Troutdale Veterinarian Provides Tips for Home Pet Dental Care

The American Veterinary Dental Society statistics show that about 85% of adult cats and dogs struggle with periodontal disease. Did you also know that dental problems in pets can lead to problems in the heart, liver and kidneys? Bad breath is actually an advanced sign that your pet may have dental problems. Call our veterinarian for experienced Troutdale pet dental care, and look at the five tips below for ways you can provide good dental hygiene for your pet at home.

Five Ways to Make Your Pet Smile

1. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth. If you have never done this before, come in to our veterinary hospital for a tutorial. It may take your pet a few days to get used to the idea, but the long-term health benefits are worth the effort. Overall, make sure to use a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically designed for pets. Human toothpaste can sicken your pet, but pet toothpaste comes in flavors your pet will enjoy.

2. Watch What They Eat. Opt for dry pet food over wet, and avoid offering table scraps, as these can get lodged in between your pet’s teeth. There are also many pet treats on the market that are formulated to help with teeth cleaning. Choose one your pet likes and dole them out a couple of times a day for good behavior.

3. Provide Healthy Toys. Many toys are available on the market today that improve pet dental health. Look for these toys in your local pet store or ask our staff for some recommendations.

4. Try a Water Additive. Some pets may benefit from a drinking water additive that neutralizes harmful bacteria in the mouth to reduce tooth decay. Please ask us about these first, and make sure to follow the dosage instructions carefully. Also be sure to give your pet fresh, clean water every day.

5. Come in for a Dental Exam. Regular dental checkups should be an integral part of every pet’s wellness program. We use high-tech ultrasonic cleaning techniques to remove plaque buildup, and then polish your pets teeth to give bacteria less of a chance to take hold in the future.

Do you have any other dental hygiene tips for fellow pet lovers?

Watch Out for These 5 Common Pet Hazards

It is every pet owner’s worst nightmare: a trip to the emergency vet for urgent care. Unfortunately, many everyday products are actually common pet hazards. When ingested or eaten, some of these hazards can even require emergency cat and dog surgery to prevent fatal complications.

Veterinarian Warns Pet Owners About Common Household Dangers

From the kitchen to the bathroom, Gresham and Troutdale pet owners should watch out for these five common dangers:

1. Chocolate and sugar-free candies. Chocolate is no sweet treat for dogs! While many pet owners realize that chocolate can be harmful, young children often do not realize just how dangerous it is to leave out chocolate candy. Sugar-free candies that contain xylitol are also poisonous. Always keep any chocolate products, including cocoa powder, secured in the pantry and out of reach from your curious dog. Talk to your children about the dangerous of chocolate poisoning, and remind them not to hide candies in their room.

2. Electrical wires. Playful puppies love to chew their way through just about everything, including electrical cords. Avoid electrocution from dangling wires by using cord covers.

3. Prescription medications. Even over-the-counter drugs like Advil or your daily vitamin can be fatal if ingested. Keep medication sealed in its container and secured inside a medicine cabinet or drawer. Never leave pill bottles on the counter—it is too tempting for dogs to reach up and grab them as a chew toy.

4. Toothpaste. Many of us leave our toothpaste and toothbrush out on the bathroom counter. Unfortunately, doing so is a risky move—toothpaste can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats. Bath soaps and sunscreen are also harmful if ingested. Keep your bathroom counters clear and unless there’s a reason that your pet needs access to the bathroom, keep the door closed at all times.

5. Antifreeze. Here in Oregon, many of us have a bottle or two of antifreeze in the family garage. Antifreeze may taste sweet to pets, but the ingredient ethylene glycol is poisonous. Also watch out for any antifreeze leaks from your car onto the garage floor.

Our Gresham and Troutdale veterinarian is committed to keep your pet safe and healthy for life. If you suspect that your pet has ingested something poisonous, call our veterinary hospital immediately. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, foamy salivation, difficulty breathing and paralysis.

What steps do you take to pet proof your home?

Our Wellness Program for Pets in Troutdale and Gresham

It hurts our hearts when a beloved pet is sick or in pain. And while not every illness or injury can be avoided, our Troutdale veterinarian is determined to help prevent as many illnesses in our companion animals as humanly possible. This is why we encourage our patients’ families, both here and around Gresham, to join our pet wellness program. With regular checkups, periodic lab tests, scheduled vaccinations and exercise and nutrition counseling, we can help the animals in our care live longer, healthier lives together with their families.

