• If you have not heard, Pets benefit from many dental procedures developed for humans. However, keep in mind that these procedures do not include teeth whitening, braces, dentures, dental implants and other cosmetic dental procedures.
• Professional dental cleaning for Pets is performed under general anesthesia and Pets are recommended to have this procedure every six months to several years depending upon how quickly plaque and tartar build up on their teeth. Just like people, a Pet’s home dental care, genetics and diet helps determine professional cleaning needs.
• Gingivitis is as much of a health issue for Pets as it is for people.
• Pet toothpaste has enzymes to help break down plaque making the job of brushing the teeth at home somewhat easier. It also comes in yummy flavors like chicken and beef!

So why is dental care as important in Pet as it is in humans?

1. Healthy teeth and gums have more longevity than infected or broken teeth
2. Bad breath (from plaque and tartar on teeth) is just as offensive when it comes from your Pet as it would from other people
3. Infected teeth hurt and cause bacteria to leech into the body via the gums. Bacteria can then damage the kidneys, heart and other organs in the body

The following are changes are great preventive measures you can take to maintain your Pet’s teeth and gums:

• Provide a good diet – good nutrition builds good teeth and gums
• Feed dry food €“ dry is less likely to stick to teeth and form tartar or plaque
• Over time train your Pet so brushing their teeth is part of regular grooming
• Schedule professional dental cleaning under anesthesia

Train Pets to allow you to look at their teeth so you can eventually brush their teeth. Start by training Pets to allow an exam of their teeth at home. Continue to work with them so eventually brushing the teeth with special Pet toothpaste is part of the hygiene and grooming done weekly or daily, depending on the individual Pet’s needs.

How is dental care for Pets different than our own?

1. Toothpaste for dogs and cats includes special enzymes to help with home dental cleaning.
2. Professional dental cleaning for Pets requires general anesthesia.
3. Most dental care is provided by your Pet’s veterinarian, more complicated procedures such as root canals, are be referred to a veterinary dental specialists.
4. All the adult teeth are present around six months of age so no wisdom teeth appear later in life.
5. Flossing is not included in home dental care for Pets.
6. Some Pets may not lose baby teeth properly when adult teeth come in. These need to be pulled and can often be done at the time of spay or neuter.

When doing home exams for your Pet, here’s what to look for:

• Starting with clean teeth – there is no food or gunk between teeth or close to the gums no bad odor associated with the mouth
• Then move to food and plaque (which is soft and easy to remove) build up on the teeth (just like people) that needs to be removed with regular brushing or some similar type of action
• Tartar forms as plaque hardens on the teeth-this is the stage when a professional dental cleaning is needed, brushing at home prevents more plaque hardening to build more tartar, however the existing tartar will not come off with brushing at home
• Receding and/or inflamed gums as a result of plaque and tartar buildup provide more surface area for additional plaque, food debris and tartar to hide. This in turn can put the teeth at risk of root damage that leads to tooth death, loose teeth, infected teeth
• Infected teeth leech bacteria into the body which can affect the major organs including the liver, kidneys and heart; infected teeth can become loose and eventually fall out altogether

To have your Pet’s teeth examined, check with your veterinarian. Your veterinary hospital can also assist with scheduling professional dental cleanings, make recommendations for different types of brushes that work well for the size of your Pet, provide Pet toothpaste flavored for either your cat or dog and help demonstrate how to start working with your Pet so that over time brushing with Pet toothpaste is part of regular grooming at home.

One resolution I have this year in our household is to be more environmentally conscious, and our Pets play a major part in “going green.” We are focusing on moving away from toys made with plastic. For instance, we bought feather toys for our cats, which are both natural and allow for our cats to expel some of their hunter energy.

For all our Pets, we switched from plastic bowls to metal. Not only are metal bowls more environmentally friendly, they last longer and take better to being cleaned and sterilized in the dishwasher. We also plan to use pine or other biodegradable litter instead of clay litter, and washable Pet beds to save from dry cleaning costs and chemicals. Storing nylon harnesses where dogs can’t get them is a way to increase their product life and we’ll buy products in bulk when possible to avoid wasteful packaging.

Holiday plants are a particularly relevant part of our New Year’s resolution. We will be avoiding having too many in the house. Not only are they wasteful because of their short shelf life, but they are also poisonous to Pets. And I do have some adventurous Pets who try to eat things they shouldn’t.

