Understanding Oral Care Probiotics

What ARE Probiotics

Probiotics are a hot topic in the media today. Want to be more “regular”? Try this yogurt with probiotics. Want to boost your immune health? Try a supplement or another yogurt with probiotics known to support the immune system. In fact, yogurt has long been the delivery system for the beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. So, if you’re the average American who spends time on the Internet or watching TV, it’s likely you’ve heard about probiotics

What Exactly ARE Probiotics?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria.

There are billions of bacteria in the human body. Actually, it’s thought that there are more bacteria in the human body than the cells that comprise the human body. Most of these beneficial bacteria are basically inert, causing no harm and offering no benefit.

Some of the bacteria in our bodies is harmful. These are what cause your head-cold, your stomach illness and many lesser known health issues.

When  harmful bacteria launch wage war, the beneficial bacteria in the body are right there waiting to fight back. If the beneficial bacteria in your body aren’t prepared to fight off the bad bacteria, you may end up with an infection and a prescription for antibiotics.

The use of probiotics -  be they food additives, supplements or any of the array of products which now include beneficial bacteria – help maintain a healthy balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the body.

Probiotics Benefit Mouth, Too

Research has shown that not only are probiotics beneficial for digestive health, they can also affect your oral health. By blending three beneficial bacteria commonly found in very health mouths, researchers at Oragenics, Inc. have created oral care probiotics for the entire family, focusing on maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth. EvoraPro is a professional-strength oral-care probiotic meant for use after a professional dental cleaning or scaling. EvoraPlus is an oral care mint, which, when used twice daily, can help support gum and tooth health, freshen breath and naturally and gently whiten teeth. EvoraPlus is blended specifically to address the oral care needs of the those over the age of 10. EvoraKids oral care probiotics are blended to address the oral care needs of children ages 3-10. And even your pets can have fresher breath and whiter, cleaner teeth with Teddy’s Pride oral care probiotics for cats and dogs.

Keep Your Pets Safe From Valentine’s Poisonous Pitfalls

Valentine’s Day – the day when sweethearts nationwide express their love for one another with chocolate, flowers and thougthful personal gifts. But Valentines beware – your gifts for one another can cause serious harm to your fuzzy, four-legged loves.

If you are a pet parent, the most important thing you can do today is to keep your pets safe from your Valentine’s Day celebration with your loved ones. Chocolate, alcohol, flowers and even candles can spell trouble to your cats and dogs.

Here are some tips on how to keep your favorite furry Valentines safe and happy this Valentine’s Day.

•    Keep the chocolate far out of reach. Whether you fancy dark or milk chocolate is no issue – chocolate is not safe for dogs, and, given the opportunity, they will eat it because they love sweets. Chocolate is one sweet you don’t want your dog to eat, and if he or she does, be sure to get them to the vet right away. The chemicals in chocolates with a high cacao content can easily harm dogs, and the fat content in rich milk chocolates can cause illness.

•    Flowers: Many flowers – especially lilies – are toxic to pets. If you get flowers for Valentine’s Day, the safest thing to do is display them far out of the reach of your pets. Don’t waste your honey’s money by dumping them in the trash, but do be sure these toxic bundles are not in a place where your pets can chew on them. This can be especially challenging if you have a cat who can scale great heights. Many, many plants are toxic to pets. For a complete list, check out the ASPCA’s complete list of plants that are toxic to pets.

•    Alcohol: Be sure to keep alcoholic beverages out of sipping reach of your cats and dogs. Even the smallest amounts of alcohol can lead to BIG problems for cats and dogs.

•    Speaking of small things that can cause big problems, now it’s time to consider candles. Whether they burn themselves in the flames or knock a candle over and start a fire, pets and candles simply do not mix. Candles are sweet, but never leave them unattended. Accidents can happen quickly.

Make Valentine’s Day sweetest for ALL of your loved ones by choosing gifts and treats that won’t cause anyone any harm.

