Newsletter February
Valentines Day is around the corner so be aware and enjoy the holiday. We are enjoying having Dr. Marj helping us on Thursdays and Fridays. Gives the old man a chance to play some golf with the Mrs. and do a little fishing. It’s been great having the kids and their offspring around during the holidays. Gives the meaning of FAMILY. Getting lazy so I’ll give you a reprint of past comments. February is National Dental month. To encourage dental care, we are offering 15% discount for these procedures. Speaking of the mouth, this is one of the most neglected aspects of our pet’s health maintenance. As early as three months of age, the pet’s teeth should be examined. This is when the baby teeth begin to be replaced by the permanent teeth. Of primary concern are the 4 canines. If these are not lost at the appropriate time, the permanent k9’s may be displace to a abnormal position and create problems (food retention, abnormal upper and lower jaw closure etc.) Later in the pet’s life, a strange sewer odor may be detected (halitosis). This is trouble and may be caused by food retention or hair between the teeth. This is caused from chewing itself from allergies. Tarter, which encroaches on the gum line, will cause infection. This infection, gingivitis, progresses to periodontal disease, the tooth loosens and must be removed. Infected molar teeth can progress to the root base. The infected long molar tooth roots reach upward to the maxillae sinuses. Infection in this area ends up with a draining fistula requiring removing the offending tooth and draining the sinus. All of this infection (usually caused by bacteria) causes toxic exudates to form and can be absorbed into the blood stream. This is toxic to the liver and kidneys. Infection can locate on the heart valves resulting in disfigured heart valves and heart disease. All of this can be prevented with periodic teeth cleaning and mouth sanitation. A good procedure is to wrap a piece of gauze around your finger. Moisten the gauze with one of the common mouth disinfectants; scrub the gum line to remove food and to sanitize the gums. Performing this procedure twice weekly would help prevent mouth disease. Usually, I try to check the pets mouth each time it is presented for a physical and make recommendations for dental care. Because of storage limitations, we encourage our patients to call IRAH for their prescription food order prior to Monday. Delivery is on Tuesday or Thursday (depending on food) and it will be fresh off the truck. What happened to the nice quiet little village called Vero Beach we once had? We waved to everyone we passed because they were an acquaintance or a neighbor. On our way to the grocery store, we used caution when driving the car because the Jones family had children who played near the street and their pet (dog or cat) might dart in front of the car. IT AIN’T NO MORE. Every one in a hurry because it takes twice as long to go to the post office or grocery store. These people do not know of the Jones family and their pets and children. Outside pets were commonplace back in days bygone and might lead a normal life span. Now, an outside pet is almost guaranteed a rapid demise. Restrain our friends with a leash, maintain in the house, or a fenced area. It is imperative that animals have permanent identification (microchips etc.) to assure being returned to their owner when lost. When exercising pets on a lead, bear in mind that other pets may frequent common areas and the likelihood of contagious disease may be high. Current vaccinations are imperative. Little Joe the friendly Chihuahua may be tickled pink to see his 80-pound counterpart but the admiration may not be mutual. Test the water before jumping in. Our lifestyle has changed since the Johnson family moved to the quiet little village in 1962, but all things considered, it’s the best alternative I can think of. Enjoy Valentines Day.
E -mail User32960@aol.com—Web IRAHINC.com
|