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Dental hygiene in dogs is extremely important because, just like people, dental disease can have a holistic effect on their body. If gone untreated for long periods of time, these problems can potentially have disastrous effects.

Plaque accumulates on your dog’s teeth and if it isn’t taken care of in a timely fashion, it hardens into tartar. This can lead to gum irritation and periodontal disease. One of the best remedies against this is water additives. They don’t contain any chlorhexidine, chlorines, or alcohol, which can be harmful to your dog. Instead, they typically contain enzymes that break down plaque as well as kill the bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Consult with your vet to determine which of the many solutions on the market are best for your dog.

Another remedy worth looking into is dental chews, which also counter plaque and tartar buildup. Like water additives, some may even contain enzymes to combat plaque before it hardens into tartar and control bacteria while others clean the dog’s teeth, simultaneously exercising his jaw. Again, consulting with your vet is always the best option before opting to use any method as part of your dog’s oral care. Your veterinarian can better determine what remedies are the best for your dog by taking x-rays to ensure there are no problems under the gum lines, as well as clean and polish your pet’s teeth.

Dogs are either good at hiding their pain or are unable to articulate their pain. Many owners can see changes in their dogs’ behavior after they receive dental therapy, citing their pets as much more playful and active than before. The ideal way to ensure good dental hygiene in your pet is by daily brushing and visiting the vet twice a year. Remember, good oral hygiene is imperative to your dog’s overall health, so treat it with as much care as you would any other problem.

Many dog owners have established a kind of bond over the frustrating, but equally comical, experience of their dog’s reaction to water during bath time. However, water is imperative to a dog’s well being in many ways rather than just the obvious thirst-quenching factor.

 Involving the use of water in housetraining is a first. The norm has usually been to limit a dog’s water during the fact to keep them from urinating when you are unable to let them out. This technique is generally flawed. For one thing, dogs keep cool by panting, which is done effectively only if there is enough moisture in their respiratory system. Water helps in transporting waste products out through the kidneys and intestines, and also helps in cleansing the kidneys, reducing the risk of infection. Furthermore, if a dog is deprived of water when he needs it, he will make up for it after by drinking more than he needs to after. This in itself is a problem as it can cause physical ailments such as diarrhea, bloating, vomiting and urinating inside the house, the one thing you wanted to avoid in the first place.

Cooling is the next obvious use of water. Dogs are unaware of their needs, and are therefore thoroughly dependent on you to fulfill this essential need This is imperative since it is hard to distinguish overheating in dogs and can lead to death. Keep a close watch on your dog when the temperature starts rising, as your dog has not yet adjusted. It is normal behavior for your dog to occupy himself for long periods of time with activities that distract them such as chasing squirrels or some outdoor activity. Try to avoid leaving them alone for too long in hot temperatures because a dog will not realize it needs water until it is too late. If you are not sure if your dog is overheating, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Water is also great for a recreational use. In order to work through a dog’s natural fear of water, introduce them to it gently. On hot days, spraying them with cool water will not only cool them down but also create a positive association that dogs can have with water. Water is also sometimes used as a part of a physical therapy regimen for dogs with orthopedic problems.

Whatever the reason, make water your dog’s friend. They will thank you for it later.

Do you know if your dog has food allergies? If he has symptoms such as itching, licking, and chewing his paws, groin, neck, and/or ears or even some gastrointestinal signs such as chronic vomiting, diarrhea, belching, and frequent bowel movements, then he just might. Food allergies are unfortunate and result in some pretty nasty symptoms, but all of this can be avoided by feeding the proper food to your dog.

 To get started on picking the appropriate food for your dog, consult your veterinarian. Make sure you inform them of your dog’s medical history and even more importantly, every type of food your dog has eaten---this means anything from table scraps to chew toys with food flavorings. Based on skin and possible gastrointestinal signs, your vet will recommend a food allergy trial for your dog.

Some commercials advertise over-the-counter diets that claim to be “hypoallergenic” or “great for sensitive skin” which may be a bit deceiving. In fact, pet food companies don’t even have to list every ingredient on the label, so who knows what they’re leaving out? Also, manufacturers of the food can substitute other ingredients for the appropriate proteins, as long as they meet the guaranteed analysis. It’s pretty scary to think that you have no idea what you’re putting in your dog’s belly! Your best bet is to stick with the diet your veterinarian recommends for a proper food allergy test.