Other Green New Year’s Resolution Tips

Planet Green has some great additional tips on how to include your Pets in an environmentally conscious New Year’s resolution. Two main points that I drew from are:

1. If you are looking for a new Pet, consider going to a shelter. When it comes to Pets, “recycling a Pet” in lieu of going to a breeder can be one of the most environmentally friendly things you can do. Millions of Pets enter shelters every year so chances are you will find a great match, and you would be helping to alleviate the overpopulation problem in shelters and provide a homeless Pet a good home.
2. Look for natural, organic or sustainable Pet products. Not only are these good for the environment, but these products are generally better for your Pets as well. For instance, getting toys with natural fibers will prevent your Pet from ingesting plastics or other harmful substances, and feeding natural or organic treats will keep your Pet’s diet away from reconstituted animal by-products.

Good Pet care and adopting a more environmental lifestyle can go hand in hand, and they can become cornerstones to keeping our Pets healthy for a long time. Check with your local veterinary hospital if you have healthcare, behavior, nutrition or other questions about your Pets during this winter season.

It’s quite common for our Pets to be overweight or obese and because we provide so much for our Pets, bad news can be hard to digest. Hearing your Pet is overweight can be disappointing and at times overwhelming. While my friend could choose to blow off the news of Pele as just being fluffier, we want our Pets to be healthy and live happy and long lives. Common health issues associated with overweight Pets include arthritis, diabetes and heart disease just to name a few. Working with your Pet’s doctor to achieve and maintain a healthy weight reduces risk of these health issues. However, creating this change takes some serious dedication and lifestyle change on our part, too.

Many Pets do just fine when food is dispensed in appropriate and moderate amounts.. Some Pets will lose the necessary extra pounds just by increasing exercise. The better a Pet feels the more likely they are to be active and take care of the extra calorie burn.

If you’re in the same boat as so many of us, here are a few tips to help alter your Pet’s diet:

1. If you are changing food, whether just the brand or the main ingredient, you should try changing over the period of a week by gradually reducing the proportion of the current food and increasing the proportion of the new food. This prevents a digestive upset that can cause diarrhea.
2. When decreasing the amount of food you are feeding your Pet, measure exactly how much food your Pet gets currently, then start to gradually reduce that amount.
3. Pets that get food twice a day often times do better than those with just one meal a day, even when the total amount of food per day is the same.
4. When feeding your Pet three times a day, try morning, after work and just before bed. This timing should keep your Pet’s belly full throughout the day.
5. While a couple table scraps or neighborhood treats might seem harmless, these extra food sources also count as calories. Look to discontinue these extra calories, and if discontinuing is not possible, find some low calorie substitutes and count that in their daily feeding. Small bites of carrot or apple are good substitutes for dog biscuits and treats.
6. Active Pets burn more calories. Find some fun activities to keep your Pet active.
7. Your Pets doctor can recommend a high fiber diet that contains balanced nutrition and vitamins so your Pet feels fuller and remains healthy.
8. Plan for your Pet to lose weight slowly. Your Pet’s doctor can suggest a healthy weight loss amount over a specific period of time. This plan should make it easier for you to plan your Pet’s weight loss and stick to it.
9. Use buddy system to help your Pet lose weight. Find a family member or friend with Pets who is dealing with the same issue. The mutual support will keep you on task.
10. Keep in mind that your Pets most likely need and want to do more activities. And keeping your Pets active will also keep them out of trouble.

Being consistent with changes in your Pet’s lifestyle increases the odds that they will live a long and happy life.

Along these lines, I’m so excited that Dr. Denise Elliott, a board certified specialist and leader in the field of veterinary nutrition recently joined Banfield as our medical specialist in nutrition. The knowledge and expertise that Dr. Elliott brings our practice is invaluable, and I’m thrilled that she has agreed to be a regular contributor to our blog moving forward. So, be on the lookout for her entries in 2010!

Air: Pets breathe the same air as we do. If there is smoke in the air, it can cause the same type of damage to their bodies as it does to humans. If our Pets are around us while there is cigarette smoke in the air, they will be exposed to the same carcinogens as we would. Since we can see and smell cigarette smoke and other types of smoke, this can make it easy to identify any areas that are a hazard for our Pets.

