(ARA) – Do you hate your pet’s breath? Well, did you know that bad dog or cat breath is a sign of dental disease? About 80 percent of humans brush our teeth at least twice a day, according to the American Dental Association. But most of us completely neglect our pets’ teeth. There is no time like the present to start maintaining the dental health of your four-legged friend to help prevent problems like gingivitis, periodontal disease, infections and tooth loss.

“There are many symptoms of dental disease to watch out for, including bad, almost putrid, breath,” explains Dr. James Cook, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “Your pet could be in a lot of pain, and you might not realize it. For example, if you see your pet approach a bowl of food then back away, that could be a sign of tooth pain. Your animal can’t tell you he or she is suffering or in pain, so it’s important to get your pet’s teeth checked by your veterinarian.”

Here are six tips to help keep your pets’ smile healthy:

* Brush their teeth.
Specially made toothpaste in flavors like chicken, seafood, beef and mint and soft, pet-friendly toothbrushes are available at pet supply stores or from your veterinarian. With some training (visit www.avmatv.com for a 5.5 minute instructional video) pets can learn to tolerate or even enjoy a daily brushing.

* A dental checkup.
If you’ve never had your veterinarian check your pet’s teeth, your pet is long overdue. Schedule an appointment today. Veterinarians recommend at least an annual checkup of your pet’s teeth. If periodontal disease is found, your pet can be sedated for teeth cleaning.

* Give a rawhide treat.
Rawhide is that piece of raw leather your dog looks forward to so much, but it also helps scrub plaque off your pet’s teeth. A small daily treat that makes a dog so happy could save money at the veterinarian years from now and save your dog’s teeth. Check with your veterinarian to make sure rawhide is an appropriate treat for your dog.

* Wrap up a rope toy.
Rope toys for dogs and cats help keep plaque and gingivitis at bay. Just carrying a rope toy in their mouth helps to keep an animal’s teeth clean, and playing with it does an even better job.

* Try dental treats.
Specially made dental treats are available at pet stores and at your veterinarian’s office. These treats are made to be difficult to chew and swallow, and are shaped to help scrub teeth as they’re consumed.

* A pet food present.
Consider feeding your pet a specially formulated pet food designed to improve dental health in pets.

For more information on pet dental health visit www.avma.org or www.avmatv.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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You might think that taking care of your dog is just like a one-two-three step wherein you will just feed them, bath them and take them to the veterinarian if they get sick and nothing more. Yes, dog care tips include these since these by far are the most important ones but it’s quite a simplistic idea to consider only the basics since taking care of our dogs requires a lot more of our effort and time if we really want them to become happy and healthy pets.

Apart from the basic needs that dogs demand for their proper growth, other dog care tips that active dog owners recommend include training, exercise and grooming. While people should exercise to be physically fit, dogs are also required to do the same.

Exercise and Training—Improving The Quality Of A Dog’s Life

Exercise and training is like hitting two birds with one stone. We do not only improve their physical and mental alertness but we also get to spend and enjoy our time with them. For working dogs such as those for purposes of security, a strong physique should be developed in order for them to perform well in their work.

With the proper amount of exercise, the muscles, joints and tendons of our dogs become less vulnerable to injuries or discomfort. By stretching or massaging our dogs, muscle-related problems can be prevented and thus allowing the dog to retain its agility since young age. Above all, by stretching one can improve the quality of the dog’s life.

Grooming

Proper grooming is helpful to keep an eye on your dog’s health. Dog care tips related to grooming includes monitoring your dog’s coat at regular intervals, proper teeth cleaning and keeping their paws clean. Regularly doing this will keep the dog in its best shape.

A dog’s coat must be smooth and silky. However, the texture of their coats may differ from season to season so it is always important to keep a good eye on it to prevent it from turning into one that is splotchy and inconsistent.

Among the many dog care tips that are offered, keeping our dog’s teeth clean is one thing that dog owners should not forget. Take your dogs to the vet for proper maintenance of its dental health.

Finally, see to it that your dog’s paws are clean. See to it that her paws are free of any dangerous foreign objects that could have been stuck while they were playing around.

The Proper Diet

Just like us, dogs should also be fed the proper diet to obtain and keep optimal health. Giving them natural dog food is one of nearly all of the recommendable dog care tips there is with regards to a dog’s proper diet needs.

It is quite a challenge carrying out the task of taking care of dogs. Dog care tips are available from a lot of sources and these help you a lot to maintain the good shape of your dog. Dogs are not just pets. They are by far the most loyal companions that we can ever have so it really pays to take good care of them.

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Some pet owners may have little time to spare to walk their dog everyday. A dog walker who specializes in walking a dog or a group of dogs during a specific time can answer this dog care service. In many cases, a dog walker may have to deal with the dog’s stool when it does its business during the walk. A walk can be part of your dog’s exercise regimen which is why it is essential to bring your pet out for a walk daily, especially for city dogs who live in small apartments and have no place to run around.

