Please contact us if you’d like to begin receiving your refills or pet’s veterinary prescribed diet through our HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM, ProxyRx.

Some Common Questions About Pet Dentistry

So Paws, Purrs & Exotics Animal Hospital would like to discuss a common problem in cats and dogs that many times is not taken seriously by our human owners, dental disease.

During the month of November, we are focusing on dental awareness. So here are some common questions that may help you determine if your pet needs to be examined for dental issues.

I was unaware that dogs have dental problems. Is it common?
Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs and cats. Over 68% of all pets over the age of three have some form of periodontal or dental disease. Most pets will show few signs of dental disease. It is up to the pet’s family and veterinarian to uncover this hidden and often painful condition.

Are dental problems the same in pets and people?
No. In man the most common problem is tooth decay which, due to the loss of calcium from the enamel, results in painful, infected cavities. In the dog tooth decay represents less than 10% of all dental problems. The most common dental problems seen in dogs are caused by periodontal disease.

What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is a term used to describe inflammation or infection of the tissues surrounding the tooth. Accumulation of tartar and calculus on the teeth contributes to gum recession around the base of the tooth. Infection soon follows and the gums recede, exposing sensitive unprotected tooth surfaces. Untreated infection then spreads into the tooth socket and ultimately the tooth loosens and is lost.

Is periodontal disease very common?
It is estimated that over 68% of dogs over three years old suffer from some degree of periodontitis, making it by far the most common canine disease.

What is tartar?
The mouth of all mammals is home to thousands of bacteria. Many of these bacteria will breed on the surfaces of the tooth and form an invisible layer called plaque or biofilm. Some of this is removed naturally by the dog’s tongue and chewing habits but if allowed to remain on the tooth surface, the plaque thickens, becomes mineralized and is then visible as tartar and ultimately calculus. The tartar presses on the gums, which recede, causing inflammation and infection called gingivitis. The gums continue to recede until ultimately the tooth socket is infected and the tooth is lost.

As the oral infection increases, tonsillitis and pharyngitis can also occur. In addition, the bacteria are absorbed into the blood stream and can be carried to other organs. Heart valve infections (endocardiosis or endocarditis), kidney and liver problems are frequently caused by “bad teeth”.

Can tartar be prevented?
Plaque becomes mineralized in some dogs much quicker than in others. Special canine and feline chew toys as well as feeding specifically-formulated dental diets may help reduce tartar build up, as does regular home care such as tooth brushing. Today there are many products designed to reduce tartar in our pets.

What is involved with a dental cleaning for my pet?
The goal of dental scaling and polishing is to remove the tartar and invisible plaque. Your veterinarian will recommend pre-anesthetic blood tests to ensure that kidney and liver function are satisfactory for anesthesia. Sometimes antibiotic treatment is instituted before a full dental prophylaxis is carried out. Your veterinarian will discuss the specific pre-dental recommendations for your pet.

Tooth scaling will be performed using both hand scalers and ultrasonic cleaning equipment to remove tartar both above and below the gum line. The tartar beneath the gum line causes the most significant gum recession. The teeth are then polished in order to help prevent subsequent plaque build-up. It may be necessary to carry out other procedures such as extractions at the same time. Special applications such as fluoride, antibiotic preparations and cleaning compounds may be indicated to decrease tooth sensitivity, strengthen enamel and reduce plaque accumulation and bacterial infection.

These procedures will be fully discussed both before your pet’s dental cleaning and when you bring your pet in for the procedure. Since it can be difficult to predict the extent of dental disease in advance of the procedure, it is imperative that your veterinarian is able to reach you during the procedure to discuss any additional treatment that may be necessary.

Do I have to make an appointment for my dog to have a dental scaling and polishing?
Yes. Your veterinarian will recommend pre-anesthetic blood tests, examine your pet for any other underlying disorders prior to the procedure, and determine if antibiotic treatment should be started in advance.

