Dog gum disease is not only a more serious health problem than many people are aware of it, the fact that it can quite easily be prevented in the first place means us dog owners should pay enough attention to what’s going on in our dog’s mouth to spot the signs and early symptoms of dog gum disease.

Are Your Dog’s Gums Are Turning Very Pale In Color? Be Warned, It Could Be Serious…

Dermatologists place a high value on paleness because the less sun you get, the lower your risk for skin cancer. Veterinarians, however, have always preferred the color pink – at least when they are looking at your pet’s gums. When the gums change from bubble-gum pink to pale, oxygen is probably in short supply, and there is an internal problem that needs to be taken care of.

Healthy Dog Gums

Pale gums usually mean that a pet doesn’t have enough red blood cells, a condition called anemia. Anemia is serious because red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. When there aren’t enough of them, oxygen levels fall, and pets get weak and tired.

Parasites are one of the most common causes of anemia. Dogs and cats produce just enough red blood cells to stay healthy. When fleas, hookworms, or other blood-sucking parasites are drinking their fill, there may not be enough blood to go around. Pale gums may be a sign of internal bleeding, resulting from ulcers or even cancer. Internal bleeding that goes on long enough can also cause anemia.

The light-coloured gums can also be caused by a serious condition called autoimmune hemolytic anemia, in which the immune system mistakenly destroys red blood cells. This type of anemia may be hereditary, with cocker spaniels, Shetland sheepdogs, collies, English springer spaniels, Old English sheepdogs, Irish setters, and poodles having the highest risk.

Finally, anemia may be a side effect of medications. Drugs such as estrogen, chloramphenicol (an antibiotic), and phenylbutazone (taken for pain) may inhibit the blood marrow from producing red blood cells. Dogs that are taking aspirin for pain will sometimes develop ulcers and internal bleeding.

Pale gums don’t always mean that your pet has anemia. After a serious accident, for example, blood pressure can fall to dangerously low levels because the heart is so busy pumping blood to vital organs that it neglects more-distant regions like the gums, toes, or the tips of the ears. This drop in blood pressure and the resulting pale gums mean that a pet is going into shock and needs emergency care.

Giving pets a balanced diet will help them recover from many forms of anemia. Your vet may recommend putting your pet on a prescription diet that is high in minerals, protein, and vitamins. Don’t give pets iron supplements without your veterinarian’s advice because they can be toxic.

Even though anemia can be dangerous, it is usually not that difficult to restore the red blood cells to healthful levels. Pets that are plagued by fleas, for example, will often recover within three to four days once you get rid of the little pests. Since anemia can make pets very weak, however, it is a good idea to avoid flea dips, powders, or other strong medications.

Bad Breath in Dogs: Could Gum Disease Be The Problem?

If your dog has bad breath, it could signal the sign of disease. Have your dog checked by a veterinarian as bad breath can be the earliest – and most easy to detect – early warn sign of canine gum disease.

Foul Breath, Plaque, & Gingivitis: All of these become more common in older dogs, especially if you have not taken care to keep your dog’s teeth clean throughout his life. Regular dental checkups may be necessary to ensure that any serious problems are quickly treated but by regularly brushing your dog’s teeth you can actively avoid problems in the first place.

Bad Breath: Can it Actually KILL Your Dog?

Freelance author R Drysdale has a sorry story to relate regarding the seriousness of keeping your dog’s teeth in tip top condition. He writes:

I know that it’s important to cure bad breath in my dog when it occurs because I once lost a dog to periodontal disease, which often accompanies tartar buildup and foul breath in dogs. You see, tartar buildup on a dogs teeth fosters the growth of odor producing and potential harmful bacteria. If these bacteria become too numerous, and the gums become inflamed, bacteria can invade tissue, even travel to other parts of the body and set up abscesses and other types of infection there. The dog I lost had a deep jaw abscess that was basically untreatable. If you dog has foul smelling breath, deal with it now.

