Many other things in or around your home can cause serious illness or even death in
your pet. Here are some examples:
• Antifreeze
• Bait for rodents
• Batteries (they can contain corrosive fluid)
• Car care products, such as cleaners or oils
• Fertilizer
• Household cleaners
• Ice-melting products
• Nicotine products
• Pesticides for insects
• Plants that are toxic to pets
• Pool or pond products
• Poisonous snakes
Other potential dangers in your home include burning candles that may be knocked over,
electrical cords that can be chewed, and loose cords or wires that animals may become
tangled in. Take a look around your house and make it pet-safe.
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• 435-644-2001 • www.bestfriends.org
For more information on what to do for a poisoned animal, what plants are poisonous,
and how to poison-proof your home, visit the ASPCA website (www.aspca.org) and click
on “Animal Poison Control Center.” If you suspect your pet has been poisoned and you
need immediate assistance, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at
(888) 426-4435. The nonprofit hotline is staffed 24/7 by a team of veterinarians, including
veterinary toxicologists; the consultation fee is $50.
Away from Home
Here are some things to avoid when traveling with your pet:
• Don’t let your pet ride in the back of an open truck. He can be injured if you need to
brake suddenly or take a sharp turn. Tying the animal to the truck doesn’t solve the prob-
lem; he can still be seriously hurt or killed. If you must use the back of a truck to trans-
port a pet, put the animal in a secure crate that is anchored so it doesn’t move around in
the bed of the truck.
• Never leave your pet in a vehicle in hot weather, even for a few minutes. Even with the
windows wide open, the car can quickly become hot enough to cause heatstroke, brain
damage, and even death.
Finally, don’t let your pet roam. He or she can suffer injury or death from running at large.
Your pet doesn’t understand the danger of speeding cars, poisoned bait or trespassing
on someone else’s property

source
http://bestfriends.org/theanimals/pdfs/allpets/hazardstopets.pdf

Last month was National Pet Dental Health Month, and in fact, one of the most common
problems we see as veterinarians is dental disease. If you’re wondering how your own
pets might fare with a look under the hood, take a quick peek yourself. Like us, all cats
and dogs get tartar and gingivitis. Unlike us, their tartar quickly turns to calculus,
something as hard as concrete in a very short time.
One of the most important parts of your pet’s health exam is the mouth. Unless their teeth
are brushed regularly, they can quickly look (and smell) terrible. One of the most
challenging things I can say to a client is, “What do you think we start brushing these
things?” And then I see the look on Mrs. Smith’s face. A look of despair and
hopelessness, as if I had just asked her to play Rachmaninoff in front of a crowd of
thousands.

At the Parthenon.
Then the kicker – to help our animals maintain a healthy mouth, we recommend brushing
those teeth at least every other day. Cats and small dogs are particularly prone to
periodontal disease, which causes deep pockets of infection around the teeth, weakening
their attachments. And eventually, the teeth fall out. It’s amazing how quickly our pets
can lose their teeth. Cats can also get cavities, which are painful and can lead to broken
teeth.
Identifying & Preventing Dental Problems
So how do you know your pets have dental problems? If she’s eating, she’s fine, right?
Not necessarily. It’s amazing how much discomfort animals will tolerate when it comes
to food. Rarely will a dog or cat stop eating because of dental disease, even a broken
tooth. Sometimes these signs are obvious: bad breath, hardened plaque and even tooth
loss.
These are the things we can see.
What we can’t see is the stress bad teeth put on the immune system. With dental
problems, the immune system is busy dealing with the infection and inflammation under
the gums and is less able to protect the body from bacteria, viruses, cancers and other
serious threats. Studies have shown that people with dental disease have higher
incidences of heart, liver and kidney disease. Animals too.
So it’s all about brushing. Let’s go back to that oral examination. Cats and dogs have
plaque, the film which forms on the teeth and in pockets under the gum line. In the first
24 to 48 hours, it’s easily removed with a brush. After that, it begins to harden and turn
into tartar, which can’t be brushed off. If there is visible tartar, there is most likely
infection under the gums, too. And unfortunately, the only way to get rid of it is to have
your vet do a proper cleaning.
A few years ago, we saw the advent of the first “non-anesthetic” dental cleanings. Not so
much here on the Hill, but certainly around the rest of country. These would be done be
certain groomers, touted as safer than having anesthesia and going to your vet. They
quickly became illegal because, for one thing, they caused harm by damaging the
protective enamel of the teeth. And they didn’t clean the teeth! You can’t simply chip that
tartar off and call it a day. You’ve got to get under the gums, clean, rinse and polish. And
how many animals will sit quietly while someone is chipping tartar from their teeth?
In fact, we feel lucky if we can get the briefest of glimpses of our patients’ mouths, never
mind spend an hour cleaning their teeth with them awake and struggling. And that’s how
long it takes – a proper dental cleaning takes time, at least twice the time it can take to
spay a big dog, for instance. And if your vet is doing x-rays, which he should, it can take
even more time. Since patience isn’t really part of our pets’ repertoires, dental work
requires anesthesia. But today, anesthetics are so advanced that the risks for healthy
animals are considerably lower than the risk of dental disease.
Brushing Technique
So how do you brush those teeth? For one thing, if they are clean already, start now! The
most important part of brushing is the brush. Remember it takes only 48 hours for plaque
to harden into tartar, so you need to brush at least every other day to be effective. Use a
soft tooth brush specifically made for pets and special toothpaste for them as well. These
pastes have an enzyme in them to break down plaque. And they can be swallowed by
your pet. And believe me, they will be.
Brushing alone is the most important part, though the toothpaste helps. Most dogs and
cats will allow a brief (one minute or less) brushing without too much objection. Start
slowly! For some animals the first session might be just a quick swipe followed by a
treat. You can work up from there. It’s those outside surfaces where most of the tartar
forms, so don’t try to brush the inside surfaces of the teeth unless your pet is unusually
cooperative. And you don’t have to be a dental hygienist to do this well. Any brushing
will help. And the more often you do it, the more your dog or cat will get used to it and
hopefully even like it. And remember to give them a treat afterwards.
Most dogs eventually even enjoy tooth brushing. Cats … well, let’s just say they’re a
little more resistant. Still, it’s quite possible to do this effectively for both species. And
the benefits, both the visible and invisible, will be incalculable

