Breath &
Body Odor
(article) Bad breath and body odors can have many causes.
Plaque, tooth decay, gum disease, even digestive problems
can all cause your dog or cat to have excessive odors.
Health Tip- Brush your dog's or cat's teeth
daily with a toothbrush or gauze wrapped around your pointer
finger. Do not use human toothpaste as it can be irritating
to your pet's mouth and be harmful if swallowed.
Bones & Joints
(article) Bones & Joints need proper care from puppy to
adult years. A balanced diet is essential to healthy growing
bones and joints.
Health Tip- Feed them well, but not too
much. There's s difference. Many joint problems can be
minimized by keeping your pet's weight under control. As
your pet ages consider a joint supplement to help ease the
pain and stiffness of older joints.
Circulatory
& Heart
(article) Keeping your pet in shape can make a tremendous
difference in his/her health. The heart is a muscle and
works better when it's in shape. The body's circulatory
system delivers blood and nutrients to the body which is
vital for good health and healing.
Health Tip- Exercise your pet regularly.
Walks, runs, playing ball or swimming are good for your
dogs.
Dental Care
(article) Bad breath can be a sign of plaque, gum disease,
tooth decay or other disease. Daily oral hygiene is
important for many reasons.
Health Tip- Make your pet's teeth a
priority. Cleanse daily with a gauze pad and warm water.
Some experts adding a little warm water to food to bring out
the flavor and encourage your dog to release saliva before
eating. Saliva contains enzymes which help break down food
particles and plaque.
Eye Care
(article) Eyes more than anything need protection from the
elements such as sun, wind and foreign objects. If your
pet's eyes become red, swollen or if they appear different
in any way contact your veterinarian.
Health Tip- Check dogs eyes regularly, watch
for changes and report any changes to your vet.
Ear Care
(article) Ears are sensitive body parts and require careful
care and protection. Inner ear parts are not visible and so
foreign objects, infection, and other problems can arise.
Special products have been formulated to cleanse ears and
maintain a healthy inner ear, however overuse of these
products can do more damage than good.
Health Tip- Thankfully the variety of ear
care products have improved over the years. No longer are
there just chemical based products. New GSE's [Grape Seed
Extract] products have shown amazing potential. It is
recommended that ears are checked regularly for redness,
pain, and for possible foreign objects. Never use q-tips or
any other objects in the ear.
Hairballs
(article) While dogs are not really affected by hairballs,
cats for sure are. Hairballs are caused by a cat's natural
grooming where hair is licked and ingested. The ingested
hair is not chemically digested by the stomach's acid and
therefore can accumulate in the stomach. The natural
reaction to a foreign mass is to vomit. Vomiting a hairball
can be extremely painful and stressful therefore prevention
is best.
Health Tip- A good diet with added fiber and
enzymes is best, however if your cat is finicky there are
more options. Add an essential oil supplement to your cat's
diet, this helps lubricate the digestive tract. Digestive
enzymes and natural hairball remedies contains vegetable
glycerin and digestive enzymes to help the body break down
and pass the hairball through the digestive tract.
Paw Protection
(article) Since dogs and cats, unlike their ancestors, are
mostly home-bound, their paws don't get the wear and tear
required to toughen up and protect their pads. Because of
this, pads can be sensitive to heat, cold, and foreign
objects found on sidewalks and other walking areas.
Health Tip- Check your pet's paws, including
between their pads and toes on a regular basis. Remove
foreign objects such as thorns or splinters. Consider
purchasing special boots for dogs to protect paws from
injury.
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