Get Your Food Delivered To Your Home For Free Directly From Purina
During these uncertain times, we highly recommend making sure that you have enough pet food to get through a few months at a time.
If you're struggling to consistently find dog or cat food, we highly recommend taking advantage of Purina's Free Home Delivery program. You can sign up for it through this link here.
Can My Dog Get Covid-19?
There's no denying that the new Covid-19 virus (you may know it as the coronavirus) has everyone worried about their own health but there's other members of the family that you may worry about as well. Can your dog or cat get Covid-19 from you? Can they get it from other people and give it to you?
Let's answer this with what we know so far...there's no direct evidence that dogs or cats can get infected with Covid-19. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) sent all veterinarians an email advising us on the news that one dog "tested positive" in Hong Kong. Here's what they told us:
On Thursday, February 27, a dog in Hong Kong tested "weak positive" for coronavirus (the owner tested positive for coronavirus). The dog has since received a second positive result that has been sent to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which is working with Hong Kong health officials on this case. The precise meaning of "weak positive" remains unclear and further evaluation is ongoing. Hong Kong authorities have said the dog shows no clinical signs of illness but remains quarantined.
-AVMA 3/3/20
What Does A Positive Test Mean?
First, let's be clear that the dog had no symptoms that one would associate with coronavirus/Covid-19. The caregiver of the dog was symptomatic and tested positive. The dog was tested at the request of the owner.
Oral swabs were taken as part of the testing process. Is it posible that the virus was inside of the mouth of the dog because it had inhaled it? Perhaps in licking the owner? Maybe the owner shed the virus into the water or food bowl of the dog and that's how it obtained the virus.
We don't know these answers at this time, but this issue will continue to be investigated. This article will be updated as more details emerge and we get a more complete answer.
How Can I Keep My Dog/Cat Safe During This Time Just To Be Sure?
Since there is still so much we don't know about the virus, it is recommended to take certain precautions with your pets or other animals if you end up testing positive for Covid-19.
According to the CDC, people who are sick with COVID-19 should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just like you would restrict your contact with other people. When possible, a member of the household other than the individual who is ill should care for any animals in the household. Those infected with COVID-19 should avoid contact with animals, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. Those who must care for a pet, or who will be around animals while sick, should wear an appropriate facemask and wash hands thoroughly before and after interacting with those animals.
AVMA 3/3/2020
We will continue to update you as we learn more information.
For more information about Covid-19 in the United States, Click Here.
The World Health Organization has an FAQ about Covid-19 HERE.
For information about Covid-19 in Colorado - Click Here.
Website Overhaul
We apologize for the clunky look of the website right now. Dr. Hayes is experimenting with different themes to provide a more modern, comfy, and welcoming look to this site.
How To Treat Your Dog's Torn Nail | Vet's Advice
Torn nails are a source of anxiety and fear in a dog owner while the dog itself may be painful and scared. We see torn nails fairly frequently at our practice and want to pass along some basic tips on how to handle these when you're unable to come in and have us take care of it.
Basic First Aid For A Torn Nail
Dog owners usually know when their dog has torn their nail due to the amount of blood that is being left behind as the dog runs/limps around the house. This can be very scary as sometimes the amount of blood can seem to be very high.
Initial Steps For A Torn Nail
- Place the dog either outside or in a bathroom to minimize the amount of blood being tracked around your house
- Stay calm - most dogs hate to have their feet grabbed and touched so if you're already upset and stressed about the situation, your dog will sense that and you won't be able to get a good look at the torn nail
- If the nail is literally just dangling by a tiny connection, you can just grasp it and the dog will pull it off for you. Yes, it might be a painful thing to do - think of it as ripping off a band-aid. A moment of pain followed by a great deal of relief.
- If there is bleeding, there are a couple things you can do:
- If you have a product at home that's meant for bleeding nails such as Kwik Stop (which is what we use at the practice but you can also purchase it from Amazon), apply it generously to the nail.
- When trying to apply this, sometimes it's easiest to pour a little of the powder into the lid and then dab the bleeding nail bed onto that instead of using your finger to push it onto the nail bed
- In an emergency, you can also use cornstarch or flour as they do a great job of helping to coagulate the bleeding
- If the bleeding stops easily, then you likely don't need to do anything else
- However, if the bleeding won't stop then a temporary bandage is the solution. This is an ideal time to have a Pet First Aid Kit at home for these kinds of situations.
