaps only a handful could keep up the whole day with a high-energy bundle no bigger than a hamster. And there lies the rub. Getting him out of sight could be the start of your worries!

Management is the first effective tool in your possession. You can use housebreaking aids like baby gates or a playpen to control the dog's movements and keep her within sight in one corner, or you can temporarily leash her nearby. If you need to get the phone or cook some dinner, place your puppy in her crate or a playpen in the room you are in. Bring the dog outside on an consistently regular schedule - every hour, if needed, with every successful outing capped by cheering and cookies.

Tethering the dog is still another option to control the movements of your little one.

At this point you also need to do a bit of detective work. You need to find out as soon as you can what (sometimes subtle) bodily signal, like for example, a pause mid step, ear twitch, or sniffing pattern the dog performs seconds before she squats. The moment you know what signal is this, react by redirecting your dog and answering with something firm yet short and easy to remember, like "You wanna potty? Go potty outside!" Another thing that can be done is to teach the dog to ring a bell before going outside to eliminate.

Potty pads, for all their novelty, are actually something you need to avoid too. One of your end-goals is to get the pup to go outside and eliminate there, so if you think you need an indoor toileting area for the time being, check out using a low sided tray with a layer of sod or dirt – try to mimic the look and feel of the surface of the intended outside target. But eventually an indoor potty area may not even help, but may actually hamper the process of getting the pup to go outside. Avoid using one as much as possible.

Lastly for housebreaking aids, what about using a litter box? Plenty of tiny dog owners teach their little apartment housemates to use a litter box, rather than going off on an adventure to look for some patch of grass. In case of some especially thorny housetraining difficulties, litter boxes are an option.

The Benefits Of A Dog Bed

Sleep is something that everybody needs, even dogs. What kind dog wouldn't want to sleep? One that's suffering from a disease similar to that experienced by an insomniac maybe. Anyways, what I'm trying to stress out here is the importance of getting a good night's sleep, and how it may benefit you and your beloved pooch. Getting a dog bed is like the ultimate expression of love for an animal. Not many owners are willing to spend much for their pets, and I hope you aren't one of them. After all the joy and help it has brought into your life, the least you can do is get it something to sleep in.

The act of giving it a dog bed won't be left unappreciated. It will immediately recognize what you've done for it, and will think highly of you- it'll respect you more. Letting it sleep on the cold floor isn't very humane, and it's about time you've done something about it. Getting a dog bed for your pet will have its benefits. Pooches kept inside don't always sleep on the floor, but on the coaches and chairs too. Why put up with something hard and uneasy while it can have something nice and soft? It'll be there all night till you chase it away in the morning.

You'll also notice lots of hair strands sticking everywhere. Drool is also a possible sight if your pet is a heavy drooler like the blood hound. What's worse is that it could also leave piss and poop behind, putting the burden of cleaning it up into your hands, plus hard to remove stains. Countless people would love to see their dogs waking up in their own beds instead of theirs, so they opt to get a dog bed. Dog beds don't need to be expensive. The cheaper ones will do fine, but if you really want things nice for your pet, there are luxury beds out there as well.

These are very comfortable – your dog would choose this over the coach and human bed. They also come with “head rests”, where they will be able to lean against, giving them a more comfortable sleep experience. You won't be worrying about the problems that could happen if it were to sleep on the human fixtures anymore, plus it wouldn't be straining any of its bones – which would happen if it were sleeping on the floor. Orthopedic beds are also available for canine. This is an extremely comfortable spot for it to sleep on, and actually helps with the regulation of its blood flow.

The foam will not sag, as a normal foam would, rather it would return to its original form every time it gets off it. Now how's that for pet comfort. Getting a dog bed doesn't have to cost much, affordable ones will get the job done. Getting one would be for the greater good for both owner and pet. Your pet would be happy to have a place of its own and couldn't possibly be thankful enough. If you haven't purchased one, get one now.