Tips & Tricks Tuesday- Dental Health

Tips & Tricks Tuesday

Dental Health Month 

SALE!! 

Tooth brushings $2

Toothbrush Club is 1/2 off for $5

Get your dog to tolerate getting their teeth brushed

Not all pets make great candidates for brushing, but a veterinarian will have no sympathy for a pet owner complaining about bad breath or expensive dental procedures if they never learned how to properly brush their pets' teeth and do it frequently. 

Train your dog to tolerate it. 

Chances are, they will probably never love having it done, but at least if they tolerate it, it can make for an easy and fast yet useful experience. Try to make a point of teaching them that the toothbrush is their friend.

Start them early.

Pets should be acclimated to brushing before they ever show signs of periodontal disease. About 80% of pets have periodontal disease by the age of three.

Learn how to brush their teeth.

Have someone demonstrate for you on your pet so you actually know what to do before trying it yourself. Make little circling motions. Concentrate on the outside of the teeth. Skip the tongue.

Fast brushings are better than nothing at all.

It doesn't have to take you forever. Half a minute of brushing twice a week is way better than skipping it altogether. Just brushing thirty seconds even can be very beneficial when it comes to removing early plaque.

Don't ONLY rely on your groomer.

Although, its easier and faster to just add on a teeth brushing while your pup is getting groomed, it should not substitute for brushing your pet's teeth at home and receiving routine care by your vet.

How often is brushing needed?

The most common question on this subject is, "how often should I brush my dog's teeth?" The answer is "it depends." Once a week is the minimum. Twice a week for those more likely to develop plaque. Daily is recommended for severe periodontal disease patients.

SKUNK SEASON!

February through March is mating season for striped, hog-nosed, and hooded skunks, and that translates into "skunk smell." The stink occurs when males try to court females who may not be "in the mood."

From the dog's perspective, the urge to pursue these critters equipped with some of Nature's strongest defenses often seems to be simply irresistible. Skunks are notorious for their anal scent glands, which they can use as a defensive weapon. These glands produce the skunk's spray, which is a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals such as thiols (traditionally called mercaptans), which have an offensive and nauseating odor.

Here's the de-skunking recipe you need for an at home remedy for any sized dog:

• Combine 1/2 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/8 cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap in an open container.
• Draw a tepid bath and put your dog in it.
• Apply the solution liberally throughout your dog's coat and suds him up well (to the skin).

We do offer a skunk bath as an add on service to a regular Homecoming or Deluxe Bath which includes a Degreasing shampoo alongside a special skunk off shampoo that will help eliminate the "skunk smell". Just a reminder, once the dog gets wet, you may smell the scent until it is fully phased out.