How can I prevent tartar accumulation after the procedure?
Plaque and tartar begin forming in as little as six hours after your pet’s dental cleaning. A home dental care program is a must for all pets. Your veterinarian will provide you with detailed instructions on how to brush or rinse your pet’s teeth.

Can I use human toothpaste?
Human dentifrice or toothpaste should not be used in dogs. These are foaming products and are not meant to be swallowed. Additionally, many types of human toothpaste contain sodium, which may cause problems in some pets.

This client information sheet is based on material written by Ernest Ward, DVM.
© Copyright 2005 Lifelearn Inc. Used with permission under license. November 9, 2009

Hope this has been a productive year thus far!

So I wanted to let you know about an event we are having at Paws, Purrs & Exotics Animal Hospital on Saturday February 20 from 9am-12pm. We are performing heartworm testing on cats and dogs for $20 and there will also be a chance to win a free heartworm test for your pet.

So please come out and tell anyone who may be interested. We will also have clinic tours and agility training demonstrations as well.

Hope to see you there!

Nia M. Perkins, DVM

Riley
CEO (Canine of Extraordinary Obedience)
AnytimeK9, LLC 

**Toni With Anytime K9 will be offering obedience and agility classes at Paws, Purrs & Exotics Animal Hospital located at 133 South Peyton Street in Old Town Alexandria.  Please visit our website at www.pawspurrsandexotics.com for class schedule and instructions on how to sign up.

First Step: Access and Work with a Professional

Effectively alleviating stress for a dog that is exhibiting separation anxiety, or anxious behavior, really starts with assessing the severity of the issue and gathering a thorough history of the dog’s behavior; ruling out any medical causes, if this seems to have a quick onset; and also getting clear about the relationship between the owners and the dog. 

There are typically two “types” of separation anxiety. One in which the dog is closely bonded with 1or 2 individuals, and when these folks aren’t around, the dog is stressed, even if the dog is left with people or other animals. A second “type” of separation anxiety is usually where the dog seems phobic of just being alone.  In this scenario, if the dog has company, be it animal or human, they usually appear to be “fine”. In some cases, getting your dog an animal buddy can help, as a form of social enrichment.

Second Step: To Medicate or Not to Medicate?

Medication, in some cases, can help a dog deal with the emotional roller coaster of being left alone, while the owners are attempting behavior modification. Ideally, the dog is weaned off of medication in 8-12 months as we begin to see improvement. 

Third Step: Try These Helpful Tips 

1. More enrichment!
Give your dog more mental stimulation and activities that the dog enjoys- sniffing, walks in the park, chewing, digging, hiking, and foraging for food from interactive toys.

**Leave your dog with multiple chewies or food stuffed toys when you leave the home. **

2. Confinement- Is it “Working” or Causing More Stress?
In some cases, the dog may simply have confinement phobia or is just not used to being confined.  Try eliminating the use of a crate and creating a larger confinement space, like a kitchen or a bedroom. This can make a huge difference in your pet’s behavior.

3. Ignore, Ignore, Ignore Attention Seeking and Clingy Behavior.
This is one I can’t stress enough!  Many times with our new puppies or newly adopted dogs, we spend extra time off from work with them for a few days and then boom- we’re gone- back to work and our daily routine. In many dogs, there is a predisposition to anxiety and then we add stress and voila- the dog can’t cope. In a nut shell, play it cool with your pup!

 That doesn’t mean being the “ice queen”, but really, if you are less reactive -avoiding eye contact, not responding when a dog is barking at you, pawing at you, leaning, or licking you, you are likely to have a dog whose attention seeking behaviors are not reinforced. This all goes back to the dog-human dynamic, and many dogs that I see presenting with anxiety issues, tend to have a LOT of attention seeking behaviors. The more we react to them by reinforcing the behavior, the more we’re communicating to the dog that we need them to protect and defend us, our home and possessions.  This can be quite an overwhelming job for most dogs, so again, playing it cool is the way to go!