Water: Our Pets need water just as much as we do in order to live. But just because the water is clear does not mean that it is necessarily safe to drink. The following are some general tips for drinking water based on where you live:

• If you rely on a city system, your drinking water should be pollutant-free thanks to city processing.
• Home owners that do not rely on city water and use well water should sample and test the water regularly for pollutants.
• Avoid drinking from water in rivers, streams, oceans and irrigation ditches if possible. Both domestic and farm pesticides and/or fertilizers can merge with these bodies of water. When enjoying the outdoors, Pet owners should consider bringing their own water for both their Pets and themselves.

Sunshine: Pets enjoy spending time in the sun as much as we do. Reptiles warm themselves, cats take naps and dogs play. But the sun can cause damage to the skin, and possibly cancer, in Pets just like it does in us. If your Pet enjoys time in the sun, you should keep an eye on your Pet’s skin and have your veterinarian check for any growths or abnormal areas. Pets that are more at risk for skin damage from the sun include those with thin fur and light colored skin. The areas of the body that have less fur seem to be more at risk of developing a problem such as the tips of the ears, eye area, around the nose or any balding spots. Sunscreen works for Pets just like it does for us. Speak to your veterinarian about recommended products.

Food: Pets can ingest many things aside from their normal Pet food — human food, toys, leashes, carpet, the outside deck, indoor plants, outdoor plants, etc. Keeping items out of your Pet’s reach that are hazardous or were treated with chemicals is a good plan for reducing risk of illness. However, you may have to monitor your Pets even more closely when these materials are unavoidable, such as the wood decks that might be treated with preservatives or the food and water bowls your Pets tend to chew on.

If you have any questions about your Pet’s current health, contact your veterinarian. To determine what items to tuck away in the house while Pet proofing, some preliminary steps you can take are checking labels on cleaning products (greener options tend to be safer for Pets), look at labels on Pet cushions and any that might be on your Pet’s toys.

But if you do have to stay home, who is your best buddy? Often times, it is our Pets. Pets cannot fetch our cold medicine, but they do put up with any whining. Pets also do not care if we aren’t at our freshest either because of a missed shower or if we forgot to brush our teeth that morning.

I have yet to see a Pet snub their nose at a trail of tissues leading up to their sick owner. If anything, dogs can take the mess as a sign to party and might even use the tissue trail as toys, and cats will daintily brave the trail of tissues to cuddle closer to their owner and provide nose nuzzles.

Many Pets are good at keeping kids company while they are sick in bed. Pets may not be at the top of the kid’s list like Mom or chicken soup, but having a Pet hang out while being stuck in bed is good for comfort and distraction.

As adults, our Pets keep us on the mend by helping us stay active. Even when we are sick, we still have to get up to feed them, give them water or go out for a walk/potty break. And you still need to go out and get Pet food when you have run out—even if you are sick.

Pets are not only great for comfort for when you are feeling under the weather, but they can also be beneficial for your overall health and help you avoid illness all together! WebMD offers a slideshow that includes some reasons on why Pets are good for us.

Some of these health benefits may seem obvious, such as companionship, exercising with your Pet, or Pets who help their disabled owners live a more independent life than they would without Pets. These day-to-day activities, which seem obvious to helping Pet owners’ health, can also contribute to the prevention of more serious illnesses. Pet owners have a statistically lesser likelihood to be prone to deliberating illnesses such as heart disease, strokes and depression. Pets can also help children adjust better to such conditions such as the ADHD, allergies and autism.

You may have just thought that Pet snuggles were good for the soul, but they are good for mind and body too!

Here’s to Pets, the unsung heroes on our sick days, second only to the person that brings us chicken soup and picks up all the tissues that did not make it into the trash.

While there are a lot of things I loved about living beyond the city, one major downside to it was that we would often find a lot of abandoned or stray Pets. People often drive Pets out to the ‘country’ and turn them loose when they’re no longer wanted. I have adopted two cats this way in the past. They were kittens at the time and Ebony as I named her, had stunted growth which I’m almost certain was due to the malnutrition she endured before finding us. Ttoz was much younger when we found him and he grew to a healthy adult size. There were also a number of Pets we found that we brought to the local humane society in the hopes of finding them new homes since our house was full at the time with 4 dogs and 4 cats.