Keeping Pets Safe Through the Busy Holiday Season

‘Tis the Season to Protect Your Pets From Your Favorite Holiday Foods (& Other Potential Hazards)

To many, food is love;  love is food. And because we love our pets so much, we may be tempted to share our favorite foods with our furry best friends. Or… if your pets are among the tricky, they may be swiping your goodies!

The facts are clear and simple: pets are not humans, and not all human foods are safe for pets to consume. In fact, many human foods are downright dangerous for our furry companions. Here are some things to keep in mind – and out of your pets’ reach – as you prepare your holiday treats.

•    Make sure all alcoholic beverages kept well away from pets. Dogs are attracted to sweet alcoholic beverages. Both dogs and cats are attracted to creamy alcoholic beverages, like eggnog and those that feature milk products. Some pets will even drink coffee with added alcohol. And don’t fool yourself into thinking an empty cup is safe! Clean up empty glasses and bottles to be extra safe. This is a very serious concern – dogs can die from consuming as little as one alcoholic beverage!

•    Don’t let your pets near leftovers or table scraps. Extra fatty foods – which are found in abundance at the holiday table! – can inflame the pancreas, causing pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is extremely uncomfortable and can be fatal. In addition, many holiday herbs and spices are not safe for pets, especially sage and nutmeg.

•    Of course, keep the chocolate out of reach! If you’re thinking of setting out a bowl of chocolates for guests to help themselves, please reconsider. Chocolate can irritate your dog’s stomach. Some of the darker chocolates with a higher cacao content are more likely to cause serious harm, such as seizures and possibly even death.

•    Make sure your dog doesn’t have access to uncooked doughs, which can expand in the stomach causing bloat. This can cause serious harm to your dog’s stomach and intestines.

•    Another thing that is commonly left out for guests to nibble on is dried fruits and nuts. But some of the common ingredients in those bowls full of tasty treats – like raisins and macadamia nuts -are toxic to pets, especially dogs, so please keep these where dogs can’t get into them!

•    One more group of things you may not consider problematic – but they can be – are sugar-free candies and gums. Even sugar-free baking items must be kept out of pets’ reach. Many of these items contain the sugar substitute xylitol, which can cause liver failure in dogs.

Decorations to Avoid for Pet Safety

Some holiday decorations are also risky for pets. Things like tinsel shouldn’t be used with pets in the house, as tinsel can perforate the intestines of cats and dogs. Both dogs and cats love to chew on many holiday decorations and gift wrapping items, like wrapping paper, yarn, garlands, artificial wreaths and any artificial plants and flowers. All of these are major choking hazards. Glass ornaments can be unsafe, as well, since either a dog or a cat could easily knock them off the Christmas tree and get hurt on the pieces of broken glass.

Concerns about Holiday Plants

Keep in mind that cats love to chew plants, and there are many holiday plants it is best for your cat (and dog!) to avoid, including mistletoe, amaryllis, poinsettias and holly. Since cats can reach basically anything they put their mind to, it’s a good idea to keep your cat out of a room that contains any holiday plants.

Don’t Despair!

The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with our pets. Check back soon for a list of great tips of how to best spend your time with your pets this holiday season!

Celebrating National Adopt a Pet Month

Why You Might Want to Consider Adopting Your Next Pet

If you’ve ever adopted a pet from a shelter, you know how great the experience can be. The ASPCA embraces each October as Adopt a Shelter Pet Month, shining a spotlight on the millions of dogs and cats waiting in thousands of shelters nationwide until someone chooses them to become a part of their loving home.

Aside from potentially saving the life of a very deserving pet, there are many great things about adopting from shelters. Here are just a few things to consider that may lead you to adopt from a shelter rather than buy from a breeder or pet store next time you’re looking to add a furry friend to your family.

Variety

While the cuteness of the puppies and kittens at the pet store are enough to tempt many pet lovers to break out their wallets (even if they didn’t mean to bring home another family member!), there’s a lot more than cuteness to consider before you bring home a pet.

Animal shelter workers and volunteers are much more likely to have information on the pets at the shelter than pet stores will. You can find out if the pet is energetic or low-key, kid-friendly, does well with other pets, and probably any other characteristic you might need to know before you bring him home.

Training

If you’re looking to gain a companion without the hassle of training, adopting from a shelter is a great choice. If you’re not up to the constant attention and care a young kitten or puppy needs and deserves, an older animal from the shelter might be your best choice. Remember, in addition to house training, puppies need obedience training and lots of medical attention, including potentially costly spay or neutering procedures. Adopting from a shelter can help you avoid many, if not all, of these costs.

A Good Match

Because shelters are concerned with finding their animals home situations that will work out, they often go the extra step to ensure that the animal you want is the right pet for you. For instance, you may love the way a Great Dane looks, and the shelter may have one, but if you live in a small space and don’t have time to give a Great Dane the exercise it needs, the shelter can help you choose an animal that better suits your time and living circumstances.

It’s not just about dogs, either. Shelters know their cats well, too. Just let them know if you are looking for a snuggler or a cat that is really into playing, and they can help you choose the cat that is the best fit for your home.

Time to Think it Over

Unlike pet stores, many shelters offer the option to take a pet home for several days to make sure the pet is a good fit for your home and your life. Just because the pet behaves a certain way at the shelter doesn’t mean she’s going to behave that way at your home. Or, just because that cute kitty who really likes to snuggle doesn’t send you into sneezing fits when you visit her, doesn’t mean that living with her won’t send you into a fit of 24-hour coughing, sneezing and congestion. Sometimes you just have to try out a situation to see how it’s going to work out, and shelters often offer that option.

What If You Would Rather Adopt a Pure Breed?

If you’ve generally shied away from visiting the shelter to choose a pet because you prefer a certain breed of dog or cat, know that many of the dogs and cats in shelters actually are purebred. Even purebred animals end up in shelters for one reason or another.

Also, if you would like to own a certain kind of purebred animal and can’t find one at a shelter, do an online search for rescues for that breed. You might be surprised to find out how many purebred pets are looking for homes. Many times shelters send purebred pets to rescues, knowing that rescues have a high rate of successful placement for purebred animals.

The Most Important Thing to Remember

Getting a new pet is major life decision. It’s likely your new pet will be with you longer than your next car, or even your next several cars, considering many cats and dogs can live up to 15 years! Whatever you do, choose wisely, and if you’re willing, at least go have a look at the shelter before you get your next cat or dog. You might just find your new best friend there!

Taking Care of Your Family Pooch

Researchers Say You Can Prevent Dog Bites

Researchers at London’s University of Lincoln have launched a new study aiming to reduce the risks of children being bitten by dogs.

By teaching children to interact safely with their dogs, Dr. Kerstin Meints and Dr. Nelly Lakestani, from Lincoln’s School of Psychology, say they can help prevent the relatively minor dog bites from family pets – the most common area of concern according to Dr. Meints and Dr. Lakestani.

“The biggest problem is not the very serious injuries you hear about on the news. The biggest problem is children getting relatively minor bites from their pet dog at home,” said Dr. Lakestani, who is a Research Fellow in the Lincoln School of Psychology. She has been studying dog bite prevention for the past seven years. “Most of these accidents happen because there is a misunderstanding between the dog and the child. Children under the age of six are most at risk of being bitten. That means we need to teach them early on about how to interact with dogs.”

Families who are participating in the study have been asked to use an educational and fun piece of software designed to teach children how to stay safe around dogs. This software was developed by an international team of experts to help parents and children under six years understand safe behaviors with dogs. It features a series of animated situations involving a dog and a child. The child can choose to see different situation outcomes, one of which is safe and one of which is not.

The software, which is available in more than a dozen languages, has already been shown to be effective at teaching basic safety principles in an evaluation by Dr. Meints and Dr. Tiny de Keuster, an internationally-recognized expert on dog bite prevention. Now the research team wants to assess how the interactive lessons are applied in practice in the family home.

According to Dr. Lakestani, the issue is not just one of child safety but also animal welfare. Pet dogs which bite children are often taken to animal sanctuaries, abandoned or even put down.

“Some accidents may be more difficult to prevent because they are due to the dog being ill or in pain. However, if people and children can learn how to interact safely with their pet, and how to understand what their pet is trying to communicate to them, then many accidents may be prevented,” added Dr Lakestani.

The software being used in the study is not yet available to the public.

Protecting Your Cat from Worms

When we look at our cute, snuggly kitties, the last thing we like to think of it worms in their tummies. Unfortunately, worms are a common health hazard for cats, especially if they are ever allowed outdoors or have access to animals who are allowed outdoors.

Roundworms

The most common worms to infect both kittens and adult cats are roundworms. These worms look like white earthworms or moving spaghetti noodles, and they can grow to about five inches in length.

Adult roundworms live in the stomach and intestines, and their eggs are transferred through cat feces. The eggs can hatch and live in the soil for three to four weeks, making the probability of infection quite high. Cats can also catch roundworms from the feet of rodents they have ingested – so even if your cat is an indoor-only kitty, she has a chance of coming into contact with roundworm.

Symptoms of roundworm infection include vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, a cough, and a thin, pot-bellied appearance in your cat.

Hookworms

Another common worm to infect both kittens and adult cats is is hookworms. These are a small, thin intestinal parasite, ranging from ¼ to ½ inch long. Hookworms are more of a problem in dogs, but can still be a problem for cats.

Just like roundworms, hookworms can be picked up from hunting. They also can attach themselves to the pads of the cat’s foot and burrow into the skin. The worms work their way through the body, into the lungs, and ultimately to the intestines where they mature and feed on the cat’s blood.

The symptoms for the hookworm include diarrhea, anemia, weight loss and chronic weakness. Hookworm can be fatal in kittens.

While it’s difficult to think of worms infesting your kitty, remember that it’s best to keep an eye on him for symptoms. The sooner you treat for any type of worm infestation, the better.

Please Don’t Poison the Dog!

Don’t Share These Common Items With Your Pooch

There is no doubt that in recent decades our pets have become ever more a part of our families and we enjoy sharing our habits, trends, and pleasures with them, including vacations, designer clothes, food, and even hair color.

Sharing your flax oil and raw carrots with Fifi is a great idea. And dressing Fido up for an evening of trick or treating may be all well and good (depending on Fido’s opinion of the experience). But, there are some things you should not share with your pet, natural as those things may be.

Chocolate, and more specifically, cocoa, is at the top of the “do not share” list. Cocoa beans contain a substance called theobromine that is highly toxic to dogs and cats. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate contains the most theobromine and is therefore the most dangerous, but even sweet milk chocolate contains some and can be harmful to pets, especially those of small stature.

Other not so commonly know items you shouldn’t share with your pet include xylitol, a relatively new natural sweetener that, while safe and even beneficial for humans, can cause acute hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in pets, leading to vomiting, weakness, and even liver failure. Grapes, raisins, onions, and mushrooms all contain unknown substances that are toxic to both dogs and cats, and raw eggs contain a compound called avidin that decreases intestinal absorption of biotin and can lead to skin and coat problems. (Avidin is destroyed by the cooking process, making cooked eggs safe for both dogs and cats).

These common foods and plants are toxic to pets:

Begonias
Chocolate
Cocoa
Coffee
Eggplant
Geranium
Grapes
Holly
Impatiens
Macadamia nuts
Mushrooms
Onions
Persimmons
Poinsettias
Raisins
Raw eggs
Xylitol

Lonely Friends

Little Ways You Can Show You Care

Even if you don’t have children in school, you may start to notice your day-to-day routines are gradually changing as the seasons change. The days are getting shorter again, and before we know it we will be busier and busier after work and on weekends getting ready for holiday gatherings with friends and families.

These changes in our routines can be very difficult for our dogs and cats, who depend on us to meet all of their needs – love, food, entertainment, EVERYTHING!

How Can You Ease Your Pets’ Anxieties About Changes in Routines?

Whatever you do, try not to spend less time with your pets. For example, if you are going to be late getting home, try to get up earlier to take the dog for a longer walk, or to play with the cat for a little while.