 There are many different tips, tricks and techniques to experiment with in regard to your dog’s anxious behavior, but working with a professional is the best place to start!  

**Leigh Siegfried of Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training will be offering private training and behavioral consultations at Paws, Purrs and Exotics Animal Hospital located at 133 South Peyton Street in Old Town Alexandria. Please visit our website at www.pawspurrsandexotics.com for schedule and information on how to sign up for services.

By Sandy Levitz Lunner

Four-legged friends — and even those without any legs at all — barked, purred, bobbed and hissed their holiday wish lists to Santa last Saturday at Paws, Purrs and Exotics Animal Hospital on South Peyton Street in Old Town.

Alexandria’s newest and only African American-owned veterinary facility hosted the event for the Washington Humane Society who brought dogs and cats from their shelter in need of adoption. For a $15 donation, the Humane Society took photos of pets and their humans with Santa Paws.

Del Ray’s Barkley Square Bakery and Boutique provided complimentary treats for four-legged attendees. The celebration also featured free information and demonstrations from pet-related service providers that work closely with Paws, Purrs and Exotics.

Source: Alexandria Gazette Packet – December 16, 2009

What are the advantages of spaying in the female dog or cat?

• Prevention of “heat” or estrus
• When in “heat”, the female experiences an urge to escape in order to find a mate. This unwanted and dangerous behavior is eliminated.
• It eliminates the possibility of false pregnancy following the “heat cycle”
• Prevention of uterine infection known as pyometra
• The prevention of breast cancer. Dogs spayed before the first “heat” have less than 0.5% chance of developing breast cancer.
• Elimination of the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer

Is spaying performed for any other reason?
The operation may be performed for several medical conditions. These include: 

• Treatment of intractable false or phantom pregnancy
• Females with irregular or abnormal cycles due to ovarian cysts
• Spaying is also carried out on occasions to correct certain behavioral abnormalities
• Treatment of uterine infection (pyometra) or cancer
• Dystocia (difficult birthing) or post caesarean-section surgery

 What are the advantages of neutering my male dog or cat?

• Reduces the risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis (dog)
• Reduces the risk of hormone-related diseases such as perianal adenoma (dog)
• Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer (both)
• Removal of sexual urges, which usually decreases roaming behaviors (both)
• Reduction of certain types of aggression (dog)
• Reduces or eliminates spraying or urine marking behavior (both)

 Spaying or neutering doesn’t cause a change in personality, guarding instincts, intelligence, playfulness or affection.

When should the operation be performed?
Research reveals that spaying or neutering a pet at an early age does not cause any increased risk. Most veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering between four and six months of age.

Is there any alternative to surgery?
Not at the present time, although there are several promising advances being made in this area.                               

Are there any dangers associated with the operation?
Spaying and neutering are considered a major operation and requires general anesthesia. With modern anesthetics and monitoring equipment, the risk of a complication is very low. 

Are there any post-operative precautions I should take?
Rest and restriction of activity are the primary post-operative care you should provide. Most dogs can resume normal activity five to ten days after surgery. Until then, leash walks, no running or climbing stairs and lots of rest are the rule.

What are the disadvantages to spaying or neutering?
Most of the perceived disadvantages are false. The most quoted of these are that your pet will   become obese and lazy. Obesity is probably the most commonly quoted disadvantage of spaying and neutering. Obesity is the result of overfeeding and not exercising enough. By regulating your pet’s diet and caloric intake, you can prevent obesity in spayed or neutered pets.

This client information sheet is based on material written by Ernest Ward, DVM.
© Copyright 2005 Lifelearn Inc. Used with permission under license. November 30, 2009

If you have any more questions about spaying or neutering your pet or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Paws, Purrs & Exotics Animal Hospital at 703-549-7297.  We look forward to serving you.