Both enjoy national attention in February!

Dental Health

Are you one of those rare, dedicated pet owners who brushes your cat’s or dog’s teeth at least a couple of times a week? Then you probably won’t care that February is National Dental Health Month for pets.

My once-feral orange tabby cat thinks dental hygiene is uncivilized, and my 9-pound Poodle turns into a piranha at the sight of a toothbrush.  So I’m always first in line for the February dental discount at my vet’s office. As you can see from this photo, Gus is due for some serious dental work, and he goes in twice a year for teeth cleaning.

Financially this annual rite of passage into spring can be a bit steep. I always have a houseful of seniors, so their dentals might be more expensive than usual because of periodontal disease, fractured teeth, extractions and other expensive procedures. The lowest bill in the past few years has been around $200 and the highest close to $800.

In case that motivates you to learn how to brush your Fluffy’s teeth, here’s a demo sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB3GIAgrTPE&feature=player_embedded

The risks of skipping your pet’s dental care can be severe.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some degree of periodontal disease by age three. When plaque and tartar build up on the teeth, especially below the gums, bacteria flourish and can lead to bad breath, bleeding and receding gums, and eventually loss of teeth. Periodontal disease is serious and can release bacteria into the blood stream that can result in infections, organ damage, and even death.

So if you can’t get that toothbrush in your pet’s mouth, don’t skip the annual dental. In case you’re concerned about the risk of anesthesia, especially on older dogs, UC Davis veterinarians note that with advancements in anesthesia for animals, the risk of anesthesia is less than the risk for dental disease.

The UC Davis vet school says choice of diet and toys can have a significant effect on whether a pet has a healthy or diseased mouth. Soft and sticky foods build plaque and should be avoided. Certain toys are designed to stimulate the gums and reduce plaque. By the way, cats and dogs are equally at risk.

Spay/Neuter Your Pets

Did you know that neutering pets not only helps reduce the population of homeless pets, but can save your dog’s or cat’s life?  As National Spay Day approaches on February 28, I hope you’ll give thought to some of these issues. Even if your own pets are spayed or neutered, you might step outside your comfort zone and trap a feral cat or a stray dog and get it snipped. Or take the more time-saving path and donate to a rescue organization committed to sterilization.

Back to saving your pet’s life….According to www.SpayUSA.com here are some of the serious health risks you can avoid by sterilizing your pets:

• Altering your dog will increase his or her life an average of 1 to 3 years, cats, 3 to 5 years.
• Intact animals have a much higher risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometria, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers.
• Sterilizing your cats and dogs reduces the urge to roam and decreases the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam.
• Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered.
• Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years (my emphasis).

Let’s celebrate our cats and dogs this month by restoring their pearly whites to good health and getting them or their stray cousins spayed or neutered.

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