I found my cat, Toast, after having moved to the city and my current Pets Beatle, Turtle and Tomato were all adopted from local shelters. Since I’ve received so much benefit from local shelters, I’m passionate about trying to give back to them—especially during harder economic times, when Pets tend to suffer in great numbers, too.

In addition to adopting or donating to a local shelter, there are other ways to help Pets and support your local shelter community. Here are just a few to consider:

• Buy supplies from a shelter
• Volunteer to help at the shelter or help with shelter outreach programs
• Sponsor or foster Pets waiting for adoption
• Donate supplies (food/cat litter/blankets/towels) to a shelter
• Attend training classes
• Attend education classes
• Tour a Pet shelter
• Encourage friends and family to adopt from a shelter
• Participate in a fund-raising event (local walk/runs auctions, and larger events)

Encouraging school-aged kids to prepare a report on Pets, shelters and charities is another great way to help youngsters learn about ways to help Pets, too. Any support from the community, no matter how large or small helps these organizations continue to provide their much-needed services.

And, if you’re in the market for a new Pet of your own, http://www.petfinder.com/, is a great place to start.

Dogs in particular are very curious and interested in checking out everything, and tend to like eating things that are hazardous to their health, especially when everyone is occupied with holiday activities. If an accident does occur and your dog does manage to get into something hazardous, it’s best to seek medical attention immediately.

Same goes for cats or other species that may ingest potentially dangerous substances. Since your veterinary hospital may need to contact poison control it is a good idea to bring in any packaging that may list the ingredients of the item(s) your Pet ate. Acting quickly to seek medical attention in these cases gives your Pet the best chance of a full recovery.

While there are many situations in which Pets ingest hazardous materials, here are a few examples of some I have seen in my past hospital experience:

• A miniature pincher swallowed a heavy duty 3 pronged fish hook, which was a stressful surgery for everyone involved!
• A Doberman who was a repeat offender for eating whole corn cobs and pumpkin stems–that poor dog had A LOT of surgeries to remove stuff!!
• Numerous kitties that had eaten a needle or needle with thread, which is a very nasty and dangerous problem since both items can cut or puncture stomach/intestines.
• And quite frequently, we treat Pets who have eaten an engagement ring accidentally.

Be sure to check with your veterinary hospital on tips for safe toys and suggestions on Pet-proofing the house, yard and car. In addition to your veterinarian some great resources for information on seasonal hazards can be found at:

• Foods your dog should avoid from WebMD
• Foods your cat should avoid from WebMD
• CatChannel.com includes holiday hazards for cats

• Item 1 — my kennels are not near exits, though they are in the house
• Item 2 — I need current Pet photos in case one of my Pets gets lost and I have to post flyers or for identification at a shelter.
• Item 3 — current ID tags and microchips for all

So here is a question to ponder if YOU needed to evacuate your home within the next 30 minutes how prepared are you to evacuate with your Pets?

The recent California wildfires have certainly alerted many home owners’ as to the need for revised evacuation plans.

Many areas across the country have wild fires that threaten homes, families, livestock, and property. Fires force many people to evacuate with their Pets. These families are subject to hazardous air quality for days or weeks at a time and may also face financial hardship as do the agencies funding the fire fighting.

Accidental home fires or other hazards in the home can subject families to emergency evacuation often with little warning time to act on the evacuation plan.

Regardless of the reason for the need to leave your home, a well planned evacuation saves lives. Having an evacuation/disaster plan ahead of time to care for people, Pets, and property is a great way to have peace of mind that you are ready if disaster strikes, natural or otherwise.

Evacuation plans and early warning systems are vital to keeping the entire family safe from the hazards of fire and other natural disasters. You can use the national Humane Society’s emergency preparedness planning information to determine how prepared you are currently. You might consider holding a fire drill to make sure that everyone knows what to do and what their role is in a real emergency evacuation. Keep in mind Pets are more likely to be frightened when they hear loud sounds, bad smells, and frightening sights. Here are a few Pet tips from the Humane Society. The American Red Cross provides these tips for home and family.

There are things you can do to help protect your home and property as well.

• Check the exterior of your house for ways to decrease a fire friendly environment
• Test smoke detectors because properly functioning home and garage save lives as well. Check yours twice a year and make sure to change the batteries as needed.