Bad breath in dogs is more common in older pets because the tartar builds up over the course of a lifetime unless you have the dogs teeth cleaned regularly. Now, when I need to cure bad breath in my dog, I know what to do. the first step is a visit to the veterinarian to have the dog’s teeth examined. A veterinarian can assess the condition of the dog’s teeth and confirm that this is where the odor is coming from (it’s important to rule out other health problems that can cause an odor on the breath). Your veterinarian can also advise you as to what steps you should take, based on the degree of tartar and periodontal disease.

I’ve found that it’s easier to prevent than to cure bad breath in my dog. The idea of brushing a dog’s teeth may seem ridiculous, but there are toothpastes on the market specifically designed for dogs and cats. they come in pleasant meaty flavors that the animals love – you can slowly train your dog to tolerate a daily brushing with an enzyme toothpaste formulated to dissolve tartar. dog owners who start this routine when the animal is quite young can often avoid bad breath in dogs altogether.

Another way to fight tartar is to give a dog chew toys and bones to literally scrape the tartar off the teeth. Over the years, I’ve found that many of these aren’t very appealing to my pet and thus they don’t really work to cure bad breath in my dog, but recently, I discovered the “tartar buster.” It’s a more or less spherical piece of bone about 3 inches in diameter. My dog loves tartar busters and they work miraculously well to scrape off tartar and clear up bad breath in dogs; in fact, I avoided a costly veterinarian procedure by buying a couple of tartar busters. As with any bone, watch your dog to be sure it doesn’t swallow large chunks while chewing on a tartar buster.

If all else fails, your veterinarian may recommend a cleaning under anesthetic to remove heavy tartar. This is expensive and it can be risky for older animals, but it is well worth it to avoid a serious and possibly life-threatening illness later on – bad breath in dogs is not just a cosmetic or social problem. After losing one faithful friend already, I’d be willing to go to considerable lengths to cure bad breath in my dog.

Gingivitis in Dogs

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum causing them to become red and swollen, this condition is mostly caused by the buildup of plaque. Plaque is the result of when bacteria which is normally found in the mouth mixes with starches and proteins from the saliva, plaque is very gritty in nature and sticks to the teeth. This plaque later on tends to become tartar which accumulates near the gum line.

If gingivitis is left untreated it can lead to tooth. So how do you know if your dog has gingivitis? Well, the most visible sign is the redness of the gums and the swelling. Thereafter you will need to take your dog to the vet who will carry out diagnostic tests in order to pin down exactly what’s happening. The vet may need to use some sort of sedation or anesthesia to carry out a thorough examination.

Complete dental charting and periodontal probing will be carried out in order to gauge the amount of damage caused to the oral cavity based on which a suitable treatment will be suggested. A very similar method is used for human’s as well with the aid of a metal probe which is used examine the gums and the teeth.

The vet may also opt to carry out a dye test in which a red coloured dye is placed on the teeth. The plaque then in turn sucks up the dye allowing the amount of plaque to be seen easily.

Further tests may include a full blood count, serum biochemistry and urine analysis to gain a better understanding of the overall health of the dog especially if it is going to be sedated.

X-rays are also vital in order to evaluate your dog’s teeth, also most of the tooth structure is below the gums so without an x-ray its impossible to completely diagnose Periodontitis. The X-rays will also help in discovering serious problems like tooth root abscesses. Further more, a biopsy may also be required in severe gingivitis cases.

As a cure, ultrasonic scaling will be adopted which involves thorough cleaning above and below the gum line, and polishing the teeth will cure gingivitis and future occurrences.

To stop gingivitis affecting your dog again you need to ensure that you brush your dog’s teeth every few days. Just as humans, dogs need their teeth brushed as well. Don’t use normal human tooth paste but rather you can buy special tooth paste for dog’s which is poultry or meat flavoured. Initially when you start brushing your dog’s teeth you may want to use a finger brush because your dog will not be used to having something go into his mouth in this manner, once your dog gets used to the idea of getting his teeth brushed then move on to a conventional brush because it’s only through the conventional brush that you can reach right at the back of the jaw.

Apart from brushing your dog’s teeth you may want to introduce him to some chews or bones which are very effective in stopping plaque build up and can also aid in the exercise of jaw muscles.

Pyorrhea in Dogs

This is a more advanced stage of periodontal disease. Infection of the bone that leads to tooth lose and bad breath allowing disease and infection to spread to the rest your dog’s body eventually infecting every organ.