There are three categories of diets that are used in food allergy trials:

1. Prescription diets
2. Low Antigen diets
3. Homemade diets

The purpose of prescription diets is to ensure that the ingredients in the pet food are always consistent---meaning the protein and carbohydrate source in the food will always remain the same. This type of diet is for treating medical conditions (such as food allergies) and is only available through your veterinarian.

Antigens are the proteins in a diet that can be responsible for food allergy symptoms. In a low antigen diet, which is also a type of prescription diet, the protein in the food has been formulated in such a small amount that it will not stimulate the immune system---this will keep your dog from getting those pesky food allergy signs!

So let’s say your pet can’t or won’t eat either the prescription diet food or the low antigen diet food--- a homemade diet may be your last resort. This sort of diet normally contains a new protein source and a carbohydrate. Keep in mind though, this diet cannot be long term, it is meant to be a trial! A recommended homemade diet is not formulated to be a balanced diet---it lacks the proper nutrients needed to keep your dog happy and healthy.

Now, there are always downfalls in food allergy trials.

1)      The client does not understand why the veterinarian has recommended a feeding trial, how the feeding trial will be conducted, their role in completing the food allergy trial properly, and the ultimate goals of the trial.

To help with this, have your vet let you know exactly why the food allergy trial is being conducted and how to complete it---you need to be clear on what the expectations and goals are. It would also be a good idea to request phone progress reports, and remember that it is okay to ask questions! I mean, this is your dog’s health we are talking about---you want to be clear on EVERYTHING.

2)   Feeding your dog any type of snack or chew toy with food flavoring can affect the length and success of the food trial. 

Keep in mind, this mistake can also be made by children, relatives, visitors, etc. So the best way to avoid this is to keep everyone informed of the trial, or just keep your dog in a separate room when visitors or family are over.

3)      In a multiple pet house you must prevent the patient from eating the other dog’s food.  If there is a cat in the household, eating the cat food will disrupt the food trial.

It may be a pain, but you may need to stand over your dogs while they are being fed to avoid any trouble. However you could have the dog who is on a diet eat in a separate room, or even put all of your dogs on the diet, if it’s possible.

4)      The dog is not confined and wanders.  This patient will be able to get into the garbage, compost piles or the neighbor may feed him treats.

The solution for this is simple---keep your dog inside and the garbage out of reach!

Food allergy trials are the only sure fire way of determining if your dog has food allergies. Sure, the trial may be long and difficult, but in the end you and your pup will be grateful to know what food is safe to eat!

One of the most common diseases in older pets is kidney disease. This may be a stressful time for your family but with the assistance of your veterinarian and a few helpful tips, your pet can live a long, happy, and healthy life.

 What is Kidney Disease?

   The kidneys filter and remove waste materials from the blood and help regulate body fluids. Kidney Disease occurs when the kidneys fail to perform these functions properly and waste accumulates in the blood.

Signs of Kidney Disease

     Signs usually do not appear until more than 2/3 of kidney function has been lost. Pets over 6 years old should be screened for kidney disease before signs of disease appear.

These signs are:

   - loss of appetite, increased thirst, vomiting, or diarrhea

  Causes of Kidney Disease

   Acute kidney disease is a rapid decline in kidney function, often result of poisoning, shock, blood loss or other diseases.

   Chronic kidney disease can result from age, nutritional factors, and breed or hereditary tendencies.

Slowing the Progression

     Kidney failure may be stopped and many pets can recover completely once the underlying problem is resolved.

Home Care

 - Give your pet special care and attention

 - Follow your veterinarian’s instructions carefully.

- Feed your pet only the recommended food every day and speak to your veterinarian before changing your pet’s medication or feeding regimen.

Make sure to monitor your pet’s weight, activity, thirst, and general condition regularly. Inform your vet of any unexpected changes. Provide free access to fresh clean water.

Proper nutrition is essential in fighting against chronic kidney disease. Your veterinarian will recommend a well balanced diet with reduced amounts of phosphorous, salt, high-quality protein and higher amounts of fiber to reduce kidney workload. As always if you are ever suspicious of something, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.  

