Antietam Valley Animal Hospital’s Monthly Newsletter,
ISSUE # 5, January 2001
In this
issue….
Pets
Need Dental Care Too
Treat
Recipe
Shop
Online
Book
Review
Featured
Website
Looking for a Furry Friend?
Pets Need Dental Care Too because
PETS HAVE TEETH TOO…
Dental care is important in keeping your pet healthy.
Gear up for Dental Month and get your pet’s teeth cleaned!!
Why Should I Get My Pet’s Teeth Cleaned?
Gingivitis (inflamed/infected gums), halitosis (bad
breath) and tartar are all signs of dental disease.The
buildup of calculus (mineralized deposits) on the teeth may lead to bad
breath, painful chewing, infections of the tooth root and loss of teeth.Untreated
infections in the mouth may spread throughout the bloodstream and silently
damage the heart, kidneys and liver.With
the advances in modern veterinary medicine, animals are living longer,
happier, healthier lives, and we would like to ensure that your pet’s mouth
stays healthy as well as the rest of his or her body.
What’s Involved in a Dental Prophylaxis?
Your pet will be anesthetized to undergo the dental cleaning
procedure because unfortunately for veterinarians, dogs and cats do not
remain seated in a chair with their mouths wide open.This
is necessary for your pet’s safety and comfort.Under
anesthesia your pet will receive a thorough quality cleaning.If
your pet is OVER FIVE YEARS of age, pre-anesthetic blood work will be required—most
often a chemistry screen with or without electrolytes and a complete blood
count or a packed cell volume (PCV) will be completed.For
pets under five years old, we offer a mini pre-anesthetic blood test.These
blood samples can be performed the morning of the procedure or may be obtained
a week or so prior to the procedure.The
results of the blood tests allow the doctor to choose the most appropriate
anesthetics for your pet since the kidney and liver are the two major organs
that are responsible for clearing the anesthetics from the blood.
Your pet will have a complete physical examination
the morning of the dentistry.Very
mature pets or those with prior health problems may also have an intravenous
catheter placed to administer fluid therapy.An
injection of a sedative is given to make him or her groggy.Your
pet will then be intubated (a tube is placed in the windpipe) and oxygen
and isoflurane anesthetic gas are administered to your pet through this
tube.The tube also ensures that
no water or dental debris gets into the windpipe during the procedure.A
veterinary technician will clean (scale) each tooth with an ultrasonic
dental instrument, similar to a water-pick.The
doctor will again examine the teeth and determine if any teeth need to
be extracted.Teeth that are loose
or infected will be removed.The
technician will then polish each tooth with a paste similar to what your
dentist uses on you.After anesthesia
your pet may be a little groggy, but can go home that evening.Occasionally,
some pets are too groggy to go home and will remain in the hospital over
night for their safety.
Depending on the severity of your pet’s dental disease,
she or he
may receive an antibiotic injection immediately after
the dentistry and/or may be sent home with antibiotic pills or liquid to
give for several days after the procedure.Some
times the doctor will even prescribe antibiotics and/or an antibacterial
mouth rinse prior to the cleaning.If
your pet has teeth removed, it is advisable to feed canned food until the
gums heal.A recheck appointment
will be scheduled with a veterinary technician 7 to 14 days after the procedure
to examine the teeth and gums as well as explain home dental care with
you.
Your pet will definitely benefit from a dental
cleaning and polishing.S/he
will have a healthier set of teeth and gums afterwards.To
keep his or her teeth clean, it is advisable to feed dry food and brush
the teeth daily.Bones and chew toys
also provide good oral exercise and can improve dental health.A
prescription dental diet called t/d is available to feed your pet either
as treats or a balanced diet to help keep the teeth clean.
To find
out more about Pet Dental Month visit www.petdental.com
HAVE
A HAPPY &
HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
CHEESEY TREATS
1 cup rolled Oats
1/3 cup Butter or Margarine
1 cup Water
¾ cup Cornmeal
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 tsp. Beef Bouillon Granules
½ cup Milk
4 oz Cheddar Cheese, shredded 1 Egg, beaten
3 cups whole wheat flour |
Boil water. Combine oats, butter and water. Let stand ten minutes. Stir
in cornmeal, sugar, bouillon, milk, cheese and egg. Mix well then add flour,
one cup at a time. On floured surface, knead in remaining flour until dough
is smooth and no longer sticky. Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with
cookie cutter and place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for
35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and store airtight.
Don’t forget to SHOP ONLINE at www.antietamvet.com
ANTIETAM VALLEY ANIMAL HOSPITAL’S NEW ONLINE STORE
“BACH FLOWER REMEDIES FOR ANIMALS”
by Helen Graham and Gregory Vlamis
$12.95
This book explains the principles of flower remedies
and describes each of the 38 Bach Flower Remedies as well as their applications
to the treatment of domestic animals.It
also describes symptoms and treatment regimens, illustrated with case material
from veterinarians, animal behavior specialists and health practitioners.Other
important areas discussed are emotions in animals and their influence on
behavior and the emotional bond between animals and humans.
www.avma.org
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Website
Read the latest news as well as learn information
on Feline and Canine Health Topics.Buying
a Pet, Animal Safety, and Careers in Veterinary Medicine are just some
of the things you will find here.Kid’s
Korner & MUCH MORE!
LOOKING
FOR A FURRY FRIEND?
Search
for cats and dogs throughout the United States and Canada at www.petshelter.org.Pick
a breed, age and gender and then view adorable pictures and read stories
of pets looking for a loving home.Looking
for other species, then check out www.petfinder.com
where they also have pigs, birds, rabbits, reptiles and horses.Just
for rabbit lovers: www.rabbit.org.Want
to just help out a furry friend?Be
a foster parent:Hugs for Homeless
Animals www.h4ha.org.
