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Dental Month Social Media Posts
Informative social media copy for Facebook to promote dental month services at LRAH.
Dental care is essential for all pets, but especially for senior pets! Dental disease can cause unnecessary pain for your dog or cat and have adverse effects on the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Many of our clients ask if their pet is too old for a dental cleaning. The answer is no! Healthy pets, even senior pets, handle anesthesia quite well. While it’s true that the possibility of organ malfunction increases with age and that senior pets can have systemic health concerns, we have a solution! Our veterinarians will formulate the perfect anesthetic protocol for your senior pet based on pre-operative testing such as bloodwork and urinalysis. For more information on dental cleanings, pre-operative testing, or dental exams, give us a call at (xxx)xxx-xxxx today!
How do you know if your pet has dental disease? There are some signs to watch out for, with bad breath being by far the easiest to notice! Pets with dental disease may also exhibit difficulty eating and sensitivity around the mouth. So if your dog or cat’s breath is getting in the way of having a good cuddle, give us a call to book a dental cleaning or exam!
Did you know that most dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease by the age of three? Of course, daily brushing can help prevent this, but a professional dental cleaning is also an integral part of your pet’s oral health care regime. In fact, around three years of age is the perfect time for your pet’s first dental cleaning. During January and February, we are excited to offer 10% off your pet’s dental procedure! Give us a call at (xxx)xxx-xxxx for estimates or to book an appointment.
How do I get my pet used to tooth brushing?
Start young! If you have a new puppy or kitten, now is the time to get them used to all sorts of things, including tooth brushing!
Start slow! First, you can try putting some pet-friendly toothpaste on the toothbrush and have your pet taste it (these come in all types of yummy flavours). Then, you can touch the toothbrush to your pet’s teeth. Once your pet is used to this, try brushing for short periods. It may take about a month or so for your pet to become comfortable with brushing, but don’t give up!
Provide positive reinforcement to make the brushing experience fun and rewarding! Before and after brushing your pet’s teeth, praise them and play with them. Over time, they will associate brushing with fun!
Lastly, remember to use pet-specific brushes and toothpaste! Human toothbrushes are too wide for your pet’s mouth and won’t fit comfortably. Human toothpaste contains chemicals that are not meant to be swallowed. It probably doesn’t taste too good to pets either!
If you’re still having trouble, don’t worry! We offer in-clinic toothbrushing services and are more than happy to provide toothbrushing demonstrations. If this sounds right for you and your pet, give us a call to book an appointment!
What if you can’t brush your pet’s teeth? What can you do to maintain their oral health?
Feed good quality pet food! Here at Linden Ridge Animal Hospital, we often recommend Hill’s t/d dental diet.
Look for diets, chews, and rinses approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). Their list of approved products for cats and dogs can be found here: http://www.vohc.org/all_accepted_products.html
Bring your pet in for regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Your veterinarian can help you figure out a schedule that works for you and your pet.
Give us a call at (xxx)xxx-xxxx to book your pet’s dental check-up or cleaning today!
Administering Subcutaneous Fluids
This is an instructional handout given to clients to guide them through the process of administering subcutaneous fluid therapy to their pets at home.
Subcutaneous Fluid Therapy
Today, we have recommended that your pet undergo at-home subcutaneous fluid therapy. Fluid therapy is a simple and effective treatment for pets with a variety of medical conditions. Typically, we recommend this treatment for patients with kidney disease or chronic renal failure (CKD) as these patients cannot concentrate their urine and conserve water.
The fluids are administered under the skin between the shoulder blades and absorb slowly over time. This extra fluid helps keep your pet hydrated and facilitates the removal of harmful toxins from the body to prevent uremia.
The goal of subcutaneous fluid therapy is to alleviate uremia symptoms, delay disease progression, and improve and prolong your pet’s comfort and quality of life.
Priming the Line
Remove the fluid bag and fluid drip set from its packaging.
Close the line lock by rolling the clamp down so that it pinches the tubing shut.
Remove the protective covering from the exit port of the fluid bag. This will expose a hole that will accept the pointed end of the drip set. Avoid contamination by not touching the port once it is open.
