…skilled service…compassionate care
“Love is a four-legged word.”
– Kandy Shepherd
My Pet’s Smile? The Best!
January was wellness month and your pet may have been in for a nose-to-tail, annual exam; semi-annual if your pet is a bit “long in the tooth”. At that time, the doctor assessed your pet’s visible dental health, and depending on your pet’s age and dental history, may have recommended an annual dental cleaning. Think of it as going to your dentist for a check-up and cleaning. February is that time!
Did you know that some form of periodontal disease in pets shows up in 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by the time they are three years old? Your pet may be telling you he has a tooth problem by certain behaviors or signs.
Signs and Symptoms of Dental Disease
- Redness of gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Discolored or broken teeth
- Mouth tenderness or bleeding
- Drooling or dropping food
- Loss of appetite or poor appetite
- Weight loss
As with humans, advanced periodontal disease may lead to increased instances of kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes. Diseased or damaged teeth also cause pain and may even reduce your pet’s lifespan. Remember, pets with dental disease / pain will still eat so they won’t appear weak to potential predators.
Check with our staff to schedule a dental cleaning and for guidance on how and when to brush your pet’s teeth, watch these fun and informative videos:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsNlLLSBWLU#action=share for dogs
and for cats, www.youtube.com/watch?v=d617Fzwydlk#action=share. Have fun.
USA / World Spay Day – February 23
The best thing you can do for a pet’s overall health and longevity is to have it spayed or neutered. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast and ovarian tumors which can be malignant or cancerous in 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Neutering prevents testicular cancer and some prostrate problems. It can also reduce negative behavioral issues.
Do your part to reduce the number of unwanted pets. The statistics are staggering. At least three million adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in the U.S. yearly because they are homeless, attributed directly to unplanned litters. Be kind to your pets and spay or neuter them. Talk to our staff to schedule your pet’s procedure and especially about any discounts which may apply If you purchased a Puppy or Kitten package for a new pet.
Gorillas at the San Diego Zoo test positive for COVID-19
The Associated Press recently reported that several gorillas at the San Diego Zoo tested positive for the coronavirus. Testing was done via feces samples from the group when they presented with coughing and congestion. It is believed that the infection came from a member of the care team who also tested positive for the virus. This is apparently the first known cases among such primates in the U.S. and maybe the world.
Veterinarians in charge of the cases report that the gorillas are doing well, present with some congestion and coughing. They are being treated with vitamins, fluid and food but no other specific treatment.
ROO’S NEWS!
by assistant editor, Roo, aka, Super Searcher With a Nose for News.
Here are a few interesting tidbits of news that I thought you’d enjoy.
Mental Telepathy No More!
A new digital gadget manufactured by Petfuls is on the horizon. It is an A.I. powered smart collar which claims to use voice recognition technology to detect and track five different emotional states of your dog by analyzing pitch and tone of the dog’s bark to tell you how your pet feels.
This water-resistant, re-chargeable device with a 15-foot range, is attached to the collar and pairs through Wi-Fi to “read” your dog’s feelings and can even measure your dog’s sleep. The cost averages about $100 and can operate between 8 – 10 hours on one charge.
I think I’ll tell my mom about this. If she gets it for me, I can tell her what the cats are feeling!
Super Searcher Strikes Again!
It’s not that I like to wag my own tail, but I want to brag about my mom. Together, she and I just passed the test to become a Certified Human Remains Detection Team for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. It was a tough test and I had to keep my mom from making any mistakes and tell her where the scent sources were. Needless to say, we did it! We make a great team. Atta girl, mom!
Attending a Miami Heat Basketball game just got easier! Ask the dog
The American Veterinary Medical Association, (AVMA), reports that the Miami Heat NBA basketball team has a plan to allow fans to return to the arena. All fans over the age of 2 must wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth – no bandanas, gaiters or masks with ventilators allowed. They must answer a health screening questionnaire, and be checked by a COVID-19 sniffing dog. Anyone not comfortable around dogs may opt for different testing, but that may take up to 45 minutes. If the dog, or other testing option, indicates the presence of COVID-19, that fan and members of their party will not be permitted to enter.
February is Valentine Month
I did my research and found some fun Valentine’s Day facts about pets. Did you know that:
- 32% of pet parents consider their pet their Valentine
- 65% of dog owners take more pictures of their dog than of their significant other
- Nearly 10 million pet owners buy Valentine’s gifts for their pets each year