Summary : Gum disease in dogs can not only make your dog’s life a misery, they can actually die from complications. Help your dog avoid gum disease by regular brushing, frequent vet checks and feeding them a healthy diet that’s good for their teeth and overall health. Canine gum disease is an overlooked yet potentially deadly dog health problem.

“The build up of plaque and tartar on your dog’s teeth can lead not only to oral health problems like gum disease and tooth loss, but also the bacteria harboured in plaque can enter the bloodstream and may cause damage to major organs like heart, liver or kidney disease.”

The signs of poor oral health are:-

• Bad breath

• Sensitivity around the mouth

• Loss of appetite

• Difficulty chewing and eating

• Pawing at the mouth

• Loose or missing teeth

• Bleeding, inflamed or receding gums

• Tartar (creamy-brown hard coating on teeth)

Caring for your Dog’s Canines

The first step in promoting oral health is to have your dog thoroughly examined by a veterinary surgeon.

“It may be necessary for your dog’s teeth to be cleaned above and below the gum line to remove the build up of plaque and tartar. It is then recommended that an oral hygiene programme be started at home.”

How to Brush your Dog’s Teeth

Regular brushing of your dog’s teeth will help prevent poor oral health. This is easy to do and doesn’t take long:-

• Choose a time when both you and your dog are both feeling relaxed.

• For the first few days hold your pet as you would when petting them, while gently stroking the outside of the cheeks with your finger. Do this daily for about a week.

• After your pet has become comfortable with this, the next step is to buy pet toothpaste, such as CET toothpaste which is especially designed for dogs, comes in poultry flavour and doesn’t need to be rinsed.

More…

• DON’T use human toothpaste or baking soda as they contain ingredients which should not be swallowed.

• You also need to buy a pet toothbrush, such as CET finger brush or duel-ended brush. These are ultra soft and shaped to fit your dog’s mouth and teeth.

• When brushing is not practical, an antibacterial oral rinse or gel may be recommended, e.g. Logic oral hygiene gel.

• At first, place a small amount of toothpaste on your finger to let your dog sample the flavour.

• Next, introduce your dog to the pet toothbrush. Put a small amount of pet toothpaste on the brush, gently raise your dog’s upper lip and place the brush against the outer side of an upper tooth.

• With a slow, circular motion gently brush only that tooth and adjoining gum line.

• Each day gradually increase the number of teeth brushed trying to ensure you don’t go beyond your dog’s point of comfort.

• Build up to about 30 seconds of brushing per side.

• Always reward with lots of praise or a play session after each tooth brushing experience.

Diet also affects your dog’s Oral Health

Soft or sticky foods may contribute to plaque build up, so try and give your dog a dry food diet. Dry foods, like biscuits or the newly formulated abrasive diets are recommended as they can help remove plaque and food debris from the gum line where bacteria flourish. Diets such as Hills T/D and CET chews are recommended and are helpful on the days you aren’t able to brush your dog’s teeth. However, it should be emphasised that brushing is the only way to remove plaque and food debris from below the gum line.

If you follow an oral hygiene plan for your dog you’ll soon put a beautiful smile on their face and add years to their life.

Oxyfresh Pet Care

Isn't it obvious that dogs and cats are similar to humans? During the baby stage, we have no teeth and our digestion system is not fully functional yet. We can only drink milk and eat soft baby food. We can't see clearly, walk properly, control our bowel movements and our heads are disproportionately larger in relation to our body. Gradually, our set of milk teeth is being replaced by a permanent set. Then we reach adolescence and our body size also grows together with newly activated hormonal glands. Our minds can barely keep up with with the pace of our physiological development during the teenage years. This is also the time when most people start to be more aware of and become interested in the opposite sex. Soon, adulthood sets in and some of us will marry whilst some of us will have children. Then old age sets in, teeth began to fall off and we go back to eating pulp and finally the inevitable…death.