Remove the cap on the pointed end of the drip set and push it into the open hole of the fluid bag. Do not let the pointed end of the drip set touch anything before inserting it into the port. *Allow some air into the fluid bag so you can easily read the fluid volume.
Squeeze and release the chamber at the top of the drip set until about half full of fluid.
Place the end of the fluid line in the sink and open the line lock to allow fluid to flow through the line. Ensure all the air bubbles have flowed out of the line. Hold the injection port upside down and flick it to get the trapped air bubbles out.
Relock the roller clamp by rolling the lock downward.
Open the protective wrapping on the needle. Do not allow the needle to touch anything once opened.
Remove the protective cap on the end of the fluid line and push the needle on. Lock it into place by sliding the plastic piece up and screwing it over the hub of the needle.
Administering the Subcutaneous Fluids
Hang the fluid bag about 3 feet (1 meter) above the level of your pet’s head.
Pinch the skin between the shoulder blades (making a skin tent) and visualize where you want to place the needle.
Push the needle in firmly with one quick motion at a 45-degree angle. The needle bevel should be facing up.
Let go of the skin tent and unlock the roller lock, allowing the fluids to flow into the subcutaneous space. Take note of the current fluid volume in the bag and note what the volume will be when you are finished. For example, if the bag currently reads 500ml and you are administering 150ml of fluid, you will stop giving fluids when the volume in the bag reaches the 350ml line.
Make slight adjustments to the needle position as needed to allow the fluids to flow as quickly as possible.
When the fluid administration is complete, relock the roller lock and gently remove the needle. Pinch the skin as you remove the needle to prevent any leakage of fluid and help seal the injection site.
Senior Pet Newsletter
This informative senior pet newsletter was written in 2021 and is mailed out to clients with pets over nine years of age. The text is presented here without images.
Healthy at Any Age!
No matter the age, our hospital is dedicated to the health and well-being of your pet, and we recognize that medical care should be tailored to each patient to meet their specific needs. Now that your pet is over the age of nine, you may have new concerns regarding their nutritional requirements, veterinary health care, and activity level.
Pets nine years of age or older are at an increased risk of developing age-related conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or liver and kidney disease. You can use the chart below to find your pet’s equivalent “human” age—the results may surprise you!
In many instances, the changes senior pets undergo are subtle or undetectable without laboratory testing; our pets may continue their normal behaviours despite coping with an underlying illness. For this reason, we recommend a physical examination in addition to a senior wellness profile, which includes both blood and urine tests. This profile can provide a normal baseline for comparison to future test results or detect early signs of disease. This information is essential, as early detection and prompt treatment of illness can significantly prolong and positively impact your pet’s quality of life.
To book your pet’s wellness profile or obtain more information, please speak with a member of our veterinary team. We are here to help with all your pet’s health care needs!
Dental Month Newsletter
The following educational newsletter was written in 2018 and has subsequently been sent out to clients each year to promote oral health in companion animals. The text is presented here without images.
Dental Disease in Pets
We know it can be challenging to keep your pet’s teeth clean. As a result, dental health problems are prevalent among dogs and cats: research shows that 80% of pets have some sign of dental disease by two years of age.
Are you concerned that your pet may have oral health problems? Below is a list of symptoms of dental disease to look out for:
Bad breath
Sore mouth
Difficulty eating
Loose teeth or tooth loss
Pawing or rubbing at the mouth
Bleeding gums
Yellow or brown tartar on teeth
Dribbling
Taking care of your pet’s teeth will do more than freshen their breath—it will also improve their quality of life!
What is Dental Disease? What Causes It?
Plaque, a colourless film on your pet’s teeth, is the perpetrator of bad breath and gum disease. Since pets don’t brush their teeth as we do, this plaque can accumulate and harden on the teeth, forming tartar. The result of tartar buildup is uncomfortable swelling, redness, and inflammation of the gums—otherwise known as gingivitis. If not checked, your pet can develop periodontal disease, which destroys the gums and tissues that support the teeth. Persistent periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss and infection that can spread throughout the body if left untreated.
Luckily, dental disease is preventable and treatable in most pets. If you are concerned about your pet’s oral health or have noticed any of the above symptoms, ask us about scheduling a complete oral checkup and dental cleaning for your dog or cat at (xxx) xxx-xxxx.