- Just make sure that the bandage isn't too tight. Too tight means that you've secured the top of the bandage so tight that the foot swells. I'm not going to go into the specifics of a proper bandage in this article, but we will in another article at a future date.
- If all of the above fails, or you can't stand the site of blood and need someone else to tend to this for you - call us! We can take care of this issue and get your dog much more comfortable very quickly.
Why Do Dogs Tear Their Nails?
By far, the biggest reason why dogs tear their nails in the first place is that the nails are just too long. But how can you tell when their too long? The easiest answer is that you can hear the nails when the dog is walking. The click-click of too-long nails is a dead giveaway.
Another common reason why a nail gets torn is when a dog is being active in a location where their nails can get caught such as when they are running up and down a fence or hiking in an area with uneven terrain.
How often should you have your dog's nails trimmed? It varies per dog, but the general rule is at least once per month in order to keep them at the optimal length.
Whenever we are tending to torn nails, we always trim the rest of the nails to alleviate this situation.
Should I Have The Dewclaws Removed On My Dog?
It's a common belief that leaving the dewclaws (equivalent of a thumb in a human) will lead to many torn nails throughout the life of a dog. However, in my 30 years of seeing torn nails, I can say that a very small percentage (probably less than 10%) of nails that are torn are the dewclaws.
If the dewclaw itself is attached to the rest of the paw (versus the ones that are dangling with just a skin attachment), then removing the dewclaw is actually an amputation of a toe.
We recommend removing the dangling dewclaws when dogs are spayed/neutered, but the attached dewclaws have such a small chance of causing an issue in the future that we recommend leaving them.
Do Dremel Tools Actually Do A Good Job Of Keeping The Nails Short On A Dog?
By itself? No. A dremel can be a very useful tool for some folks, but it won't replace trimming the nails unless you've been using a dremel almost daily from a very young age.
The reason for that is that the "pet" dremels on the market are of such low speed that they buff the nail surface but don't actually take the nail off at all. They're great for smoothing out the sharp ends of the nail after a good trim, but they don't replace one.
What Are The Best Products That I Can Use To Keep My Dog's Nails Healthy and Short?
- Original Resco Nail Trimmers - I like these for their ability to be precise and easy to hold. When they start to splinter the nail they should be replaced.
- Millers Forge Clipper - Many of my staff prefer these trimmers, especially for bigger dogs. If you have smaller, weaker hands then this clipper may do a better job for you.
- Dremel 7300 - If you still want a dremel, then get a really good one. This is the version we use at work to help buff nails when animals are under anesthesia and we want to get the best possible nail trim. Use the slower speed in the beginning to get your dog used to it, and be sure to trim the nails first to get the best results.
- Kwik Stop - Styptic powder for when you cut too much nail. Trust us, we do nail trims all the time and still occasionally cut one a bit too short. It happens. Be prepared.
Holiday Hours For Parker Animal Hospital
| Monday, Dec. 23 | Normal Hours |
| Tuesday, Dec. 24 (Xmas Eve) | Open til Noon |
| Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Xmas) | Closed |
| Thursday, Dec. 26 | Normal Hours |
| Friday, Dec. 27 | Normal Hours |
| Saturday, Dec. 28 | Normal Hours |
| Monday, Dec. 30 | Normal Hours |
| Tuesday, Dec. 31 | Open til Noon |
| Wednesday, Jan. 1 | Closed |
| Thursday, Jan. 2 | Normal Hours |
CDC, Pet Store Puppies, And Multi-Drug Resistant Bacterial Infections - A Vet's Perspective
News broke overnight that the CDC is warning the public of an outbreak in 13 states of a multi-drug-resistant strain of Campylobacter jejuni. They have traced the majority of the cases back to contact with puppies from pet stores and are issuing an alert for people to be cautious.
Which States Are Affected?
The CDC has a nice map that they will likely update as more cases are identified.
Why Do They Think These Infections Come From Puppies?
There have been 30 cases so far identified and 24 people have been interviewed :
- 88% of the people interviewed reported contact with puppies with 71% specifically citing puppies in/from pet stores
- Based on the rest of the statistics claimed from the CDC, the majority of these cases are coming from employees of the Pet Stores or those that are strongly affiliated with the pet stores, specifically Pet Land. Pet Land is a national Pet Store chain.
- Gentically this particular strain of bacteria is very close to the Campylobacter strain that causes hospitalizations of 23 people across 17 states in 2016-2018. This outbreak was also associated with pet stores owned by Pet Land.
Do We Need To Worry About This In Colorado?
The good news is that there are no pet stores owned by Petland here in Colorado. The bad news is that Colorado Puppy/Dog Rescue groups frequently visit states to rescue puppies from all over the western half of the country. So they might unintentionally bring back a puppy that has this particular strain of bacteria.
Petland does have stores in Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Now, rescue groups do not go into pet stores to get their puppies. They visit shelters that are overrun with homeless puppies and dogs. It's quite possible that a dog from the pet store could end up at a local shelter and that's how the infection could be spread.
What Are The Symptoms of A Campylobacter Infection In People?
- Diarrhea (which is often bloody) that lasts for a period of days
- Fever
- Abdominal cramps
In healthy individuals, these symptoms usually go away without treatment within a week. The concern is with those that may be more susceptible and unable to fight off the infection as well. These individuals include children, elderly, and those that are immune-suppressed.
What Are The Symptoms In A Puppy Or Dog With This Campylobacter?
- Lethargy
- Blood diarrhea
- Not eating
Unfortunately, sometimes these dogs can appear perfectly healthy and still pass on this dangerous bacteria.
How Can We Diagnose MDR Campylobacter As Veterinarians?
We can submit a sample of stool to our diagnostic lab to culture for this particular bacteria.
We recommend stool samples for every puppy that we see. This test checks for common intestinal parasites but not bacterial infections. Checking for bacterial infections is a lot more expensive and is usually reserved for cases where humans are having issues and the family puppy/dog is suspected to be the root cause.
Bottom Line - Do I Need To Worry About This With My Puppy?
If you didn't get your puppy from a pet store, then your chances of acquiring this really bad bacteria is very low. That being said, if your puppy is ill with bloody diarrhea and then you develop the same problem, you need to speak with both your doctor and your veterinarian.
5 Ways To Keep Your Dog's Teeth Healthy
One of the first, and best things, things that veterinarians look at one a dog when examining them is their teeth. Why? Because it's one of the most common problem areas in dogs.
Dental disease is one of the most common health conditions in dogs everywhere. It doesn't matter the breed, gender, or size of the dog.
To keep your dog's teeth healthy and comfortable throughout their entire life, there are some things that you're going to need to do:
- Feed them dry food
- Give them the proper things to chew
- Brush daily if needed
- Get annual (at least) checkups by your vet
- Professional Dental Cleanings (when needed)
Dry Food And Dog Teeth
It's easy to understand that when dogs chew dry dog food, the act of chewing actually helps to self-brush the teeth. However, there are plenty of dogs out there that eat dry food and yet still gets constant tartar accumulation. What gives?
How Does Your Dog Chew?
It sounds funny, but I have some patients that only chew on one side of their mouth. How can I tell? Tartar is only accumulating on one side of their mouth.
That could be because there's a painful tooth issue on the dirtier side, but there are some dogs that just chew one-sided.
There are dogs that chew on certain chew toys but only chew with the very back molars. You can tell because those teeth are pristine while the ones in the front part of the mouth are the ones with all the tartar.
For these reasons, you need to pay attention to all of your dog's teeth. The front incisors and canines can look perfect but hide painful gum and tooth issues way in the back molars.
Genetics Play A Role
Just like in people where some folks are cursed with having multiple cavities at a very young age, there are some dogs that accumulate tartar early in life despite doing all the right things.
For these dogs we recommend daily "brushing" with a good enzymatic toothpaste. If you simply can't get this done (usually because your dog is very resistant), then try and experiement with different dental chews until you find something that they will accept and utilize.
That being said, there are going to be dogs that will have bad tartar buildup and gingivitis despite all of your efforts.
Can A Dental Diet Help Your Dog?
There are specially made dental diets that work to reduce tartar and plaque in the mouth as the dogs chew. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has a list of approved dental diets for dogs. There are only a handful of diets on this list including:
- Purina Dental Health (DH)
- Hill's T/D
- Science Diet Oral Care
- Eukanuba Adult Maintenance
- Iams Chunk Dental Defense
Give Them Proper Things To Chew
This will be the most contentious thing in this article based on your prior experiences and your preconceptions. However, dogs need to chew.
In knowing what to give (or what NOT to give) them to chew, the most important thing is to know what your dog is likely to do with that. Do they nibble on it steadily and work on it for hours at a time? Or do they tend to try and chomp it in two and then swallow the large pieces?
If your dog is the chomping/swallowing type, you have to be very careful with what you give them. Even the most indestructible chews could be demolished quickly in your dog's mouth.