The Bufo Toad is an exotic animal that was introduced to Florida in order to control insects. Since its introduction, it has managed to quickly reproduce and become a native in South Florida.  The Bufo Toad is considered extremely toxic due to the parotid glands located behind the head. These toxins contain high concentrations of hormones including adrenalin. This will attack the cardiovascular system, consisting of the heart, and the nervous system, which is in the brain. 

Signs of Toxicity

Dogs will commonly attack these toads due to their slow movements. Once attacked, the toad will release toxins, which will quickly affect your dog. These are the signs you should be aware of when determining whether your dog was affected.

1. Foaming from the mouth.
2. Drooling
3. Pawing at the mouth
4. Vomiting
5. Stumbling
6. Falling
7. Tremors
8. Rigid legs
9. Seizures

Treatment

If you see the above signs displayed by your dog, but he or she has not experienced a seizure, follow these steps: 

1. Rinse your dog’s mouth with running water: place a garden hose or faucet along the side of the dog’s mouth.
2. DO NOT force water down your dog’s mouth or try to make them swallow
3. DO NOT feed the dog oil, milk or other substances besides water.
4. Rinse his or her mouth 3 times for 3 to 5 minutes each.

It is the middle of July and the afternoon’s temperature reaches upwards of 100 degrees. While walking across the steaming blacktop you swear the soles of your shoes are beginning to melt. Now imagine having a fur coat in this summer heat and you’ll realize that attempting to cool down can be nearly impossible. Our Vet Specialists see an excess of Hyperthermia, commonly referred to as heat stroke, cases throughout the summer months.  Here are some things to keep an eye on and be aware of during these sweltering months.   

Ways Heat Stroke May Occur

1. Leaving your pet in a car with little or no access to air. Even with the windows down, the car becomes increasingly hotter than the outside temperature.
2. Leaving your dog outside for too long, with little or no shade.
3. Pushing exercise upon your pet in extremely hot weather.

Important things TO DO 

If you notice Sparky losing his spark, panting more than usual, drooling, and a wet dripping nose, then it may be time to consider doing some of the following to help cool your pet down:

1. Quickly move your dog to a cooler environment.
2. Place a direct fan on your pet, if possible.
3. Place a cool towel on key parts of the dog’s body: back of the neck, armpits, and groin region.
4. Head to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Important things NOT TO DO

1. Do not use ice to cool your pet. This will only make their situation worse.
2. Do not force water into your pet’s mouth, but rather make it available for them to drink when they need it.
3. Do not leave your pet’s side; the condition may take a dangerous turn at any minute.
4. Do not try to bring your pet’s temperature below 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead allow your vet to care for and control this.

Follow these steps and you’ll be sure to keep your pet safe throughout the summer and beat the heat. 

“Ahhh-chooo”… an adorable and sometimes unwelcome sound from your furry feline. She sneezes once and you think nothing of it, but then throughout the day the little sneezes continue, and that’s when you begin to wonder: Is my kitty sick? Should I bring her to the vet? You decide to set up an appointment with the vet and figure out what is going on. A few days pass and your sniffling kitten is now sneezing every two seconds with watering eyes. Once you explain to the vet what has been going on, she is prescribed a pill everyday for the next week. Don’t let anxiety set in as soon as you consider how to administer the pill. 

Although giving your pets medicine, especially pills is very difficult, we have some tips on how to make it a little easier.

First, make sure that your cat is relaxed before administering the pill.  If she is hyper or stressed it will become much more difficult.

Once you determine that she is relaxed, approach her slowly and quietly from behind so that you do not startle her. Approaching her from behind will be more effective by eliminating the risk of escape.

 Once she is in your hands, wrap your dominant hand around her body so that her tail is facing you and have the pill in your non-dominant hand.

Then, with your dominant hand hold your cat by her cheeks lifting her nose to the ceiling so that her mouth will involuntarily form a little opening.

Now, use one of your fingers on your non-dominant hand to open her jaw wider and place the pill in the back of the mouth as far as possible. Make sure that when you let go and your cat comes out of your grip that she begins to lick her lips. This will indicate that she has swallowed it.  

Just to be safe, since some cats are sneaky, check her mouth and make sure that she isn’t tricking you and actually swallowed the pill. Follow up with a tasty treat to make sure your cat has completely consumed the pill.

