Now there is one of my favorite topics and it inevitably ruffles some feathers. For the last 2 years, I've had the pleasure of witnessing and participating in numerous non anesthetic dental procedures.
For those of you unfamiliar with them, it's just what it sounds like: your dog or cat has a dental procedure without being put under anesthesia. Now, this is where the controversy comes in.
There are very few qualified individuals in the United States who have been properly trained and can perform non anesthetic dental procedures. As far as my personal experience, I can vouch for Pet Dental Services. No, I'm not being paid or compensated in any manner from them. I just know qualified, professional work when I see and experience it.
The benefits are obvious. You, the client, save money by not having to put your dog or cat under expensive anesthesia. 2. Your fur kid is much safer not having to go under. Granted, anesthesia is far safer than it used to be but there is always a risk (just like there is for humans) when going under.
Many vets do not approve of these procedures. Why? The reasons typically given are that the procedures aren't safe or the individuals haven't been properly trained. The first thing I always think about when I hear someone criticize a procedure is "have you ever seen one performed?
Most vets who voice their opposition have NEVER SEEN A PROCEDURE PERFORMED! This is not unlike someone criticizing a movie without having seen it.
Now factor in the following: Josh states that in ... years of performing these procedures, he has never had a problem. Want to take that with a grain of salt? Fine, let me give you another factoid kibble to gnosh on: In my two years at the hospital, we have had over 700 NADS performed without any issues. Okay, maybe one. My cat Monkey was a bit too ornery to have one performed.
In an effort to cut through the misinformation and ignorance, I received permission to shoot this procedure performed on Buster, a standard poodle.
What gives non anesthetic dental procedures a bad name:
Like anything else that you can think of (car mechanic, engineer, plumber, surgeon), if someone is not properly trained, they are not qualified to perform the task they are stating they can perform. And that is the crux of the problem. There are many people out there who say they can perform non anesthetic dental procedures. The problem? As I mentioned earlier, I can count on one hand how many people can perform these procedures safely.
I can't stress this enough: do your homework, ask questions, check qualifications and you'll minimize your chances of ever having issues!
Keep Wagging!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Traveling with your Dog or Cat
As we wind down the summer, there are still many humans who are planning trips...yes, trips where you will be driving (we will cover flying in a later post) with your dog or cat. Or Dogs. As someone who has traveled with my dogs, cats and iguana (It wasn't pretty) in addition to dealing with clients every day who ask me for advice on traveling with their dog or cats (no iguanas), I feel that I something of value to pass along.
Always, always have Identification. Not just for yourself, but for Mr. Barkie Vonn Schnauser (hereafter "your dog or cat"). I'm not just talking about a tag on their dog or cat collar, I'm also talking about having them microchipped if they are not already. Why you ask? Well, with some collars that are not as well made or simply worn...they can break off or get snagged on a branch or some other object...and voila! Whose dog is this? And some dogs clearly have a Houdini like knack for shimmying out of their collars like an Emerald Green Boa shedding its skin.
In the case of losing a dog or cat collar, you must have a back up plan. And that is your micro chip. You hope that whomever finds your dog or cat will bring them to the veterinarian and have them checked (the dog, not the vet) for a micro chip. You can never be too safe.
Secondly, you will want to make sure your dog or cat is up to date on vaccines - and have proof that they are. Why? When driving from state to state, you can be pulled over and an Officer of the Law may want to see a health certificate for your dog or cat. Sometimes you can usually get away with your vaccine records. Don't have those records handy? Well, let me tell you a little story. You've probably heard about the couple from Racine, Wisconsin traveling to Boca Raton, Florida to see family and yes, they brought Derrick, their Dog, (cute little boxer - bulldog mix). Stop me if you've heard this one before. No? Okay. Predictably, worst case scenario follows. The couple is pulled over in South Carolina, which, unbeknowst to them happens to have the most stringent pet vaccine documentation laws on the books in the United States. The flustered, disbelieving couple could not produce any evidence that their dog Derrick had been vaccinated nor that they even owned (I hate that word) him. In a fit of anger, one owner who will go unnamed raised his voice and wackiness ensues. Bottom line, aforementioned owner spends two days in jail, Derrick spends 5 days in a gulag like kennel until things are straightened out. The couple, vacation ruined, never complete the trip to see the in laws and end up getting divorced two months later from the lingering he said/she said resentment over the incident. Okay, so this event never occurred but you get the point. Being asked for documentation is rare but it has been known to happen.