The Importance of Wellness in Veterinary Medicine

We believe that prevention is preferable to just waiting until a health problem arises. So our preventative veterinary care starts from puppy or kitten-hood and goes right on through a pet’s golden years. We make sure the little ones get the immunizations they need, when they need them, as well as several lab tests to check for common problems so that we can catch them before they become advanced and more difficult to treat. We also recommend having young pets spayed or neutered when they are old enough, which prevents overpopulation and can help ward off many behavioral and health problems down the road.

We also promote pet dental care. Here in the office, we provide periodic ultrasonic cleanings and scaling to remove plaque, and we also show pet owners how to care for their pets’ oral health at home. Just like humans, proper dental hygiene for pets can ward off tooth decay and infection as well as halitosis.

As pets age, we check them every six months so we can monitor them for the development of cancer, heart disease, obesity, arthritis and other common age-onset problems. Early diagnosis helps us help pets recover and thrive longer. We know every day with our special family members is precious, so we do all we can to make those days healthy and happy for you and your pets!

What are you and your pets planning to do together this spring?

Exotic pets make wonderful animal companions. But did you know that exotic pets often require a higher level of specialty care than dogs and cats? Not all animal hospitals offer exotic veterinary care, and here at Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center, we are excited to provide this elevated level of service to our Troutdale and Gresham pet owners. From iguanas and geckos to snakes and water dragons, our Troutdale exotic vet is committed to keeping your pet healthy.

Exotic Veterinary Care Starts with a Wellness Exam

When you adopt your exotic pet, we encourage you to bring it in immediately for a wellness exam. We will perform a fecal sample analysis to ensure your pet is free from parasites and worms. Common exotic pet health problems can include malnutrition, metabolic bone disease, tail trauma, kidney failure, and parasites. Routine wellness care and proper nutrition is essential to preventing these health problems.

Keeping your pet healthy starts with the right diet. Exotic pets have a wide variety of specific dietary requirements, many of which can be difficult to meet through regular, commercial diets. For example, some reptiles require fresh greens for daily “salads,” while other reptiles need pre-killed or live prey. Our veterinarian can help you source your food commercially or locally to ensure that your exotic pet receives a healthy, balanced diet.

Our veterinarian can also assist you by providing information about exotic pet housing. Reptiles require special living conditions that vary based on the type of pet. For example, iguanas live in areas with high humidity and enjoy basking in the sun. Owners will need to provide adequate heat and humidity. Geckos like to hide and keep to themselves. A tank with artificial plants and rocks will give geckos space to hide, and a hide box can also create a safe place for geckos to shed their skin. Misting the tank can also help maintain humidity levels.

Our veterinarian provides pre-ownership counseling and is happy to answer any questions you may have about housing, nutrition, and wellness care.

Do you currently own exotic pets? Are you thinking about becoming an exotic pet owner?

Our Troudale Veterinarian Recommends Vaccinations for Prevention

Each veterinarian at Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center would like to remind our readers to keep their pets’ vaccines updated. It is important to keep your beloved pets safe when they encounter other animals that may be carrying dangerous diseases. Many common diseases within the Troutdale and Gresham animal population are easily spread. One way to stop this rapid transmission of disease is by ensuring that your dog or cat receives protective vaccination yearly at our animal clinic.

We typically recommend that dogs receive the DHPP vaccine, and for certain dogs a bordetella vaccine and/or leptospirosis vaccine. The DHPP vaccine prevents distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus. The bordetella vaccine protects your dog from kennel cough, which can be easily spread in areas with other dogs, like boarding kennels or dog parks. Immunization against leptospirosis is usually only necessary if your dog lives or frequents rural or wild environments that increase his or her risk of contracting this dangerous disease.

There are also several vaccines that are necessary to help protect your cat from common diseases. The FVRCP vaccine can give your cat immunity against several dangerous viruses, including feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. Kittens should also be checked for feline leukemia. Kittens that do not have this virus can be protected with a vaccine available at our emergency vet clinic.

It is also important that dogs and cats both receive the rabies vaccination, which is required by law in the state of Oregon.

Convenient and Affordable Vaccinations at Our Veterinary Hospital

At our clinic, we work hard to keep as many pets as possible in Troutdale and Gresham safe from the dangerous illnesses that can spread freely within our local animal population. Each veterinarian at our clinic can evaluate your pet's individual risks and recommend an appropriate vaccination schedule. If you have questions or concerns about the Troutdale vaccinations offered at our veterinary hospital, please feel free to contact us.

We would love to hear about your experiences with pet vaccination at our clinic. Why do you vaccinate your pet each year?