People may be aware of their own changing needs in accordance to their age, but many never realized that it is very important to understand life stages of cats and dogs. The life stage concept plays an important role in pet healthcare management. By having this concept embedded in a pet healthcare management program, the program will empower pet owners to better manage the health and well being of their pets. Pets at different life stage will have different physiological and psychological needs. The main areas that will evolve as our pets go through their life stages are diet, accessories, healthcare, training and activities (for dogs). We also need to adjust our attitude and care as our pets get older. Generally there are three life stages of dogs and cats. Below is a general guide showing the three life stages and some examples of things pet owners need to be aware of during each stage. However, each individual pet is different and may reach the different life stage at different age. Larger dogs may reach senior life stage earlier than smaller breeds.

Junior Life Stage / Start of Life (birth to 12 months old) :-

A healthy start early in life will help the pet stay healthy and reduce medical problems later in life. The vet's recommended to-do list includes vaccination and parasite control, microchipping or identification, dental checks and oral hygiene, obtain good nutrition advice for healthy growth, consider neutering and enrol in social classes (for dogs only). Puppies are usually the ones at their most impressionable stage and this is the best time to train them for the beginning of a lifelong of good habits.

Adult Life Stage / Maintenance Life Stage (1 to 6 years old) :-

Good and healthy routines will ensure the pet leads a good quality life. Annual examination will help prevent and identify medical problems at an early stage. Booster vaccination, suitable diet, regular exercise and balanced dose of attention will keep pets healthy and happy. Pet owners should seek professional help to establish suitable on-going wellness routines for their pets. Training program for adult dogs will emphasize on impulse control, leadership and agility.

Senior Life Stage / Golden Age Life Stage (7 years old and beyond) :-

During senior life stage, pets will be susceptible to age related diseases. Careful management of these diseases can vastly improve the pets' life span and quality of life. Diseases that are often diagnosed at this stage are arthritis, heart disease, cancer, dental disease and kidney disease. Trainings should be conducted according to the dog's ability. Pet owners need to be aware that their pets may have reduced sensory input, loss of vision and hearing, and just like humans, suffers stiffness or pain at the joints.

Oxyfresh Pet Care

• Rinse your dog off with water for several minutes, making sure to get under the coat.
• Once your dog is fully soaked, turn the water off and lather your dog with shampoo. Massage in the shampoo completely and either let it stand or continue to rub in for about five minutes to get rid of fleas or ticks.
• One your dog is soapy, turn the water back on and rinse your dog off. Use your hands to rub out all the watery soap.
• After your dog is soap-free and wet, use a towel to get all the surface water off. It may be hard or impossible to completely dry your dog with just a towel, especially if your dog has a thick coat. Try letting your dog shake off some of the water for a few minutes. If you can, it helps to take your dog for a walk afterward, or if you feel like it, a jog.
• Washing a big dog can be hard on your back, and may take some time. Try to have the dog turn instead of constantly having to move around it, and have the dog stand when you’re washing the back so you don’t have to bend over as far.
• It can make a pretty big mess if you’re washing a big dog in your bathroom, so it might be a bit more wise to do it outside with water hose.

Oxyfresh Pet Care

A pet’s ear is supposed to be pale pink in color and free of any foul smells. It’s ok to carefully remove wax and dirt buildup occasionally with an ear cleaning solution. Buildup can easily occur without you being aware of it, and your first sign of a problem may not become evident until your pet has difficulty hearing your call or displays excessive scratching or rubbing around the ears. Preemptive, routine measures such as using an alcohol-free ear cleaner is the best way to make sure your pet’s ears are healthy.

Oxyfresh’s Pet Ear Cleaner gently loosens dirt and wax from your pet’s ear with a unique Oxygene bacteria-neutralizing solution that’s soothing, safe, deodorizing  and alcohol free. Routine cleaning will ensure that your pet’s ears are healthy – and avoid expensive visits to the veterinarian.

Recommended use : Put 10 to 15 drops into each ear and massage the ears at the base. Let your pet shake its head, then wipe the remaining debris from the inside of the ear. You may repeat this procedure daily or weekly until no more debris is found. Use as needed.