Carsickness - you will know your pet best: do they like traveling in a car? If they tend to get stressed out, chances are that they will get an upset stomach and, yes, vomit. Or at the very least foam at the mouth a bit. So, do them and you a favor. If you're going to take your dog with you, talk to your vet about something that you can give them to calm them down. There are even natural remedies that you can pursue to help calm your dog. I have no experience with the holistic remedies for treating stressed dogs and cats but I have heard about the use of ginger or a botanical supplement known as "five-flower remedy" that is a synergistic blend of flower essences. This blend is marketed under a number of brand names but it was first developed in the 1930's by one Dr. Edward Bach. You can find this at many natural food and herbal supplement stores. As with any medication or treatment, please consult your vet before making any decisions.
Remember, when traveling with your dog or cat, the more prepared you are, the less you will have to deal with unpleasant surprises. Talk to you soon!
Always, always have Identification. Not just for yourself, but for Mr. Barkie Vonn Schnauser (hereafter "your dog or cat"). I'm not just talking about a tag on their dog or cat collar, I'm also talking about having them microchipped if they are not already. Why you ask? Well, with some collars that are not as well made or simply worn...they can break off or get snagged on a branch or some other object...and voila! Whose dog is this? And some dogs clearly have a Houdini like knack for shimmying out of their collars like an Emerald Green Boa shedding its skin.
In the case of losing a dog or cat collar, you must have a back up plan. And that is your micro chip. You hope that whomever finds your dog or cat will bring them to the veterinarian and have them checked (the dog, not the vet) for a micro chip. You can never be too safe.
Secondly, you will want to make sure your dog or cat is up to date on vaccines - and have proof that they are. Why? When driving from state to state, you can be pulled over and an Officer of the Law may want to see a health certificate for your dog or cat. Sometimes you can usually get away with your vaccine records. Don't have those records handy? Well, let me tell you a little story. You've probably heard about the couple from Racine, Wisconsin traveling to Boca Raton, Florida to see family and yes, they brought Derrick, their Dog, (cute little boxer - bulldog mix). Stop me if you've heard this one before. No? Okay. Predictably, worst case scenario follows. The couple is pulled over in South Carolina, which, unbeknowst to them happens to have the most stringent pet vaccine documentation laws on the books in the United States. The flustered, disbelieving couple could not produce any evidence that their dog Derrick had been vaccinated nor that they even owned (I hate that word) him. In a fit of anger, one owner who will go unnamed raised his voice and wackiness ensues. Bottom line, aforementioned owner spends two days in jail, Derrick spends 5 days in a gulag like kennel until things are straightened out. The couple, vacation ruined, never complete the trip to see the in laws and end up getting divorced two months later from the lingering he said/she said resentment over the incident. Okay, so this event never occurred but you get the point. Being asked for documentation is rare but it has been known to happen.
Carsickness - you will know your pet best: do they like traveling in a car? If they tend to get stressed out, chances are that they will get an upset stomach and, yes, vomit. Or at the very least foam at the mouth a bit. So, do them and you a favor. If you're going to take your dog with you, talk to your vet about something that you can give them to calm them down. There are even natural remedies that you can pursue to help calm your dog. I have no experience with the holistic remedies for treating stressed dogs and cats but I have heard about the use of ginger or a botanical supplement known as "five-flower remedy" that is a synergistic blend of flower essences. This blend is marketed under a number of brand names but it was first developed in the 1930's by one Dr. Edward Bach. You can find this at many natural food and herbal supplement stores. As with any medication or treatment, please consult your vet before making any decisions.
Remember, when traveling with your dog or cat, the more prepared you are, the less you will have to deal with unpleasant surprises. Talk to you soon!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Healing Hands
Touch heals. If you've ever received a massage, I want you to close your eyes for a moment and think about how good it felt. Whether as maintenance or to treat injuries, humans have always used massage to heal themselves. So let me say this again: Touch heals.
You may notice that pet massage (dogs and cats) is now being offered in some clinics or by individuals properly trained who will travel to your home. The holistic trend in human care is a template for the animals we share our lives with. Consequently, practices like acupuncture and massage are showing up more frequently at the clinics that we frequent."
There are obvious concerns that may make some of you reluctant to travel down this path with your dog or cat. How do you know if someone is qualified? I can only offer the following: do your home work and ask questions. The individual performing massage therapy should be certified and a member of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork.
Check out the video below. This is a compressed version of a therapy session performed by Stevie, a young lass in the process of gaining her certification. And no, this isn't something you can fill out a form on line and get certified. You have to attend classes, you must learn anatomy, etc. Serious stuff and it should be.
When Stevie comes over, the first thing she will do is take our English Bulldog Big Tuna for a walk and watch her. That's right. She watches her walking. Why? Because she is trained to watch an animals gait...she readily picks up that Big Tuna on some days will favor one leg or perhaps walk a bit stiffly, sort of like my husband does in the morning.
This of course is the information she needs to digest in order to determine what she is going to work on. In Tuna's case, she has had surgery on one knee and is awaiting surgery on the other (one reason to adopt a mutt: cost savings that could result in purchasing a second home. In cash). So there is typically a muscle spasm or tightness due to her overcompensating for the gimpy knee.
Don't dismiss or underestimate the value of a massage for your dog or cat. This is particularly important if your dog or cat is older or recovering from surgery (see my blog titled: post surgery) but in general it's also not a bad thing to do. Treat your dog or cat special and they'll live longer. And if you question if this is spoiling your dog or cat, keep in mind that they are helping you to live longer.
Keep Wagging folks.
Meds for you Dogs and Cats
I am surprised by how many people do not know this...but I've also been in the industry as a vet tech and practice manager....and sometimes forget. It is only when my Neanderthal like husband brings something up that I realize...
My husband was surprised when I told him that he couldn't give Bishi half of .....I informed him that the easy way to tell was if the medication is segmented (IOW, it has a line through the middle to make it easier to break in half), it is okay to break it up. As he furrowed his meaty brow and grunted, I knew further explanation was needed. I informed him that when it is segmented, the medication is evenly distributed; when it is not, the medicine could be concentrated in one half. And if you gave the wrong half...just remember;
My husband was surprised when I told him that he couldn't give Bishi half of .....I informed him that the easy way to tell was if the medication is segmented (IOW, it has a line through the middle to make it easier to break in half), it is okay to break it up. As he furrowed his meaty brow and grunted, I knew further explanation was needed. I informed him that when it is segmented, the medication is evenly distributed; when it is not, the medicine could be concentrated in one half. And if you gave the wrong half...just remember;
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Summer Heat and exercising your Dog
Dogs, like humans, need to exercise. Lots of it. And the benefits are two fold: one, it allows you to bond with your dog. In fact, when I arrive home, my two English Bulldogs are waiting to play. Yes, instead of going to the bathroom, Big Tuna hovers over her volleyball and Mr. B grabs his basketball and starts doing that growly talking thing he does. Yes, that sound at the end of my videos on noseprints.net? That's Bishop. But I digress.
They need and crave exercise as much as we do or else, surprise, they tend to be lethargic, overweight and somewhat depressed. Sound familiar?
So, the second level that this works on (bonding was the first in case my diatribe wandered too far from my original point) is it keeps both of you in shape and healthier. And if you are healthy, typically you are going to be happy. So, remember, don't chain your dog up outside. They need to run and they're social...they want to be with you. And they want to be active. The dog that is digging a hole in the back yard? Yea, he's trying to tell you something. Like, he's bored. Exercise him and the graves that he's digging will disappear.