Make Sure Your Pets’ Needs Are Met

Lonely, bored pets can be mischievous! If your dog chews up furniture (or magazines, or woodwork, or, well… you get the picture…) make sure you leave her lots of chew toys to mangle while you are away. Also, remember that while you may feel very frustrated with your dog for chewing on your best furniture or your current read, scolding probably isn’t going to keep him from doing it again. Most vets and trainers agree that positive reinforcement is the best training tool with dogs.

Whether your destructive pet is a cat or a dog, sometimes the best thing to do is keep them contained in an area where they can cause little harm. If your dog is crate-trained, it might mean he needs to be in his crate when you aren’t home.

When You’re There, BE There

When you’re home with your pets, be sure they feel like they have your attention. Make sure they don’t feel like they have to misbehave to get you to pay attention to them, or that’s exactly what they will do – misbehave!

As summer eases into fall, and our routines shift with the changing patterns of daylight, it’s easy to forget that our pets’ needs remain the same. With a little thought and planning, you can make sure your pets’ needs are met so that his behaviors don’t take a turn for the worse.

Eyesight and The Sense of Smell in Our Pets

… Or Why Your Dog Loves Your Smelly Shoes

Our friend Dr. Greg Martinez, author of The Dog Dish Diet dishes with us today about why our dogs LOVE to sniff.

Mammals changed from a nocturnal animal to a daytime creature over 65 million years ago when a huge void opened after the sudden demise of the dinosaurs. The animals that became our present day species did not need full color vision for nighttime hunting. They did need a good sense of smell and hearing. Even if they couldn’t see it, they could smell it or hear it coming…friend or foe.

Most mammals retain poor color vision, except for primates. Believe it or not, some reptiles and birds see color much better than us. Our three-color HD TV would seem a bit lacking in their eyes.

Dogs derive a lot of information and comfort from their 3-D sense of smell. Dogs can tell sex, location, and the last meal by a sniff of a recent acquaintance. Combine that with body language and they can tell attitude and intentions as well. They don’t need to engage in much small talk, just some butt smelling and body language.

When I come home from work, my dogs try to see how many cats and dogs I have worked on that day. Some days they are very interested in a particular case, as they press and sniff with deep inhalations.

Many clients like to tell stories of their dogs’ “fetishes.” Just the other day an owner told me that their dog loves to go through the laundry or floor pile of clothes to find a shirt to take downstairs and lay on. Today a friend told me her 9-month-old bulldog loves to chew on underwear, and actually chewed the crotch out of a new expensive swim suit. The big problem was that she didn’t notice the hole till she wore it out in front of her sister-in –law, who thought it was just a new fashion.

Dogs love odors and the clothes that come in contact with our scent glands are prized possessions. We should be honored. They love us so much that they want us with them, and our body scent is comforting to them. Clothing and shoes that contact scent glands are often at risk for theft and destruction by well meaning dogs. They can’t help it, they are ruled by their noss.

Second-Hand Smoke

Study Finds Link Between Pet’s Health Problems and Owner’s Smoking Habits

Quitting smoking is difficult, but researchers have found one more reason to add to your list: it could be making your cat or dog sick.

Research conducted at Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts showed a link between cats diagnosed with lymph node cancer and contact with second-hand smoke, revealing that cats exposed to secondhand smoke developed lymphoma twice as often as cats in smoke-free homes.

The probably link revealed by the study is likely the way cats groom themselves – because cats groom themselves often, they lick the carcinogens that have been deposited on their fur, causing problems like oral cancer.

Dr. Carolynn Mac Allister, a veterinarian at Oklahoma State University, said cat health is compromised because the grooming “exposes the mucous membrane of their mouth to the cancer-causing carcinogens,” ScienceDaily.com reported.

Additionally, studies have shown that dogs exposed to smoke also had a higher chance of getting cancer. Specifically, dogs with long noses often develop nasal cancer as a result of being exposed to secondhand smoke. Short-nosed and medium dogs often develop lung cancer as a result of being exposed to secondhand smoke.

If quitting isn’t quite in the cards for you today but you would like to do what you can to protect your pets from secondhand smoke, consider smoking outside, or limiting smoking to a designated area of the house to which your pets are not allowed.