Source : Focus on pet health by Oxyfresh

Oxyfresh Pet Care

Top 5 reasons every pet owner needs Oxyfresh Pet Gel

1. You love to cuddle, but hate bad breath
As much as we adore our pets, most of us abruptly turn our heads when our furry friend emanates a big cloud of dragon-like doggie breath as they happily greet us. Fortunately, we can take the fire out of the dragon breath by rubbing Oxyfresh Pet Gel along the margin of our pet’s gums. In minutes, our odor-neutralizing ingredient Oxygene® works its magic to freshen your pet’s breath so you can snuggle to your heart’s content.

2. Preventing dental disease can extend your pet’s life
Doggie breath can be more than just an annoyance. Much more. It is often a sign of periodontal disease, the most common dental disease. An alarming 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over age three suffer from periodontal disease. Called the “Silent Killer of Pets,” it can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and infect the heart, liver, and kidneys — shortening your pet’s life by up to five years! Pet Gel’s Oxygene® destroys bacteria in the mouth, helping to reduce the formation of plaque and tartar that can lead to periodontal disease.

3. Sore gums can be a real drag for your pet
Pets get sore gums just like we do. We want to give them relief but there just aren’t many products available that are safe enough to use in a pet’s mouth. These include products with dyes, unsafe chemicals and other ingredients that might prove to be toxic over time. Whether the gum irritation is from cutting baby teeth, an injury, periodontal disease, inflammation, or some other gum condition, Pet Gel safely delivers soothing relief with a powerful combination of aloe vera and chamomile.

4. Nothing’s better for skin irritations
In our pets, “hot spots” are localized moist skin irritations seen primarily during the warm moist months. These cause intense itching and discomfort. Pets with wrinkly skin — like on the faces of Bull Dogs and Pugs — are especially prone to these hot spots in deep, hidden folds of skin. This is also common around the base of the tail. Pet Gel soothes and helps dry these problem areas while dramatically improving your pet’s comfort level.

5. You never know what your pet will get into
Pet Gel is an extremely handy general purpose first aid cream that can also be used externally. You can use it for minor cuts, scratches, insect bites, minor burns, sunburns, abrasions, sore feet and more. It gives relief while promoting fast healing. Many ointments and creams made for human skin lack the safety factor of Pet Gel. These can be toxic if swallowed and have also been known to cause problems ranging from digestive upset to major organ failure. Pet Gel is completely safe and formulated to soothe, cleanse and deodorize.

Oxyfresh Pet Gel is in a class by itself. No other product is as versatile. That’s what makes it an essential product for every pet owner to have on hand. Great value, tons of uses, long shelf life, consistent results. Pet Gel has it all.

Source : Boyd Harrell, DVM (Dr. Harrell is a former multi-veterinary practice owner, an international speaker and a pet health advisor for Oxyfresh).

Tags: pet, gel,, healthy, gums,, fresh, breath,, pet's, gums,, dental, disease,, sore, gums,, skin, irritation

Oxyfresh Pet Care

2. A clean coat is less allergenic
A pet’s coat can act like a dust mop, picking up pollen and dust from the
air and favorite resting places. If your pet is allergic to pollen and dust then
frequent shampooing can help minimize their symptoms and improve their
comfort because you’re removing the offenders that cause itchy, reddened
skin, irritated noses and watering eyes. And if you suffer from airborne allergies
keeping your pet’s coat clean can help to control your symptoms, too.

3. It makes your pet huggably fresh
We spend a lot of time with our furry friend. A sweet-smelling, freshly bathed
pet is simply more huggable. We have all had times when we would like to be
close or hold our pet and obnoxious odors got in the way. Common sources
of pet odors are a buildup of pungent waxes and oils secreted by glands at
the base of each hair, naturally occurring yeast and bacteria living on the
skin, and odors picked up by contact during play and nosing around. Regular
shampooing can keep these odors at bay.

4. Clean pets are more beautiful
A nice clean fluffy coat looks good on any pet. Shampooing, followed by
combing, brushing and blow drying will give your pet a full, lively looking coat
while preventing uncomfortable tangles from forming. Pets know when they
look good, too! Just watch how alert and spunky they become when you tell
them how handsome they are!