A few caveats about exercise. If you live in a warm climate or it's summer, always, always bring water with you. We use very fashionable Travel Bowls that actually work! A brief illustration of how important it is to think about the heat and your animal. My husband and I were driving in South Florida during the summer...around noon for gods sake...and I see a boxer, on the verge of heat stroke, barely able to walk, attempting to follow his owner. Mind you, this is on A1A, at least a mile or two north of nowhere. So we cut across the median, cut across two lanes of traffic and ask him if he needs help. Actually we jumped out and fortunately had ice and water (just coming back from a hike) and bathed his dog in the ice to bring down the temperature. With my nostrils flaring I asked him what he thought he was doing and he said he wanted to grab some beer and took his boxer with him. Walking, in the heat, at noon, several miles. Fortunately the dog survived although for a minute I thought he wouldn't. I've seen plenty of dogs die at the hospital because their owners took them on a boat or out during the day without exercising caution.
So, if you must, and I would encourage you to wait until dawn or dusk, please pay attention to their behavior. Panting, out of breath? Time to take a break. And if they are not used to the activity (i.e. beginning their new active lifestyle), take it easy. Don't run them until they drop...because they will. They're all heart and they want to play! So, go for walks, then work your way up to tossing a ball, jogging etc. And, remember the water!
Another very important thing to keep in mind: Short nosed dogs ("Brachycephalic") which would include my bullies, pugs...all those squashed face guys that are too bloody cute...they have a hard time of it in the heat. They simply are not built for it. So as much as you might want to show off your child to friends, don't bring them to the beach at noon. In florida. Yes, I'm not kidding. I've seen it. You've got a bunch of people with sandals bopping down to the beach and the dog (no sandals, tender pads) tying to figure out why the hell his feet are on fire and why his owner is dragging him across a desert. So think about them. Keep them safe and healthy and you'll enjoy a long life together.
They need and crave exercise as much as we do or else, surprise, they tend to be lethargic, overweight and somewhat depressed. Sound familiar?
So, the second level that this works on (bonding was the first in case my diatribe wandered too far from my original point) is it keeps both of you in shape and healthier. And if you are healthy, typically you are going to be happy. So, remember, don't chain your dog up outside. They need to run and they're social...they want to be with you. And they want to be active. The dog that is digging a hole in the back yard? Yea, he's trying to tell you something. Like, he's bored. Exercise him and the graves that he's digging will disappear.
A few caveats about exercise. If you live in a warm climate or it's summer, always, always bring water with you. We use very fashionable Travel Bowls that actually work! A brief illustration of how important it is to think about the heat and your animal. My husband and I were driving in South Florida during the summer...around noon for gods sake...and I see a boxer, on the verge of heat stroke, barely able to walk, attempting to follow his owner. Mind you, this is on A1A, at least a mile or two north of nowhere. So we cut across the median, cut across two lanes of traffic and ask him if he needs help. Actually we jumped out and fortunately had ice and water (just coming back from a hike) and bathed his dog in the ice to bring down the temperature. With my nostrils flaring I asked him what he thought he was doing and he said he wanted to grab some beer and took his boxer with him. Walking, in the heat, at noon, several miles. Fortunately the dog survived although for a minute I thought he wouldn't. I've seen plenty of dogs die at the hospital because their owners took them on a boat or out during the day without exercising caution.
So, if you must, and I would encourage you to wait until dawn or dusk, please pay attention to their behavior. Panting, out of breath? Time to take a break. And if they are not used to the activity (i.e. beginning their new active lifestyle), take it easy. Don't run them until they drop...because they will. They're all heart and they want to play! So, go for walks, then work your way up to tossing a ball, jogging etc. And, remember the water!
