In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from January 26th, 2019 Don interviews Dr. Katie Carter from River Road Veterinary Hospital about pet dental care and the importance of preventing and treating periodontal disease in your pet. Chronic inflammation or an infection in your pet’s mouth, gingivitis, is every bit as serious as an infection anywhere else. When left untreated, periodontal disease can spread bacteria to the liver, the kidneys, the heart, and even the nervous system.
During the show, Dr. Carter describes a typical dental exam and the teeth cleaning process. She explains why a dental for our pets is done under general anesthesia and the many steps a veterinarian takes to make sure that process is as safe as possible for every pet. We also discuss preventative care for dental health and breeds that are more susceptible to periodontal disease.
Learn how you can improve your pet’s life by taking care of their mouth!
You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://bit.ly/AM620-WZON or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show. You can download this show and others at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/ at Don’s blog http://bit.ly/Words-Woofs-Meows and the Apple iTunes store.
ProDen PlaqueOff® is an all-natural pet dental product that helps reduce tartar and makes your pet’s teeth whiter and cleaner; keeping your pets mouth and teeth healthy. It is effective against bad breath, plaque, and tartar. Unlike some dental products for pets, it is extremely easy to use; you simply sprinkle it on their food or give it to your pet as a treat.
Your pet’s dental health is a very serious issue. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed health concern in dogs and cats. Periodontal disease is a chronic infection, and it has been linked to; Diabetes, Heart attacks, Strokes, Kidney disease, Tooth loss, and other life-threatening disorders.
The active ingredient in ProDen PlaqueOff® is a specially selected algae harvested in the North Atlantic, Norwegian Seaweed (D1070). ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder has been found to have specific beneficial effects for oral care, reducing bad breath by up to 63% after 12 weeks and reduces plaque by up to 35% after the first eight weeks. It may be used with both dogs and cats. PlaqueOff® Powder comes in a granulated form which is easily added to your pet’s food every day. It is rich in natural iodine and contains important vitamins and minerals. Unlike many other dental products for pets, PlaqueOff® is free from artificial colors, preservatives, gluten, and sugar. ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder Cat contains all the benefits of ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder, but with added brewer’s yeast.
Don and Paula started using PlaqueOff® Powder with their cat Boomer in October of 2017. In three months they saw enough improvement with his teeth that they decided to add PlaqueOff to the products we sell at Green Acres.
ProDen PlaqueOff® Dental Bites deliver all the benefits of PlaqueOff® Powder, inconvenient and tasty little bites your pets will love! Dental Bites are grain and gluten free as well as vegetarian! They are free from additives, sugar, and artificial preservatives. They prevent dental plaque from sticking to the teeth and soften already existing tartar deposits.
Don and Paula’s dog Muppy gets two PlaqueOff® Dental Bites at bedtime every night to help her keep keep her beautiful smile.
PlaqueOff® Dental Bites and PlaqueOff® Dental Powder have been accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). VOHC exists to recognize products that meet pre-set standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats. Products are awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance following review of data from trials conducted according to VOHC protocols. The VOHC does not test products itself. Regular use of products carrying the VOHC Seal will reduce the severity of periodontal disease in pets.
In this episode of The Woof Meow Show on April 22nd, 2017 Don interviews Dr. Katie Carter, the owner of River Road Veterinary Hospital in Orrington, Maine. Dr. Carter talks about how and why she became interested in veterinary medicine, her preparations for college and veterinary school, and about her experiences at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, AL. Then they discuss Dr. Carter’s first experiences as a practicing veterinarian in a mixed-animal practice in Pennsylvania, her return to Maine, where she worked at the Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic, and then Dr. Carter’s purchase of River Road Veterinary Hospital in Orrington. Dr. Carter primarily sees dogs and cats, but she also sees a wide variety of exotic pets, everything from small, furry mammals, to amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed health concern in dogs and cats. This disease of the gums can lead to infections of the mouth. Left unchecked, the bacteria causing these infections can spread through the bloodstream and cause life-threatening conditions. Infections from periodontal disease have been linked to:
Diabetes,
Heart attacks,
Strokes,
Kidney disease,
Tooth loss,
and other life-threatening disorders
Some common signs of dental disease in pets are;
Bad breath,
Reluctance to eat or chew,
Crying out when eating or chewing,
Increased salivation,
Red and puffy gums,
Bleeding gums,
A buildup of tartar/calculus on the teeth,
and missing or loose teeth.
The AVMA estimates that by age two, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of periodontal disease, which is one reason a thorough annual exam is so important for every pet.
Your veterinarian will typically examine your pet’s mouth and teeth during a routine physical exam. If necessary, the veterinarian may recommend a dental cleaning. This procedure requires general anesthesia. During the process, the pet’s teeth and gums will be thoroughly examined, scaled and polished. If a problem tooth is found, it may need to be extracted.
The best way to minimize professional cleanings at your veterinarian is to keep your pet’s teeth clean with home dental care. While 80% of people brush their own teeth every day, most do not do the same for their pets. Brushing your pet’s teeth can help keep teeth clean. If you have a new puppy or kitten, one of the best things that you can do is to get them used to regular home dental care while they are still young. If you do brush your pet’s teeth, the general rule seems to be that you must do so every 48 hours to be effective.
You can also keep your pet’s teeth clean with supplements such as TropiClean Fresh Breath which is a brushing gel or my personal favorite ProDen PlaqueOff®. PlaqueOff is available as a powder you can sprinkle on your pet’s food or as a treat. It can be used with both dogs and cats. PlaqueOff® Dental Bites and Powder have been accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
Special treats, like GREENIES™ and Whimzees™, can also help keep your
Whimzee Toothbrush
pet’s teeth clean. We carry both of these products in our store but especially like Whimzees because of their simple ingredient list and the fact that they are always free of wheat, corn, soy, gluten, and GMO ingredients. Whimzees are made to human grade food standards and contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and dogs love them! Compare them to the ingredients in similar products, and we are confident that you will also become a fan of Whimzees.
Dogs do need to chew and it is possible providing them with chew toys such as those made by BeneBone and Nylabone may help keep their teeth clean, to a certain extent. Alone they are not a substitute for brushing, PlaqueOff, or dental procedures by your veterinarian.
Benebone Chew Toy
Many who feed a raw diet that includes raw bones, or regularly supplement their dog’s diet with raw bones, find the chewing of these bones keeps their dogs teeth white and sparkly clean. The smoked marrow bones from Chasing Our Tails have been very popular with our clients as a way to keep their dog busy and to help keep their teeth clean.
There is an urban myth that feeding only dry food will keep your pet’s teeth clean, and it is just that – a myth unless it is a prescription diet, and while these foods can help keep your dog free of periodontal disease, they may not provide the best nutrition. The same holds true for most dry biscuit products. Cat’s teeth may benefit greatly from having canned (wet) food in their diet.
Make sure that you discuss your pet’s dental care the next time you take them to the veterinarian. Taking care of your pet’s teeth now is very likely to keep your pet healthier and happier, and may also save you a great deal of money down the road.
In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from January 26th, 2019 Don interviews Dr. Katie Carter from River Road Veterinary Hospital about pet dental care and the importance of preventing and treating periodontal disease in your pet. Chronic inflammation or an infection in your pet’s mouth, gingivitis, is every bit as serious as an infection anywhere else. When left untreated, periodontal disease can spread bacteria to the liver, the kidneys, the heart, and even the nervous system.
