Archive for category: Pet Care

Why is it Important to Remove Fleas As Soon As Possible?

 To ensure the health and wellbeing of your pet, it’s important to eradicate fleas as soon as you spot them. Not only do fleas cause a lot of discomfort for your pet, but they can also lead to a wide range of other medical issues:

• Flea larvae often become infected with tapeworm eggs. This means that your pet has a high chance of contracting worms if they eat an infected flea. As a rule, if your pet has fleas you should also treat them for worms. (Products available on our website here)
• Some animals suffer from Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). This means that they are hypersensitive to flea saliva and may suffer from an allergic reaction. It is important to note that only the animals that suffer from FAD will scratch themselves. If your pet is not scratching, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t any fleas!
• Flea bites can lead to infected sores.
• A cat or dog can lose a lot of blood as a result of a severe flea infestation. This can cause very young, old or weak animals to develop Anaemia (i.e. a low red blood cell count). This is a life-threatening condition and must be treated immediately.If you have any questions or queries please contact our in-house vets at McLaughlins!

Symptoms of Fleas

Clinical signs of flea infestation can result in direct or indirect signs. Direct signs are attributable directly to the presence of the flea while indirect results are from agents carried by fleas – the so-called Flea borne diseases.

If your pet is allergic to fleas, then you may spot the following symptoms:

• Scratching, Licking, or biting at the skin
• Areas of hair loss, bald or sore patches
• Spots or scabs
• Pale Gums
• Redness and irritation
• Thickened skin in areas
• Small bumps around the body or neck area
• You may also notice some insect bites on yourself that you cannot account for

Many pets may not show any of the typical symptoms, so it is important to stay vigilant and regularly check for fleas.

How to Check if Your Pet has Fleas

Your cat or dog looks to be in some discomfort and is constantly scratching or biting their fur.  Is it a skin infection or could it be fleas feeding? But what do fleas look like? Before you take your pet to the vet there are a couple of ways to check if you have fleas in the home:

• Can you see fleas crawling on your pet’s coat? They are normally reddy-brown and about 2mm long.
• Check the hind-quarters of your dog or the head and neck of your cat. These are the areas that are targeted and where you might see signs of flea activity.
• Carefully look at your pet’s skin for fine black droppings. This is ‘flea dirt’ or adult flea faeces and looks like ground black pepper. A good way to spot it is to use a flea comb over a sheet of white paper, which makes it easier to see the small black specks.
• Another sign of a problem is flea dirt on pet bedding, carpets or rugs.

Your vet will examine your pet for fleas during their annual check-up. However, you should also make a habit of checking for yourself on a regular basis. In some cases, you won’t have to get in close to see the fleas. If you see small browny-black insects scurrying about, then you can be pretty sure that your pet has fleas. Most of the time, however, you will need to do a closer inspection.

Check out the flea section of our website here!

How to Clean a Dog’s Teeth

Dogs don’t just use their teeth to chew their food they use them to lift and move objects but also most importantly to play! Regular dental care is a must for your canine friend because they use their teeth as much as we use our hands!

Studies show that around four out of five dogs showed pathological changes in their gums after more than three years! Therefore, a vast number of older dogs have severe gum problems!

Check out our previous posts on:

• 5 facts about Dogs Teeth.
• When to see a Vet Dentist.
• Signs of poor dental hygiene in Dogs.

1. Visit the Vet:
   

   Your vet will examine and clean your dog’s teeth as part of their annual check-up. If they notice any issues or anything untoward, they can advise on prevention and/or treatment.
   Attending these appointments regularly can help to prevent serious dental issues down the road that can be costly to treat. Your vet is the best source of information on how to clean a dog’s teeth. Get your pet’s dental care on the right track and book an appointment with McLaughlins’ vets today.

2. Feed Them The Right Diet:
   

   Dry dog food has a mild cleaning effect on the teeth. You can also purchase special dog food that has been specifically designed to prevent gum disease by reducing the build-up of plaque and tarter.
   Here at McLaughlin’s, we offer Calibra dental care diet food, the shape of the nut has a cleaning effect for everyday mechanical tooth cleaning and helps reduce bad mouth odor and helps remove dental plaque, and helps with gingivitis.