Depending upon the extent of burning & smoke or other pollutants, decreased air quality increases breathing difficulties, especially for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Seek medical attention for people and Pets with breathing problems or any other medical concern. It is wise to follow the instructions of your doctor and veterinarian and to continue treatment for as long as recommended. Keep in mind some issues related to poor air quality may not improve until the air quality improves too.

Far too many Pets perish as the result of natural disaster and with proper preparation we can help protect our Pets and families from suffering.

If your Pet is bitten by a spider or other insect, they may experience side effects—from mild to extremely severe. Reactions often occur around the face because Pets have a tendency to try to eat bugs. Here are a few things to be vigilant of this time of year:

• Mild swelling , which you should watch closely and contact your veterinarian to discuss
• Any rapid swelling—especially around the face—could be indicative of a more serious reaction and requires immediate veterinary medical attention to help prevent the swelling from impairing your Pet’s ability to breathe.
• If your Pet is stung by a bee, attempt to remove the stinger and if any swelling is noted, consult your veterinarian immediately

There are also some precautions you can take if you’d like to reduce the likelihood of attracting spiders into your home

• Keep bushes, trees and other vegetation away from the house so it is not easy for spiders to step into your windows or doors
• Check the foundation and other areas of the outside structure of your home for any cracks that spiders can slip through. If you find any, these should be sealed with caulking or other appropriate materials.
• Vacuum up any cob webs or spider webs inside as well as those attached to the outside of your house. If the outside is not easy to vacuum, try using a broom to get rid of the webs.
• Spiders prefer covered areas, so they’re drawn to clutter. They can often be found in piles or pieces of clothing not put away (guilty), stacks of papers (guilty), and empty boxes. Curtains and drapes should also be checked and vacuumed to reduce spider hide-outs.
• Drafts by windows or doors also attract spiders so you may want to address those as well.

If you consider spraying to reduce or eliminate spiders or other insects, it is important to make sure any product you use is non-toxic to Pets and people.

If your Pet experiences any condition outside of the norm, it is best to contact your veterinary team to discuss.

Now, I know the following things about bunnies €“

• With some minimal preparation, they make great family Pets!
• With proper nutrition, good health care and a healthy home environment, bunnies can live as long as some cats and dogs. Living outdoors in a hutch and being exposed to all the elements and predators could potentially cut several years off their life expectancy as well as make for a frightening experience when you consider how many roaming neighborhood Pets and wild birds there are.
• Bunnies can and should be spayed and neutered to avoid unwanted pregnancy. When I was a kid, the strategy to avoid unwanted baby bunnies was to house males and females in separate hutches. Spayed and neutered bunnies are less likely to mark their territory with urine or by dropping pellets, which is a great benefit! Additionally spaying and neutering prevents infections and diseases associated with the reproductive tract.
• Caring for a bunny is similar to having a dog or cat€”they require time, attention and just as with dogs and cats, need food, shelter, love, training, toys, medical care and other preventive care.
• Litter box training for bunnies is possible, TOO! Who would have thought such a thing for a bunny?
• As part of their natural instinct, bunnies chew everything in sight including electric cords so Pet-proofing a home and constant supervision is a must!
• Bunnies can injure or paralyze their back if their rear legs are not supported while being held or sitting on a slick surface, which is unnatural for them. Knowing how to properly hold a bunny can prevent accidental back injuries, especially when bunnies kick back their legs.
• Animal shelters often have bunnies waiting for adoption that came from homes and families no longer able to provide them with care. Read more about adopting a bunny here.
• Bunnies may not be compatible with other Pets already in your home, especially if your bunny has occasional or continual free roam of its environment.

For additional tips about rabbit care, here are a few good resources from www.hsus.org:

How to care for a Bunny

Understanding Pet Rabbits, Video

If adopting a bunny sounds intriguing and you’re up for the responsibilities of caring for a bunny, it will be helpful to do some research before you bring home your bunny. Your Banfield veterinary team, humane society and local shelter will often have tips on training, nutrition, healthcare, housing, grooming and even litter box training techniques. Then it’s just a matter of picking up your supplies, Pet-proofing the areas your bunny can investigate (with your supervision), introducing other Pets slowly to reduce stress on your bunny and enjoying a great family Pet. Good Luck!