1. Limit its activity by kenneling. Use a harness with a leash dragging behind so you can step on it and not chase your canine. Hold your pooch when possible.
2. Give your pet a food puzzle instead of feeding it from its dish. This activity will take time for your dog to eat and keep it distracted.
3. Putting peanut butter on the roof of their mouth helps distract them when they want to chase and bark.
4. Play TALK radio so your pet can’t hear other sounds that make it want to go check it out.
5. Music like Mozart is proven to help calm and heal.
6. Smells like lavender calm, use a scented candle or oil of lavender.

Whenever the body needs to heal, it is best to feed it what it needs to repair itself. A raw organic diet is best. There are many available. I use Prairie Nature’s Variety. It is available at Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet or visit Natures Variety’s website for retailers.

Kefir is 150 times stronger than yogurt and helps to rebuild the natural flora. Antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria in the body. If your pooch was given antibiotics after surgery you need to build the good bacteria back if you want a healthy dog. You can find Kefir in the refrigerated section of health food stores.

Good clean water helps cleanse the body. Use water that is free of chemicals, toxins and bacteria. For drinking water I use reverse osmosis or distilled water. Vitamins are especially important to add if your dog’s immune system is weak. Canine Plus has 6 digestive enzymes which aid greatly in getting your dog’s health back. Another great enzyme product is Wobenzym.

Whenever figuring a dose from olive leaf extract capsules, milk thistle capsules or garlic divide the dose for the correct amount for your dog. It is figured for a 150 # person. If your dog weighs 10 #, the formula would be 150/10 = 15 doses. Divide accordingly.

• Olive leaf extract gets rid of internal parasites.
• Milk thistle aids the liver to function better and helps your dog to live longer.
• Vitamin C aids the immune system. Yes, dogs do manufacture their own vitamin C but when ill it can be helpful to boost the cells to fight the enemy (illness).
• Cranberry concentrate capsules can relief a bladder infection in 24 hours.
• Hyaluronic acid builds the cushion between the joints and can aid greatly in arthritis or other joint injuries.
• Flaxseed or fish oil can help with nerves, scratching and will improve coat (1 teaspoon/10# dog).
• Garlic is a wonder herb… repels pests, kills parasites, and aids the body in healing.
• (a dog would have to eat 50 bulbs… not cloves – individual pieces of the bulb for garlic to be harmful to your pet… Don’t believe the lies on the internet)

Do not assume all herbs and vitamins are safe for your pet. Green Tea and grapeseed are just a couple that can cause problems for your canine.

Minnesota breeder of bichons, shih tzus and poodles (toy, tiny and teacup). Use the grate/crate methods of kenneling instead of the traditional kenneling. See video on website… http://www.ardyweb.com. Teach the alpha method of dog training and how to keep your pet healthy as naturally as possible. Author of Ardy’s Professional Tips for Lapdogs.

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