Pet Health

Via Vetstreet

February is Dental Health Month, which means it's time to lavish some attention on your pet's teeth. It's important to take proper care of canine and feline teeth, because if left untreated, plaque and tartar buildup can progress to painful periodontal disease. The bacteria from periodontal disease can spread to other organs and cause illnesses. More than 85 percent of cats and dogs over four years old are affected by periodontal disease - you don't want your four-legged companion to become part of that alarming statistic.

Here are five steps to help your pet's teeth and gums remain healthy:

1. Beware of Bad Breath
If a musky scent is coming from Fluffy's mouth, don't ignore it. This could be a warning sign that she has periodontal disease or another oral disease such as stomatitis, a common feline condition that causes painful inflammation of the gums and mouth tissues.

SEE ALSO: Warning Signs Your Pet Has Gum & Teeth Issues

Other dental-health warning signs include bleeding gums, yellow or brown teeth, pawing at the mouth, and loose or missing teeth.

Just like the demise of the sole family medical doctor, small veterinary practices are disappearing. Vets are expanding their practices with new facilities, state-of-the-art technology, additional vets, and larger staffs. But despite the many improvements, a human touch may be lost in shuffle. Bigger is not always better.

If you notice that your vet's level of service isn't the same as it used to be, it might be time to change vets. Here are some warning signs to consider if you and your pet find yourselves in this situation:

- Is there a long wait and/or increased fee to see your vet?

- Does the staff lack a personal touch? Do they treat your concerns properly by returning your calls and relaying telephone messages correctly? Do they become confused as to you and your pet's identities?

- Are there new charges for things like calls to have blood test results explained, or asking your vet a question if you're there for a routine service that doesn't require his or her presence?

By Dr. Marty Becker, via Vetstreet

Winter and summer both present challenges to keeping pets safe and comfortable, but winter is actually easier to prepare for since it's more about preventing exposure and less about the summer problem of preventing accidents. With one major exception: In cold weather, you always need to be aware of the possibility that a chilly cat could be cuddled against the warm engine of a recently parked car or in the dryer on a pile of warm clothes. Always check your dryer before using it, and thump the hood of your car before starting it to send any sleeping cat on his way.

With very few exceptions, my snow country neighbors would never intentionally cause a pet to suffer in the winter or any other time. But sometimes people just don't have enough information or are just "doing it the way it has always been done." Education is always a big part of a doctor's job, and I pride myself on doing the best I can to offer good advice in a nonjudgmental way that encourages questions and discussion.

SEE ALSO: Why "Outdoor Dogs" Are Miserable

Your pet will weather winter better if he's healthy, so check in with your vet to be sure. Otherwise, here are my winter weather tips for your pets.

Gimme Shelter and Warmth
In my lifetime, many dog and cats have gone from the barnyard to the backyard to the bedroom. I still remember as a boy the day when my dad first allowed our farm dog to sleep in the kitchen during a blizzard. Now I fight for space on my own bed with our pets.

By Dr. Marty Becker, via Vetstreet

Want to make your pet's trip to the veterinarian easier on you, your pet and the entire staff of the veterinary hospital? My advice for you is simple: Relax.

Though there are a lot of other things you can do, I find that a change of attitude can have the most dramatic effect. If that surprises you, it shouldn't. Our pets are incredibly attuned to our moods, and if you're acting as if a veterinary visit is a bad thing, your dog or cat is more likely to feel that way, too. A cheerful, optimistic outlook is contagious, not only by animals but also by the folks at the veterinary hospital. Of all the things that can be spread at a medical facility, a positive outlook is the one I hope goes viral. It just makes things so much easier for everyone.

SEE ALSO: 7 Things You Do That Drive Your Veterinarian Nuts

Adopting a more relaxed attitude may be the easiest thing you can do, but it's not the only strategy to help get your pet through a veterinary visit with minimal anxiety. Here are more techniques.

Car Tripping
For many pets, especially cats, car trips seem to end poorly (in the pet's opinion). If the only time you got in a car you were going to get a shot or have a stranger poke a thermometer somewhere you'd rather he didn't, you'd have a bad attitude about travel, too. Mix it up. Take your pet for rides he'll enjoy. For dogs, head for a place to hike or to a store where pets are welcome. Though your cat likely won't enjoy visiting, just getting out for a ride with treats and praise can help make him less nervous about future journeys.

By Dr. Patty Khuly, via Vetstreet

Although I keep hoping that its time will come, the Internet hasn't done much to dispel some erroneous thinking on the subject of pet healthcare.

If anything, the Web is fueled by the kind of rumor mill sensibility that leads to even more misinformation on the subject of pet health and pet care. Case in point: the widespread willingness to believe that someone actually microwaved a pet to dry it off.

SEE ALSO: 5 Dog Myths That May Be All Wrong

To that end, here's my list of urban myths that drive me crazy!

1. A Cold, Wet, Dry or Warm Nose Tells Us Something
Although some pets' noses might be capable of offering us some useful information, most of them do not - which is why veterinarians do not rely on this information at all when taking stock of a pet's history and physical exam.


2. "Happy Pet" Behavior
People have a thing about assuming that pets are really happy when they exhibit certain behaviors, which can lead to all kinds of poor decision-making. A tail wag doesn't always mean that a dog is pleased to see you. A stiff tail wag, in fact, is a sure sign that you should watch your step.

A purring cat is not always a content cat. If that were the case, my right arm wouldn't be as scratched up as it is at the moment. After the owner of a new patient swore that her cat was a "purring angel," I reached to pet her and got a sharp set of claws in response to my advance. She was purring though.