Dog Sitting

This dog care service is usually reserved for those individuals who enjoy the company of dogs. Many pet owners who have to go out of town for several days employ the services of a doggy sitter who can take care of their dog’s needs while they are away. In many cases, the doggy sitter stays in the home of the pet and provides it with food and water as well as takes it out for walks and exercise.

This dog care service is a great option to putting your dog in a kennel that is unfamiliar for your dog. The sitter that you employ must have an affinity for dogs and get along well with yours in particular. This means that you need to observe the doggy sitter with your dog or dogs to assess their compatibility. Some dogs resent particular people for no reason at all.

Dog Grooming

Grooming a dog can mean a lot of things but is actually focused on the overall appearance of the animal. Grooming the coat of the dog is one of the prime focuses of pet grooming salons. The grooming service can also include haircut, bathing, nail clipping, flea and tick dips, hair styling and many more dog care services.

The many dog care services that people provide their canine friends are remarkable and varied. The dog care services listed above are among the more common ones and necessary ones as well.

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Poodles are known to be energetic, loving and very trainable dogs.  The Toy Poodle can be a little temperamental and older children are better around this breed.

Whatever size poodle is desired, one thing that will remain consistent is the fact that poodle grooming will be part of the routine with your dog.  Poodles need to be groomed as they have very dense fur, they don’t shed and the fur needs to be trimmed.

Tips And Tricks

Many find that is just easier to take their dog for poodle grooming at a local pet grooming location.  This is a great choice, but one that can become costly.  Poodle grooming can be done at home, and often is a great time to truly bond with your pet.

Poodle grooming is a centuries old tradition.  Originally these dogs were groomed to help them in retrieving water fowl from the water.  Because of their dense coats, poodles would often struggle when swimming.  Hunters began trimming the fur off of their hind quarters, but leaving tufts of fur around their joints to keep them warm.  This is a traditional style for poodle grooming and can be seen in poodles that are being shown in dog shows.

A poodle can also be shaved, which is a much easier way to maintain their coats, and can be a simple way to learn poodle grooming. In the summer this can be the best choice for your poodle as their fur is heavy and can make the days much hotter for them.

The correct equipment is required for poodle grooming.  Since the Poodle has such dense fur, it is important to have a good dog shampoo and conditioner to be able to comb through the fur.  Clippers are also important for poodle grooming and can be purchased at most pet stores.

When learning poodle grooming you may want to take a class.  Many pet stores offer classes on grooming as well as obedience training.  You can also ask your veterinarian for any advice on where to learn poodle grooming.

Fortunately, while you are learning how to groom your dog, they won’t realize any mistakes that you have made and once you’ve perfected the art of poodle grooming, it can not only save you money but build trust between you and your pet.

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Proper coat care takes at least three steps: bathing, brushing and combing.

A Golden needs to be bathed at least every two months, approximately. Some live in cleaner environments and may get away with slightly less often. Some are outside rolling in the dirt at every chance and will need it as often as once per week. If that’s the case, however, a better solution would be to keep them out of the dirt!

Always use a dog shampoo, not baby shampoo or dish detergent. Commercial dog shampoos are designed with the Golden’s coat and skin in mind. They’re manufactured with the proper pH and contain mild ingredients to keep them odor free. Baby shampoo has not the proper pH and dish detergent is far too rough, disturbing the skin’s oil balance.

Golden Retrievers have two layers of coat, the top coat and the undercoat. Both need to be brushed correctly.

Grooming that long, thick, beautiful Golden coat is a continuing chore. It should be done at least once per week, more often if your pet tends to get collect debris from bushes and grass. Three instruments will help do the job with minimal fuss: a slicker, a Greyhound comb and an undercoat rake.

The slicker is used to brush the top coat, removing hair that has made its way to the surface. Goldens shed mostly from the undercoat, but much of that hair eventually travels outward. Firm, smooth strokes are good but take care not to get too vigorous. Avoid brush burn from forcible use of a slicker.

A Greyhound comb helps remove excess hair, both from shedding and that loosened by brushing. It’s also a great tool to use to check that your brushing has been successful. If you can comb the hair on the back, sides and chest without getting snagged then you’ve done a thorough brush. ‘No matting is good’.

The undercoat rake gets down to the lower layer, close to the skin. This undercoat helps keep the dog warm in winter and cool in summer, while the top coat helps protect from sun and friction from bushes. Goldens were bred to be game fetching dogs, much of which takes place in heavy forest and brush.

The rake is used to remove loose hair from shedding. Start at the rear leg and proceed gently forward. Lift and pull away from your body as you stroke the rake through the coat.

Nails should be trimmed as needed, generally about once per month at least. Tastes differ between the guillotine clippers and the scissor style. Use whichever suits you best, but be careful in either case not to snip the quick. That’s the tender, round vessel that delivers blood to the area. Cutting it causes pain and profuse bleeding. Wetting the toenails near the foot will make it more visible.

If you have an accident, don’t panic. Just have some styptic powder handy and daub some on the wound. Avoid allowing the dog run or jump for at least an hour. The wounds heal quickly, but can be re-opened.

Keep up with regular ‘maintenance’ and your Golden will be healthy, look good and feel great to the touch.

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