5. A good bath makes your pet feel good
Just as we often feel fresh and revived after a nice shower or bath, pets also
do. Clean skin can lift your pet’s spirits and give them some added energy.
Shampoo needs contact time to dissolve oils and neutralize odors on the
skin so giving your pet a gentle massage during the bath is a great way to
work the shampoo through the coat while relaxing your pet. Massaging can
help improve skin circulation and health, relax tense muscles and positively
enhance your pet’s mood.

Source : Oxyfresh newsletter (September 2010)

Oxyfresh Pet Care

Introduce a grooming routine early, to get your pup used to the process before he gets older and begins to resist. This should include a weekly or fortnightly bath – frequency depends on how muddy those paws get. If you bathe your pup too often, dry skin and a lustreless coat will result. Avoid letting water enter the ears, as this could cause ear infections. Dry the coat thoroughly after baths as a wet pup is breeding ground for bacteria. Regular brushing of the fur coat will stimulate hair follicles, keeping the fur healthy, shiny and free of knots and mats. Trim the nails just shy of the quick (this is the vein in the nail which will bleed if cut) with a pair of puppy nail trimmers. Finally, remember to clean puppy’s teeth daily, using a special toothbrush or finger-brush and dog toothpaste.  This will prevent gum infections and ensure that the teeth will last throughout his life.

Your little furball won’t be a baby forever, but with lots of love and care, he will think and behave like a puppy for life!

Oxyfresh Pet Care

Cats actually has two types of sleep. The first one is cat nap where it can awaken easily. The other is a deep sleep

Oxyfresh Pet Care

1. You love to cuddle, but hate bad breath
As much as we adore our pets, most of us abruptly turn our heads when our furry friend emanates a big cloud of dragon-like doggie breath as they happily greet us. Fortunately, we can take the fire out of the dragon breath by rubbing Oxyfresh Pet Gel along the margin of our pet’s gums. In minutes, our odor-neutralizing ingredient Oxygene® works its magic to freshen your pet’s breath so you can snuggle to your heart’s content.

2. Preventing dental disease can extend your pet’s life
Doggie breath can be more than just an annoyance. Much more. It is often a sign of periodontal disease, the most common dental disease. An alarming 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over age three suffer from periodontal disease. Called the “Silent Killer of Pets,” it can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and infect the heart, liver, and kidneys — shortening your pet’s life by up to five years! Pet Gel’s Oxygene® destroys bacteria in the mouth, helping to reduce the formation of plaque and tartar that can lead to periodontal disease.

3. Sore gums can be a real drag for your pet
Pets get sore gums just like we do. We want to give them relief but there just aren’t many products available that are safe enough to use in a pet’s mouth. These include products with dyes, unsafe chemicals and other ingredients that might prove to be toxic over time. Whether the gum irritation is from cutting baby teeth, an injury, periodontal disease, inflammation, or some other gum condition, Pet Gel safely delivers soothing relief with a powerful combination of aloe vera and chamomile.

4. Nothing’s better for skin irritations
In our pets, “hot spots” are localized moist skin irritations seen primarily during the warm moist months. These cause intense itching and discomfort. Pets with wrinkly skin — like on the faces of Bull Dogs and Pugs — are especially prone to these hot spots in deep, hidden folds of skin. This is also common around the base of the tail. Pet Gel soothes and helps dry these problem areas while dramatically improving your pet’s comfort level.

5. You never know what your pet will get into
Pet Gel is an extremely handy general purpose first aid cream that can also be used externally. You can use it for minor cuts, scratches, insect bites, minor burns, sunburns, abrasions, sore feet and more. It gives relief while promoting fast healing. Many ointments and creams made for human skin lack the safety factor of Pet Gel. These can be toxic if swallowed and have also been known to cause problems ranging from digestive upset to major organ failure. Pet Gel is completely safe and formulated to soothe, cleanse and deodorize.

Oxyfresh Pet Gel is in a class by itself. No other product is as versatile. That’s what makes it an essential product for every pet owner to have on hand. Great value, tons of uses, long shelf life, consistent results. Oxyfresh’s Pet Gel has it all.

Oxyfresh Pet Care

Oxyfresh products helps you manage your pets’ health better so that they can live longer!

Oxyfresh Pet Care