3. Toothpaste
   

   Another way to fend off dental disease is to apply toothpaste to your dog’s teeth. These kinds of toothpaste are specially formulated for dogs and come in a wide variety of flavours. We recommend trying out different flavours to see what your pup likes best.

   Never use human toothpaste as this contains ingredients that are highly toxic to dogs such as xylitol and fluoride.

   Ideally, you want to start using toothpaste on your dog from a young age so they get used to it. Always give your pet plenty of reassurance to keep them calm. To start, hide a small amount of toothpaste in your dog’s food to familiarise them with the taste. After a couple of days, squeeze a small amount on your finger and encourage them to lick it off. After a few days of doing this, put the toothpaste on your finger and gently apply it to their teeth and gums. Remove your hand from their mouth immediately if they show signs of discomfort. Once you think your dog is ready, move on to using a toothbrush.

4. Toothbrush:
   

   Cleaning teeth regularly with a dog toothbrush to remove large pieces of food, you can purchase special dog toothpaste to help with bad breath and make the task easier for you! (Rewarding your doggo after brushing is said to make them get used to brushing in time)

   You can purchase special brushes that are specifically designed for use on dogs. These tend to feature angled handles, soft bristles, and even multiple heads. However, with some dogs, a regular human brush will do the job just as well. We recommend asking your vet for advice on the best kind of brush to use.
   Again, it’s easiest to start brushing from a young age. However, it is possible to get an older dog used to the sensation of brushing with plenty of reassurance and patience. To start, apply a very small amount of toothpaste to the brush. Then gently brush their teeth in a massage-like motion. Once you are satisfied that your dog is used to brushing, you should aim to do this daily or at least a few times a week.

5. Dental Chew Toys
   

   Specially-designed dental chew toys aid oral health in several ways:

• They encourage your Doggo to chew. This action triggers the production of extra saliva that rinses away any food and bacteria in the mouth.
• This saliva also fights certain acids produced by plaque.
• The action of chewing itself scrapes away any plaque and tartar on the teeth.Dental chews can reduce the number of oral bacteria in dogs by 60-70%. However, even the best chew toy will not match the efficacy of regular brushing.

If you don’t know where to start you can get your dog checked by the vet and can get cleaning, scale, and polish done.

Signs of Poor Dental Hygiene in Dogs

Yellow and brown tartar deposits on the gum line: A build-up of hardened dental plaque. This mineral deposit might, but may not always, be yellow, orange, or brown. Typically, you will see it along the gum line or on the insides of your dog’s teeth.

Swollen and bleeding gums: This is another sign that bacteria have reached and infected your dog’s gums. If you notice this, contact your vet immediately and schedule an appointment.

Deposits build up on the teeth:  This is common on the surface of your dog’s teeth, and though not a direct signal of periodontal disease, bacterial spread and tissue damage (including bone loss) is associated with the presence of heavy plaque deposits. Your vet can do a thorough cleaning to remove the plaques, as well as cleaning under the gum line to remove any bacterial colonies there.

Pain: Gum inflammation or gingivitis in dogs is due to plaque or tartar this is very painful for dogs. Inflammations like this can spread widely amongst the gums, causing them to become detached and damaging the periodontium.

Chewing problems with poor dental care in dogs: If your dog has a toothache, this can have an impact on their eating habits. they may not want to eat at all or may chew their food more cautiously on the opposite side of their mouth.

Bad breath: Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) form by bacteria in plaque or tartar breaking down leftover food. They are known for having a very unpleasant smell and causing bad breath in dogs.

The Importance of Oral Hygiene for Dogs

Dental disease is the second-most common ailment in dogs (second only to ear infections). In fact, as many as 80% of dogs show signs of canine periodontal disease from the age of three. Left to fester, dental disease can cause significant damage to a dog’s teeth and gums and may even lead to heart, liver, and kidney issues. As such, taking a proactive approach to your dog’s oral hygiene is vital for ensuring their physical wellbeing and comfort.

If you notice Signs of Poor Dental Hygiene in your Dogs please contact our in-house vet here!