Dental care for your dog and cat
Of course cats and dogs do not eat sweets, or at least they shouldn't, but even with the perfect diet they have similar dental issues as humans. Plaque and tartar can build up in their mouths too and eventually lead to gingivitis and gum disease (sounds familiar doesn't it).
     Veterinarians recommend professional teeth cleaning and regular brushings for your dog or cat. If you have an older animal, start out with a teeth cleaning. Tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush, so a professional cleaning will remove the old tartar. If you have a puppy or kitten, you can establish a teeth brushing routine right away.
     Only use toothpaste made for dogs and cats. Human toothpaste will upset their stomachs. Allow your pet to try the toothpaste as if it is a treat. The next day rub some toothpaste on your pet's gums. This gets them to associate the flavor of the toothpaste with you touching their teeth and gums. It is recommended that you perform the teeth brushing ritual before an enjoyable activity, like a walk or playtime. Hopefully, your pet will begin to associate oral hygiene with something pleasurable.
     A soft human toothbrush is recommended for brushing your pet's teeth. There are special toothbrushes you can wear on your finger for more controlled brushing. If you are uncomfortable sticking your finger in your pets mouth, try the soft tooth brush. Do not continue trying to brush your pet's teeth if you feel that your pet will bite you. Bites from dogs and cats are serious and can bring on severe complications that are a risk to your digits and limbs.
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Bombay Cats
They are small, with very short, soft, shiny, black fur. Their nick-name is the Parlor Panther because they were bred to have copper-gold eyes, just like a black panther. Bombay Cats have been around since the 1960s, when Nikki Horner of Louisville, Kentucky, began crossing black American short haired cats with golden eyed, sable colored Burmese. The resulting cat was small, muscular and surprisingly heavy when picked up. They were accepted by the Cat Fanciers Association for show in 1976.
     Affectionate and playful, Bombays are very verbal, with loud, yet pleasant voices. If you reply to them, they will carry on a conversation with you. Because they are very intelligent, they are known to play fetch and even walk on a leash. On the other hand they are also know for chewing holes through bags of food and creating other mischief. Because of their intelligence, they are easily trained and can be broken of bad habits with a bit of consistency.
     The Bombay loves human attention and tends to be the dominate cat in the household. They get along well with dogs. A striking appearance partners well with their confident and lovable demeanor.

Even though dogs have been living with people for over 10,000 years, instinctually, they are still predators. Their senses are attuned to anything out of the ordinary, what their ancestors might deem as prey or potential danger. Their sense of smell and hearing are very developed, giving them an acute awareness of their environment; far better than what humans can perceive.
     Puppies and grown dogs can be aggressive, panicked, or intimidated when startled by loud noises, strangers, or an unfamiliar object. Puppies are especially susceptible to reacting to noises or objects that are not familiar.
     As puppies mature they become more self assured and often these fears diminish. Acclimating your puppy to loud noises by giving praise or treats when these situations occur can also build more confidence. This can be done by creating a controlled situation with loud noises or unusual objects, like helium balloons. Habituating and socializing your dog while they are a puppy will pay off when they are older.

Puppy Kindergarten is a motivational based foundation program. This program is very comprehensive and covers all basic obedience commands and hand signals. We also will address other aspects of puppy rearing such as mouthing, housebreaking, chewing and other behavorial problems.
     Emphasis on grooming care and socialization projects will also be an important aspect of the puppy criteria. Class meets once weekly for four weeks. Starting the first Wednesday of each month. Class is held indoors and out, weather permitting. Call Jayne Edwards at 303-816-1032 or 720-313-0811.

How do you tell if your pet is overweight?

The ideal dog or cat should have:
-Ribs palpable, but not visible,
-Slight waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above, and
-Abdomen tucked up, flank fold present.

An overweight dog or cat:
-Slight increase in fat over ribs, but still easily palpable,
-Abdomen slightly rounded, flanks concave, and
-Flank fold hang down with moderate amount of fat-jiggle noted when walking.

An obese dog or cat:
-Ribs and backbone not easily palpable under a heavy fat covering,
-Abdomen rounded; waist barely visible to absent, and
-Prominent flank folds which sway side to side when walking.

Is your pet overweight? If yes, how much overweight? If your pet is a little overweight then you need to follow the guidelines below to control their weight. If your pet is very overweight then your pet needs to be on a diet program with guidance from a veteranairian.

Weight Loss Guidelines:
-Use a standard measuring cup to measure food. Check the back of the food bag to see how much they recommend.
-Weight your pet every 3 to 4 weeks to check on progress.
-Set Goals. Dogs and cats should loose 1% to 2% of initial weight per week.
-Exercise. If they are not in shape gradually increase their activity over time. For example, 2 to 3 minute walks for 14 days, then increase to 5 to 7 minute, then 10 to 15 minutes.
-Decrease treats. Instead of biscuits give your pets a low fat healthy alternative treat such as apples, carrots, green beans and peas. DO NOT feed your pets grapes or raisins. These are poisonous to pets.

If not successful, consult with a vet for blood work. It could be a metabolic reason why your pet is not losing weight. Please give your vet a call so we can answer your questions and help create a weight loss program for your pet.