Dog Health

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Canine PT

Animal Neurology and Imaging Center, 5 Camino Karsten, Algodones, 431-0555 Paws-Abilities now using water therapy
Theresa Barton, PT, CCRP
tgbartonpt@aol.com, 328-3204

Canine Massage

Argeres Animal Alternatives
Dr. Argeres works in her office or your home Steve Hallack, In-home massage, MA, LMT, Certified Canine Massage Therapist
332-3211

Seasonal Tips

Health How-Tos

Brush Your Dog's Teeth

• When first introducing toothbrushing to your dogs, don't rush the process or they may become resistant
• Always give a treat at the end of the session to make it enjoyable
• If your dog shows any sign of agression, such as growing or biting, stop and contact your vet for more information
• NEVER use human toothpaste, it could harm your dog
• Giving your dogs Milkbones does not take the place of regular brushing. Milkbones are not effective for cleaning teeth.
• Chew toys can help remove plaque and tartar above the gumline, but DO NOT give hard chew toys, such as hooves or bones. These can break your dog's teeth.
• Oral rinses and gels have antibacterial properties and promote the health of your dog's gums.

For more information, watch this video on how and why to brush your dog's teeth: VetVid's How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth.

How to Trim Your Dog's Nails

PetMD has a good guide on how to trim your dog's nails, with close-up photos of the nail and the quick, so you know just what to do.

How to Clean Your Dog's Ears

The best way to prevent ear infections in your dogs, is to know how to clean their ears. Petguide has put together a thorough guide on the six ways to properly clean your dog's ears, which breeds need more cleaning, and other helpful tips.

De-Skunk Your Dog

Summarized from the excellent article on Dogtopia

• keep your dog outside
• check for injuries, like irritated eyes or scratches
• soak up the spray ASAP, by patting, not wiping, with rubber gloves and paper towels
• de-skunk your dog with their easy recipe
• give your dog extra love & affection after this stressful ordeal

Remove Ticks

To safely remove a tick:

• place fine-pointed tweezers around the tick's mouth where it's connected to your dog's skin
• gently pull up until the tick detaches
• disinfect the bite site and tweezers and wash your hands thoroughly (never use your bare hands to remove a tick)
• place the tick in a small container, labeled with the date, name and type of your pet, and contact your vet to see if the tick needs to be tested

Don't:

• crush, puncture, or squeeze the tick
• don't try to burn the tick with a match, lit cigarette, or hot nail
• don't throw away or toss down the toilet, neither of which kills the tick

For more detailed instructions, go to ASPCA's article on tick removal.

Remove Bee Stings

Although bees are vital insects and rarely sting, sometimes they do. The treatment of a bee sting is somewhat similar to tick removal, but slightly different. Check out Vetco's How to Remove a Bee Sting for more information. Remember that dogs can experience anaphylactic shock to bee stings so monitor your dog carefully!

Animal Blood Bank Hotline, 800-243-5759