Next time giving your kitten a pill is part of her health routine, leave the stress behind. Do yourself a favor and make it less complicated with these simple steps. 

There is a reason why the phrase “fighting like cats and dogs”, is part of our vocabulary. This is indicatively clear when introducing a new pet to the house of another well-established pet. Just this week, we introduced a new puppy to our 10-year-old cat. Needless to say it has been an interesting few days. However, throughout the process we have learned what works and what to steer away from when welcoming a new family member.

Correct Certain Actions.
In most cases, the cat tends to be the dominant pet of the house. Intimidating hissing ensues and threatening body language begins to show. Correct this behavior, and allow the cat to feel safe. Soon, it will become clear aggression is not necessary. Alternatively, dogs tend to be hyper and excited to meet their new comrade. It is important to correct overly excited behavior from your dog, which can lead to an agitated cat.    

Reinforce Confidence.
If you notice insecurity from your cat step into the dog’s space to make the dog retreat and the cat will instantly feel more power.  Do the same if your dog is feeling insecure.

Break Staring Contests.
Have you ever noticed if you stare in an unfamiliar dog’s eyes, aggressive behavior quickly emerges? It happens among cats and dogs as well. Body language is key to communication between these two animals and staring must be avoided. If you see your pets engaging in this behavior find a way to break the staring contest and avoid confrontation.

Muzzles and Kennels
In extreme circumstances these tools can be utilized to effectively alleviate tempers. Place your cat in a kennel if he or she seems to have calmed and allow the dog to approach with an eased mood. Do not allow pacing, barking, or excited behavior from the dog and make sure the cat remains calm within the kennel for the optimal effect. Muzzles are great if you fear the dog may try to attack your cat. This will allow for safe and close contact, while trust is instilled between the two furry friends.

Did we miss a tactic that worked best for you in the past?

One of the hardest parts of caring for a pet is not being able to understand their language. When a family member is injured, we are able to quickly assess what treatment would be best. However, it is not always this simple when caring for your pet. Nobody wants to see their dog or cat limping pathetically toward them. Your mind races as you try to decide what to do next. Is it is a broken leg? Did she just land on it funny? Will she need a cast?

Translation Through Radiology 
Our radiology team knows how hard it can be to answer these questions. Thankfully, our professionals can look past the fur and get straight to the problem with X-Ray machines, CAT scans, and the newest technology Fluoroscopy.  This allows for “real-time” pictures, resulting in a quick diagnosis and the ability to pinpoint the exact cause for injury.  Basically, they are pretty cool technological tools that will find the sprain, fracture, and even neurological conditions.

Seeing your pet injured is scary enough as it is. Most of this stress can be alleviated once our Radiology team examines the injury, and delivers the best solution for the best recovery. It may be a quick fix or a necessary surgical procedure, either way the injury or problem will be tended to. Radiology has been able to find health risks before a dangerous development ensues, ensuring a life is saved and your best friend returns home happy and healthy. 

It feels like it has only been an hour since your head hit the pillow, when a wet puddle dripping down your face startles you awake. The covers are being ripped off, and the bed begins to rumble. Your eye close tighter as the shades are pulled to the side and you attempt to sink deeper into the bed. Then it happens, that noise that just can’t be ignored, the bark of your dog. Your eyes squint open the slightest bit to see his smiling face, ears perked, and the leash dangling from his mouth. Before long, your legs are pulling you from the bed, shoes go on, and the two of you are out the door for the morning walk.

Let’s face it, seeing that mug will melt any heart. Each one of us goes above and beyond every day for our trusty companions. Your dog or cat is a family member and a best friend, each deserving top-notch care.

More Than a Pet

Our professionals at Vet Specialists of South Florida understand how important every pet is to each owner. Throughout each day we do our best to heal any ailment or injury, on every cat and dog no matter how big or small. We have a skilled staff ready to keep your furry friend healthy and happy, from check-up to the most serious condition.

Your pet is not just another animal, he or she is a best friend, partner, companion, someone you can always count own. Our Veterinarians at Vet Specialists are honored to work with your favorite furry friends each and every day, making you someone they can always count on.

How does your pooch or kitten melt your heart on a daily basis?