Hazards of the Dog Park

The dog park is a great place for your dog to play with others and meet new friends. But there are also certain hazards to keep in mind before letting your dog play at the dog park. Whether you are taking your dog to the park for the first time, or you’ve done it for a while, knowing what negative things can possibly happen can save both you and your dog from a variety of costly and hazardous problems.

Infectious Diseases

Since so many dogs are at the dog park at a given time, as well as before your dog is there, illnesses like kennel cough and canine influenza can be easily spread.

Canine Influenza (‘Dog flu’) is another hazard that can be transmitted from the communal water bowls at the dog park. It is wise to bring a collapsible water bowl with you, as well as your dog’s own toys. It is unrealistic to think that, even though you have brought your own water bowl and toys, that your dog will not come into contact with public items. Vaccinating your dog for the flu virus is another important precaution to take in the case that your dog does use another dog’s toys or drinks from a communal bowl.

Another important precaution to take is cleaning up after your dog. Intestinal parasites from people not picking up after their dogs is a widespread problem at dog parks. Your dog can step in another dog’s feces and when they lick their paw to clean it off, they pick up parasites like giardia, roundworm and hookworm soon after.

Heat Stroke
If your dog is playing on a hot, humid day, watch to make sure they don’t contract heat stroke. Dogs don’t have many sweat glands, so they cool themselves through evaporation off their tongue and mouth (panting), as well as evaporation off their foot pads. If it is hot and humid, they won’t be able to cool themselves as effectively, which can be a problem if they are having fun and don’t have the sense to stop. The best solution is to always have cool water and try to find a shady spot for your dog to rest when needed.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are easily spread by dogs playing together. But many effective flea and tick medications are available to protect your pet from these parasites. When you are leaving the dog park, do a tick check to make sure your dog doesn’t have any of the pesky parasites on them.

*Folsom Veterinary Hospital recommends occasional fecal tests to check for parasites in your pet. Frontline and Nexgard products for flea and tick prevention are also recommended.*

The Miracle of Laser Treatment

Laser therapy comes in two types: ‘cold’ and ‘hot’. Cold laser therapy is non-invasive and uses light to stimulate cell regeneration and increase blood circulation. Hot laser treatment is more invasive, coming with the risk of cutting or burning by the increased laser beam intensity. The main difference between cold and hot laser therapy is that cold laser treats the skin’s surface, while hot laser treatments affect deeper tissue.

Though a relatively new concept, laser therapy has been used to treat dogs with arthritis, tendon and soft tissue injuries and promotion of wound healing. It can treat acute and chronic injuries, arthritis, back problems and muscular-skeletal abnormalities. It is even used to regenerate nerve tissue after surgery.

Lasers are, essentially, a beam of light that travels at a certain frequency, allowing the laser to create heat and penetrate tissue. Cold lasers can be programmed for a range of different frequencies for treating different problems in dogs.

What Can Laser Therapy Do For My Dog?
Owners have reported seeing their dog move and play better after receiving laser therapy treatment. When mobility is improved, that means joint medications can be reduced. The best part is that laser therapy has no side effects and the laser won’t burn your dog’s skin. Laser therapy is relaxing for the dog, so there is no need for sedation. The dog’s hair does not need to be shaved or clipped, either.

How Do I Know If My Veterinarian Has Laser Therapy Equipment?

Not all veterinary hospitals have laser therapy equipment because it is very expensive. But the fact that laser therapy is becoming increasingly popular means that equipment will become more affordable and, therefore, more widely available. Ask your veterinarian if their practice has laser therapy.

What Can My Dog Expect When Undergoing Laser Therapy?

Being that there is no pain or sense of invasion from laser therapy, the dog will quickly realize that there is nothing to be afraid of. Certain lasers, such as the Erchonia laser, even has a beam that can shine on the brain, releasing endorphins that stimulate a sense of well-being in your dog. Your dog will associate that feeling of something good with the laser treatment and will not only like the treatment they just went through, but future treatments.

A laser want is applied to the area on your dog that needs to be treated. Depending on the size and severity of the area and the delivered energy of the laser, a typical treatment session will last between 10 and 20 minutes.

Before treatment, a dog will be given a full physical exam, including x-rays (if needed).

How Often Should I Take My Dog For Laser Treatment?

