my care2
make a difference

community & fun

groups

get together & make a difference

 
 
 HEALTH INFORMATIONS May 17, 2005 9:45 AM

new index for animal health informations and help area for questions and group inpute for people that may need some assistance with health questions of animals, fostering pets, or companion pets, and general issues of health.

DO NOT PROMOTE OR ADVERTISE FOR FAVORITE ANIMAL FOODS ON THIS THREAD PLEASE.

 [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
smelly dog breath is a sign of something serious May 17, 2005 9:47 AM

BusinessWire
Man's Best Friend Shouldn't Have the World's Worst Breath; More Than Unpleasant, Smelly Dog Breath is a Sign of Something Serious
02.01.05, 5:58 PM ET

Smelly doggy breath isn't just unpleasant - it's a sign of something serious: gum disease. Striking 85 percent of dogs by age four, it's the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets. February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and veterinarians nationwide are hoping that dog owners will take the opportunity to start caring for their dogs' teeth.

"In dogs, an unhealthy mouth usually means an unhealthy body," says Jan Bellows, DVM and owner of Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Weston, Fla. "Plaque causes gum disease, leading to halitosis, a sore mouth, loss of teeth, or infections in the heart, liver and kidney. It can even shorten your dog's life span."

Bellows, one of 64 board-certified veterinary dentists in the country, explains owners should care for dogs' teeth as they do their own. Only 1 in 5 have ever attempted to brush their dog's teeth and only 2 percent brush with enough frequency to maintain proper oral health.

"Owners have good intentions but just aren't brushing," states Bellows. "They need an easy alternative."

At work and home, Bellows uses a new system from Merial, maker of FRONTLINE and HEARTGARD, called OraVet. After an in-clinic teeth cleaning, sealant is applied along the gums, creating an invisible barrier. The next step: cost-effective, at-home care. Owners apply an odorless and tasteless gel just once a week to the gum line. It's invisible once applied and compatible with brushing, dental diets and chews.

"OraVet, the first plaque prevention system, is clinically proven to significantly reduce the formation of plaque," says Zack Mills, DVM and executive director of Veterinary Services at Merial. "As a result, dogs' breath is less objectionable."

Bellows applies the gel on his four dogs while reading the Sunday newspaper. "It's quick and easy, and their fresh breath assures me they're healthy," he says.

For more information, contact your veterinarian or visit www.oravet.com.

E-mail |  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
obesity in dogs and cats May 17, 2005 10:25 PM

40-50% of dogs & 20% of cats seen by vets are overweight, with 25% of dogs & 5% of cats are excessively obese. overweight and obesity is caused by not choosing the right foods for the dog or cats activity levels. not all animals are active, and some animals are happy to lay around all day. the key is to know your dog or cat exercise and energy levels and then choose a food that is appropriate to that animals activity levels. obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in neutered male, indoor cats, between the ages of 6-11 years old.

some breeds of dogs of dogs are prone to weight problems, name just a few of these breeds, labrador retrievers, dachshunds and beagles.

dogs fed homemade meals, table scraps, & snacks have a greater tendency to be overweight than those on an exclusive diet of commercial pet food. althou in the past few years its been seen that even commercial foods are causing obesity in dogs especially due to the fat flavorings now used to make the food tasteful to the dogs, where they will  like the taste of foods and eat more of it.

diseases and conditions that are caused from obesity are:

hypothyroidism, diabetes, ruptured ligaments, dyspnea, fatique, impaired reporductive efficiency, skin allergies, lameness, and a few others. the point is that obesity can cause your pet to have serious and on-going health problems. shortened life and even temperment or personality changes in your pet.

know your pet, read the labels on foods, the less fat is need in the food product for animals prone to weight gain and obesity. learn what you can do to help your pets stay lean and healthy for a long, long life.

authored by kindle

 [ send green star]  [ accepted]

 
aging pets June 16, 2005 7:07 AM

Latest Pet Industry News Wed, 15 Jun 2005 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 10 June 2005 headlines >>
Ageing Pets Can Mean Increasing Costs
Huge medical advances in pet healthcare are producing
an ageing pet population which could ultimately lead
to an increase in medical and general care costs for
pet owners says pet insurer MORE TH>N. Research from
the UK pet insurance company found that over nine out
of ten vets (94%) say they can now treat more
illnesses than a decade ago.

Improvements in diagnostic and surgical techniques and
a wider variety of medicines available to vets, along
with greater awareness of pet health in the UK (45% of
vets say that owners are becoming more conscious about
the health of their pets) are all leading to an ageing
pet population.

New diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound and MRI for
pets, have enabled vets to make more accurate and
often earlier diagnosis of life threatening diseases
such as cancer, arthritis, kidney & heart failure. For
example, one in three dogs today will develop a tumour
(many cancerous) but the majority can be cured,
especially if caught early. As a result, the human
phenomenon of medical advances that may have been
regarded as unimaginable a few years ago is now
mirrored in the pet world.

However, just as with humans, an ageing population
needs more care with old age pets likely to become
more vulnerable to ailments such as arthritis, which
costs roughly £500 a year to treat, as well as heart
problems (£911), diabetes (£544) and respiratory
problems (£728). Improved pet longevity comes at a
price for the pet owners.

Sophie de Pelet, Veterinary Advisor for MORE TH>N,
said:

"Vets have access to better equipment, medicine and
diagnostic tools today which is helping us treat a
wider range of illnesses, for example, chemotherapy
can now prolong the life of animals with cancer. This
trend is set to continue, resulting in many cats and
dogs in the UK living much longer than the average
lifespan expected a few years ago."

Just over a quarter of pets have suffered from stress
or depression according to the survey. Over half of
the pet owners surveyed by MORE TH>N said they would
consider alternative treatments such as physiotherapy,
homeopathy, acupuncture, laser and hydrotherapy if it
was offered by their vet.

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley
 

 [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
  New Topic              Back To Topics Read Code of Conduct

 

This group:
Muttshack Foster Care
149 Members

View All Topics
New Topic

Track Topic
Mail Preferences


Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved