Dental Hygiene

Most dog owners tend to forget how important it is to brush your dog's teeth. The cleaner you keep your dog's teeth clean, the healthier it is overall. I have found some ways to brush my baby's teeth with ease.

Instead of using the brushes (which can be difficult from experience), I use gauze and wrap my finger with it. I use that as the brush and I am able to get a better feel of where the teeth and gums are. I also see that my baby is more tolerable of me brushing his teeth this way than those stinky brushes. For toothpaste, I am fortunate enough that he enjoys the Vanilla-Mint Flavor from Virbac CET. A scent that is enjoyable for both parties. But if your pup enjoys the chicken liver or peanut butter flavors, would definitely use that.

I also have used the teeth cleaning pads with baking soda. This works just like the gauze but without the toothpaste. Like how our teeth are, the baking soda keeps the teeth looking white. I recently have noticed that my baby's teeth were getting stained from the Salmon Oil I put in his food. I have used the pads and they are getting significantly lighter.

After the whole teeth cleaning process, there is a dental chew that your dog will think its a treat. I enjoy giving my baby the Virbac CET Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chew. This will help getting to the hard to reach places and for them, it's a reward.

Importance of Neutering/Spaying

Once you have finally decided to welcome a puppy into your family, there are many difficult decisions to be made, especially within the first year of its life.

Neutering/Spaying is probably one of the choices that need to be made at an early age. I am sure everyone wants to allow their puppy to have their own puppies but there are lots of disadvantages of not having the procedure done. Many veterinary doctors will encourage the choice in having the operation done. Not because they want to charge you but for the well-being in your dog's life.

Advantages: NO TESTICULAR CANCER!
- Male dogs (with a non-dominant/aggressive behavior) usually have a less desire to roam (when a female dog is in heat, they release pheromones which will attract male dogs), marking territory decreases, less chance in having an aggressive behavior.
- Male dogs (with a dominant behavior), neutering may not decrease the chances in having certain behavior characteristics. Neutering reduces the amount of testosterone but doesn't take it away. Behavior training will be needed if your dog has a dominant personality.
- Female dogs will not have the 6-month heat cycles, unwanted pregnancies, false pregnancies, less chances in uterine and mammary cancers.

If the surgical costs are too high at your primary veterinary's office, there are alternative practices that offer lower-cost procedures.

The ASPCA offers low-cost neutering/spaying for your furry friend. Log onto their website (www.aspca.org/aspca-nyc/mobileclinic) and find out when they plan to be in your neighborhood. I am sure you will have some strange feelings about going to a van but the procedure is quick and you'll be home in no time.

The North Shore Animal League also provides low-cost procedures from the basic wellness exams to other services (neutering/spaying, dental, micro-chipping, etc...) See below a link that will give you a breakdown of the cost and services that are provided. (www.nsalamerica.org/about/wellness-clinic-services-and.html)

There is also one more thing to consider after you have decided to neuter/spay your friend. The type of anesthesia used during the procedure. The one that was used my baby was where he could be woken up instantly if there were any complications. There is also the regular type of anesthesia that needs another injection to wake up your dog.

For the safety of your pet, it is always good to know exactly what will be done, what type of medication will be used, and the things that need to be done post-surgery.