The frequency in which you take your dog for laser treatments varies. If your dog has arthritis, you can expect to start with two to three laser treatments a week, followed by decreased sessions to once weekly, then once every two weeks, etc. This frequency is based on the animal’s response to the treatment as a whole. If a dog has severe arthritis, then more sessions are required and vice versa.

How Much Does Laser Therapy Cost Me?

A therapy session can range from $25.00 to $45.00, though different veterinary practices have different prices. Many veterinary practices offer multiple treatments in bundle visits for cost-effectiveness.

The Importance of Dental Health In Your Pet

‘Dog breath’. It is a smell that cannot be replicated. Roughly 85% of all pets have periodontal disease by the time they are three years old. Dental issues can cause bad breath, pain while chewing and eventual tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a progressive disease of the tissue surrounding teeth and it is the main cause of early tooth loss.

How Does It Start?

It starts when food particles cause bacteria to form plaque in the teeth. Within a matter of days, saliva minerals bond with the plaque, forming the hard substance that sticks to the teeth known as tartar. From there, the bacteria get under the gums and cause inflammation of the gums, or gingivitis. Bacteria destroy the supporting tissues around the tooth once under the gums, leading to tooth loss, known as periodontitis. This, along with gingivitis, make up the changes of periodontal disease. The bacteria associated with PD can also go into the bloodstream, infecting the heart, kidneys and liver.

What To Do/Prevention

Professional veterinary dental cleanings are the only way to remove tartar from the teeth and under gums, protecting your pet’s health. With subsequent dental cleanings and check-ups, gingivitis can be reversible. Periodontal disease is not reversible, however, but diligent dental care, both at home and at the veterinary clinic, can slow down the condition’s progression.

What Dental Cleanings Are

A dental cleaning, or a ‘prophylaxis’, removes plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth, followed by the assessment of the entire mouth (tongue, gums, lips and teeth), as well as adjustment, filing, extraction or repair of the teeth.

General anesthesia is used to give your pet a thorough cleaning, keeping them free of pain during the procedure, allowing your veterinarian to fully inspect your pet’s teeth and remove tartar from under their gums. It is not recommended for your pet to have a dental exam without anesthesia, Anesthesia-free cleanings do not allow cleaning or inspection below the gum line, where most dental disease occurs.

Dental cleanings include:

• the removal of visible plaque and tartar from the teeth and under the gums. 
• probing of the dental sockets to determine dental disease. 
• Polishing and smoothening the enamel abrasions that can harbor bacteria. 
• Dental X-rays for evaluating problems below the gum line, such as jaw problems. 
• Pet-safe Fluoride application. 
• Removal of infected teeth. 
• Dental charting of disease progression for monitoring purposes over time. 
• Inspection of the entire mouth for growths, wounds, or other problems. 

How To Know When Your Pet Needs A Cleaning

Besides the obvious bad breath, regular inspection of your pet’s mouth is important to catch dental disease before it escalates to irreversible severity. Tartar can appear on teeth close to the gum line as a brown-gold buildup. Redness and bleeding around the gums are obvious indicators of gingivitis. Drooling, discolored teeth, abnormal or difficult chewing and loose/missing teeth are all signs of dental disease and if you notice any of them, schedule a dental cleaning with your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

The Benefits of Dental Cleaning

Professional dental cleanings remove both visible plaque and tartar on the tooth surfaces and bacteria under the gums, eliminating potential infection sources in the mouth and other organs. Cleanings also protect your pet from mouth pain and tooth loss.

Keeping Your Pet’s Teeth Clean At Home

Daily brushing can help with removing food particles between your pet’s teeth. Being that human toothbrushes can be a little too abrasive for your pet’s mouth, a specially designed pet toothbrush is the better option. Most come as a glove that you wear on your index finger. Human toothpastes should definitely be avoided because of their ingredients that shouldn’t be swallowed by your pet. Pet toothpastes, with flavors such as chicken or seafood, are the better option and can be swallowed.

*Folsom Veterinary Hospital has dental specials two times yearly at 20% off. The special’s benefits include anesthetic, cleaning, monitoring after anesthesia and pet-friendly fluoride treatment. It DOES NOT include extractions, pain medications, or antibiotics (both in-house and take-home).*