Dog Dental Disease

I know most of you have gotten to know my herd of pooches and especially Sophie, my administrative assistant. Well she is the poster-pooch for canine dental disease. Since she was six months old, battling the tarter and plaque has been an ongoing battle.

Sophie has had multiple dental cleanings through her 15 years with us. In addition to dental cleanings by her regular vet, Sophie has also visited Atlanta Veterinary Dental Services where she had 3 infected teeth pulled and a root canal on one of her upper canine teeth. As she started getting older, I began brushing her teeth more frequently as I was hesitant to have any more cleanings done since she is a senior girl. Last week we finally took the plunge and went in to visit Dr. Mees at AVDS for Sophie's second trip about 6 years after the first. During her visit, she had to have 8 more teeth removed for various reasons such as infection and abscesses.

Studies at the Veterinary Colleges of Ohio State and Cornell University have found that 85% of dogs and cats over 6 years old have some form of dental disease. When pets develop this disease, it can affect the rest of their body as well. With infection in the mouth,, bacteria is constantly forming and then moving through the digestive system. This can lead to liver and kidney disease in pets if left untreated. Problems left untreated can also cause pets to stop eating if the pain becomes severe enough.

To avoid these problems, check your pet's mouth for plaque build-up often and brush your pet's teeth on a regular basis. For Sophie, Dr. Mees recommended at least 5 times per week. The mouth is the first part of the digestive tract and can affect the entire body. The phrase "dog breath" means that it is time for a visit with your vet!

Atlanta Veterinary
Dental Services
12280 Houze Road
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Phone: 770-343-8530
Fax Number: 770-664-0991
the2thvet@bellsouth.net

Realtors For Pets

With the downturn in the economy, people are the only ones that are affected. Everyday pets are left behind because their owners can no longer afford to care for them.

With the foreclosure crisis we are currently experiencing, Realtors have become a major lifeline for these pets. They are experiencing an increasing number of these pets that are left abandoned in foreclosed homes.

Thankfully there is now a resource to aid the animals and help their owners to keep them safe. Realtors For Pets is a group of professionals that cover the entire real estate profession. It is made up of agents, brokers, appraisers, attorneys, and anyone that is involved in the process of buying or selling a home.

Vaccinations for Your Pet

One of the hot topics in the veterinary industry right now is that of vaccinating our pets. Studies have show that the vacciantions last much longer in out pet's bodies than what we originally thought.

A study that is currently being conducted on this issue is called the Rabies Challenge Fund. The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust will determine the duration of immunity conveyed by rabies vaccines. The goal is to extend the required interval for rabies boosters to 5 and then to 7 years. Heading up this study is Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chairman of Pathobiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

To read more, visit the Rabies Challenge Fund website!

10 Steps to Set Up Your Freshwater Fish Tank

1) Clean all gravel, plants and decor with water. Avoid using any cleaning products on them.

2) Set up your tank in the ideal location. Remember to avoid directly in front of windows, and the heat from the sun can cause algae to grow at a rapid pace. It can also cause the temperature of the water to fluctuate every day-causing stress on your fish.

3) Set up your filter/pump. Some filters are attached to the side of the tank, while others are placed under the gravel.

4) Add the clean gravel evenly along the bottom of your tank.

5) Put plants and other decorations in the tank, anchoring them with gravel.

6) Fill your tank with water, leaving about an inch of space at the top. Add the necessary conditioners to the water recommended by the fish specialists at your local pet store.

7) Start the filtration system to make sure everything is running smoothly.

8) Install the heater and a thermometer. Speak with the fish specialists to see what temperature your tank will need to be.

9) Let all of the systems run for at least 24 hours. Test the water before adding fish to make sure the pH levels and temperature are correct.

10)Slowly introduce new fish by floating them in their bags for 15-30 minutes.


*Don't forget to check the pH levels and temperature frequently in your tank. These are key to the survival of your fish.

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Keep Kitty Entertained

Ever wonder what your cat does when you are away? Although cats generally sleep up to 18 hours a day, they still need some sort of activity during the hours that they are awake.

Interactive toys such as the "fishing pole" toys are great to play with your cat and keep them active, but they aren't considered safe to leave with your cat while alone.


Try this trick next time you leave your house-take several of your cat's favorite treats and hide them around the house. Cats have a superb sense of smell and should find the treats in no time, so make sure that you choose new places to hide 'em each time you leave. Don't forget to check when you get home that the treats were found!

Stop Digging with Redirecting

Does Fido dig holes all over your yard and garden? Not only is this habit irritating to you, but it can also be dangerous if you happen to step in one of Fido's little holes unknowingly. Reason for digging can include:

-Boredom
-Natural instinct to bury food and toys
-A dog's desire to find a cool spot to relax


So what do dog owners do when they are at their whit's ends over their daffodils and daisies? Build you dog his very own sandbox!

It is simple enough and will satisfy those digging instincts for your pooch.

If your dog is smaller, a child-size sandbox or kiddie pool should be adequate. For larger dogs, you may want to locate a level area in your yard and create a border of the sandbox using 2" x 4" pieces of wood. Nail 4 boards together to create a square/rectangle.

Next, fill the box with playground sand from your local home improvement store. Obviously larger dogs will need more sand and for smaller dogs, probably a few inches of sand will do.

To train your pooch to use the sandbox, start by burying toys and treats within it. Make it a fun activity for him. Chances are that Fido will stop digging up your garden and will learn to love his new sand box instead!