There are a few chews that we really like that have been proven to fight plaque and tartar accumulation. These include Greenies as well as CET Chews.
In the vast realm of things that your dog can chew on, there are only a few absolute no-no's that we don't like:
- Pig Ears - besides the fact that they had a major recall in 2019, they are very unhealthy
- Cow Hooves - Too Hard - could break teeth
- Butcher Bones (at the supermarket) - Too hard - can definitely break teeth
- Antlers - Really hard - can break teeth
Brush The Teeth Daily (If Needed)
If you're lucky your dog will have kind of perfect teeth that a chihuahua can only dream about. There's never any tartar or gingivitis. They chew (or don't) on something regularly to keep their mouth healthy.
However, you're likely here because that is not how your dog's teeth are. Maybe they have bad genetics. Maybe they don't like to chew on anything. The tartar accumulates easily and the gums are always red.
This is where you, the person, come in. Applying proper dog toothpaste is something that every dog owner should be comfortable with.
Notice I didn't write "brushing." Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a toothbrush to apply toothpaste in a dog's (or cat's, either, for that matter) mouth. It's not the act of scrubbing the teeth that makes a difference. It's the frequency with which you apply the proper toothpaste that decides how much it will help.
Have Regular Exams So The Vet Can Check The Teeth
At the very least, every dog should have an annual exam where every part of their body is checked over by a vet. Depending on their age and any chronic medical conditions, some dogs need to be seen more often.
You may think that everything is totally fine and there are no problems. I can also tell you of countless times I found a problem in the mouth when the pet owner wasn't aware.
Sometimes that problem was really bad gingivitis. Commonly it can be a a fracture in a tooth that had gone unnoticed. Maybe it's a few baby teeth that never came out when the dog was younger.
Either way, unless your vet gives your dog's teeth a clean bill of health, you don't know if they are healthy or not.
Get Dental Cleanings When Needed
Some dogs need dental cleanings every 6 months. Other may only have one in their entire life. Each dog is different and so there's no one universal answer to the question of how often should a dog have a professional cleaning.
There are some obvious signs that dental disease is present that will help to alert you to when a cleaning is really needed. Maybe there's a foul smell. Perhaps your dog has a lot of drool and discharge from its mouth.
Have your vet take a look at your dog's mouth if there's any cause for concern. If enough disease is present that your vet feels that a cleaning is needed, then you should proceed with that.
What About Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleanings?
There are some cases in which a dental cleaning is needed but anesthesia is so risky that it's not advised. The dog may have a heart problem or other serious medical issue and your vet may not want to even risk it.
However, that's not the typical type of dog that ends up getting an anesthesia-free dental. Usually those dogs are rather healthy but their owners are so worried about anesthesia that they'd rather not do it.
But how good are dental cleanings done while awake? After all, people get their teeth cleaned all the time without the aid of anesthesia!
Dog and cat dental cleanings are done with anesthesia to do two things...to make it safer for the person cleaning to get the job done and to perform as thorough an exam as possible.
Things That Can't Be Done During An Anesthesia-Free Cleaning
- Teeth Extraction
- Cleaning under the gums where plaque and bacteria like to accumulate
- Polishing of the enamel surface to prevent the quick recurrence of tartar (physically scraping the teeth with an instrument will create tiny micro-fissures in the enamel that will allow tartar to accumulate faster; during a professional cleaning we polish the teeth with a special motorized device that smooths the surface of the tooth to prevent this).
Why You Should Keep Your Dog's Teeth Healthy
Plaque is a gummy-like substance that forms on the teeth a few hours after a meal. When this gummy plaque mixes with salt in dog's saliva, it begins to harden. (Note: This is why DAILY application of toothpaste is so important; every day you don't apply the toothpaste you are losing ground)
As time goes by this plaque continues to harden by accumulating more salts and eventually it turns into tartar. When tartar accumulates on the tooth it begins to push up and against the gums, inflaming them and causing gingivitis.
Bacteria that has been building up on the tartar can infiltrate from the mouth into the body's bloodstream via this inflammation. This can cause chronic damage to other organs in the body.
Gingivitis is also painful in itself, along with potentially causing a loosening of the tooth from its attachment to the mouth.
Proper and regular dental care helps to prevent and treat these conditions, helping your dog to live with less pain and disease in its body. Ultimately this leads to a longer life and a more comfortable life in later years.
In Conclusion
Taking care of your dog's teeth should be a priority for every dog owner. Keeping the mouth free of disease will help your dog to live and healthier and happier life!