Another very important thing to keep in mind: Short nosed dogs ("Brachycephalic") which would include my bullies, pugs...all those squashed face guys that are too bloody cute...they have a hard time of it in the heat. They simply are not built for it. So as much as you might want to show off your child to friends, don't bring them to the beach at noon. In florida. Yes, I'm not kidding. I've seen it. You've got a bunch of people with sandals bopping down to the beach and the dog (no sandals, tender pads) tying to figure out why the hell his feet are on fire and why his owner is dragging him across a desert. So think about them. Keep them safe and healthy and you'll enjoy a long life together.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Mars Dog food recall Update
I was just notified about a correction to the limtited voluntary recall of PEDIGREE Complete Nutrition Small Crunch Bites sold at Albertsons. The stores in question are in Southern California and Las Vegas. At this time, the reason being given is potential Salmonella contamination but there are a couple of corrections that Mars Petcare US has issued in a statement. You can view the press release and the entire list of stores in california selling the Pedigree Dog food at this link:
http://petcare.mars.com/
http://petcare.mars.com/
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Leatherback turtles in St. Croix
Now, before we delve into Dog and Cat related topics I thought I would share what proved to be a singular experience for me. I traveled to St. Croix with Dr. Mettee, a veterinarian who works with exotics. She was contacted to evaluate the condition of a nesting Leatherback turtle that had possibly been hit by a boat (specially, the prop). This seemed to be the case even though the wound had healed. The complication was that the original injury had cut through her shell and apparently partially severed one of her oviducts. Now that she was coming ashore to nest, her eggs were not exiting her body due to the scar tissue and were being deposited into a cavity. The risk of course was one of infection and eventual necrotic tissue. The first two times she came up the wonderful fish and game workers on the island were able to push most of the eggs out of the pocket and back into the oviduct where they passed into the nest.
Since leatherbacks typically come up every 9 to ten days they expected her back shortly (she had already been up twice). We had a very short window for her third trip. unfortunately she never returned and in all probability died of an infection, impaction or fell victim to the numerous sharks patrolling the beachs. The thought was that by the time we arrived, we would meet her when she came ashore, hoist her up, evaluate the injury and perform surgery on her.
However, the trip was not without positive elements. We did find a healthy leatherback population nesting on the island (check out the picture of the big girl below...and no, we did not have lights out there to take the pictures...this has been enhanced via photoshop/picasa)....we also witnessed two groups of hatchlings and assisted some of them in finding the water (due to Light pollution) - amazing as it may seem, there is light pollution on the islands. On one cloudy night, the hatchlings started back up the beach, away from the ocean toward a set of lights....this obviously underscores how sensitive they are to artificial lights. And the lights weren't close to us! Another positive was in meeting a group of dedicated and absolutely wonderful Fish and Game people who have been working on the islands!
Next time I am going to discuss performing dental procedures on dogs and cats...without the use of anesthetics....stay tuned!
What is Nose Prints and Why should I keep wagging?
My name is Monique and I am the proud owner of www.noseprints.net, an online pet boutique specializing in cat and dog related products. I have over twenty plus years working as a veterinary technician and practice manager. Did I also mention that I am passionate about animals!?!
So, it goes without saying that I bring a certain gravitas to my subjects but I keep it lighthearted too. On my site, you will find unique dog products, such as Nose Prints very own line of dog collars. You will also find products for cats and informative pet related videos. My videos range from introducing new dog products, or even not so new but innovative dog products like the Buddy Belt. I'll also discuss cat and dog related health issues and answer customer queries regarding their dogs and cats. And we also have unique features coming up in the next month or so: introducing Pet dental procedures without the use of anesthetic as well as profiling dog massage techniques. Stick with me, we're going to have fun!
Why should you keep wagging? Let me put it this way: whenever an event occurs in your life (doesn't matter what it is) you basically have two choices on how to react to it. You can look at it in a positive light or you can cast it in the shadows of negativity. There is absolutely nothing to be gained from the negative aspects of anything. So make a positive choice and keep wagging.
So, it goes without saying that I bring a certain gravitas to my subjects but I keep it lighthearted too. On my site, you will find unique dog products, such as Nose Prints very own line of dog collars. You will also find products for cats and informative pet related videos. My videos range from introducing new dog products, or even not so new but innovative dog products like the Buddy Belt. I'll also discuss cat and dog related health issues and answer customer queries regarding their dogs and cats. And we also have unique features coming up in the next month or so: introducing Pet dental procedures without the use of anesthetic as well as profiling dog massage techniques. Stick with me, we're going to have fun!
Why should you keep wagging? Let me put it this way: whenever an event occurs in your life (doesn't matter what it is) you basically have two choices on how to react to it. You can look at it in a positive light or you can cast it in the shadows of negativity. There is absolutely nothing to be gained from the negative aspects of anything. So make a positive choice and keep wagging.
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