While many of us may object to our pet's bad breath, we should pay attention to what it may be telling us. Bad breath
is most commonly an indication that your dog is in need of a dental check up. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results
in a foul smell that requires professional treatment. After a professional cleaning, the teeth and gums may be
maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and
avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on minimizing dental disease and bad breath.
You can clean your canine’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use
a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger.
Some dogs are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This painful
condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a
regular part of your dog's health program.
Bad Breath
While bad breath caused by dental disease may not be too serious if caught early enough, some odors may be
indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. Liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet,
fruity smell may be indicative of diabetes. If your dog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a
possibility. Any time you notice your pet has bad breath accompanied by other signs of ill health, such as loss of
appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, excessive drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to the veterinarian.
Fleas and Ticks
Daily inspections of your dog for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are important. Use a flea comb to find and
remove fleas. There are several new methods of flea and tick control. Speak to your veterinarian about these and
other options.
Heartworm
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from dog to dog by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be fatal. Your
dog should have a blood test for heartworm every spring—this is crucial for detecting infections from the previous
year. A once-a-month pill given during mosquito season will protect your dog. If you travel south with your pet during
the winter, your dog should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some warmer regions, veterinarians
recommend preventive heartworm medication throughout the year.
Medicines and Poisons
Never give your dog medication that has not been prescribed by a veterinarian. For example, did you know that one
regular-strength ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in a ten-pound dog? Keep rat poison and other
rodenticides away from your pet. If you suspect that your animal has ingested a poisonous substance, call your
veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for 24-hour animal poison information at (888) 426-4435.
Spaying and Neutering
Females should be spayed—the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—removal of the testicles—
by six months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer, a common and frequently
fatal disease of older female dogs. Spaying also eliminates the risk of an infected uterus, a very serious problem in
older females that requires surgery and intensive medical care. Neutering males prevents testicular and prostate
diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
For more on this important surgery, read our top ten reasons to spay or neuter your pet.
Vaccinations
Puppies should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called a “5-in-1”) at two, three and four months of age, and
then once annually. This vaccine protects the puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and
parainfluenza. A puppy's vaccination program cannot be finished before four months of age.
Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers and American Staffordshire terriers/pit bulls should be vaccinated until five months of
age.
If you have an unvaccinated dog older than four or five months, he will need a series of two vaccinations given two to
three weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
Do not walk your puppy or unvaccinated dog outside or let her walk or sit on the floor of an animal hospital until
several days after her final vaccination.
Since laws vary around the country, contact a local veterinarian for information on rabies vaccination. In New York City,
for example, the law requires all pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies
vaccine must be followed by a vaccination a year later, and then every three years.
There are a variety of vaccines that may or may not be appropriate for your pet. Your veterinarian can tell you about
them.
Please note, if your pet gets sick because he is not properly vaccinated, the vaccination should be given after your
companion animal recovers.
Worms
Dogs are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by
intestinal worms are passed in an infected dog’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry
roundworms or hookworms. The key to treatment is correct diagnosis. This will ensure that the medication is effective
against the parasite your pet has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your
veterinarian can best determine the culprit—and prescribe the appropriate medication.
To Learn About Cat Health Click Here.
Source: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
is most commonly an indication that your dog is in need of a dental check up. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results
in a foul smell that requires professional treatment. After a professional cleaning, the teeth and gums may be
maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and
avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on minimizing dental disease and bad breath.
You can clean your canine’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use
a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger.
Some dogs are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This painful
condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a
regular part of your dog's health program.
Bad Breath
While bad breath caused by dental disease may not be too serious if caught early enough, some odors may be
indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. Liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet,
fruity smell may be indicative of diabetes. If your dog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a
possibility. Any time you notice your pet has bad breath accompanied by other signs of ill health, such as loss of
appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, excessive drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to the veterinarian.
Fleas and Ticks
Daily inspections of your dog for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are important. Use a flea comb to find and
remove fleas. There are several new methods of flea and tick control. Speak to your veterinarian about these and
other options.
Heartworm
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from dog to dog by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be fatal. Your
dog should have a blood test for heartworm every spring—this is crucial for detecting infections from the previous
year. A once-a-month pill given during mosquito season will protect your dog. If you travel south with your pet during
the winter, your dog should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some warmer regions, veterinarians
recommend preventive heartworm medication throughout the year.
Medicines and Poisons
Never give your dog medication that has not been prescribed by a veterinarian. For example, did you know that one
regular-strength ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in a ten-pound dog? Keep rat poison and other
rodenticides away from your pet. If you suspect that your animal has ingested a poisonous substance, call your
veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for 24-hour animal poison information at (888) 426-4435.
Spaying and Neutering
Females should be spayed—the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—removal of the testicles—
by six months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer, a common and frequently
fatal disease of older female dogs. Spaying also eliminates the risk of an infected uterus, a very serious problem in
older females that requires surgery and intensive medical care. Neutering males prevents testicular and prostate
diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
For more on this important surgery, read our top ten reasons to spay or neuter your pet.
Vaccinations
Puppies should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called a “5-in-1”) at two, three and four months of age, and
then once annually. This vaccine protects the puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and
parainfluenza. A puppy's vaccination program cannot be finished before four months of age.
Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers and American Staffordshire terriers/pit bulls should be vaccinated until five months of
age.
If you have an unvaccinated dog older than four or five months, he will need a series of two vaccinations given two to
three weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
Do not walk your puppy or unvaccinated dog outside or let her walk or sit on the floor of an animal hospital until
several days after her final vaccination.
Since laws vary around the country, contact a local veterinarian for information on rabies vaccination. In New York City,
for example, the law requires all pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies
vaccine must be followed by a vaccination a year later, and then every three years.
There are a variety of vaccines that may or may not be appropriate for your pet. Your veterinarian can tell you about
them.
Please note, if your pet gets sick because he is not properly vaccinated, the vaccination should be given after your
companion animal recovers.
Worms
Dogs are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by
intestinal worms are passed in an infected dog’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry
roundworms or hookworms. The key to treatment is correct diagnosis. This will ensure that the medication is effective
against the parasite your pet has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your
veterinarian can best determine the culprit—and prescribe the appropriate medication.
To Learn About Cat Health Click Here.
Source: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
| Your dog should see the veterinarian for a full check-up, shots and a heartworm blood test every year, and immediately if he is sick or injured. |
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| P.O. Box 682352 Franklin, TN 37068-2352 Phone 615/397-6507 |