Don’t Jump!

Dog Ramps, Stairs Save Backs and Joints

Is your dog short-legged or long-backed? Or is he just a dog who likes to jump up on the couch a lot?

Depending on the situation, your dog might really need a set of stairs. Even if getting onto the couch or bed is simple for your dog now, that simple act might be causing a minor strain that can add up over time.

And if you’re asking your dog to make big jumps – like into trucks, onto boats or out of pools – you could be running the risk of a serious injury every time your dog makes the leap.

While some dogs are at a lower risk for joint or spinal injuries due to jumping, dogs that are long with short legs (like corgis, dachshunds and other short dogs) are at the highest risk for back and joint injuries. Dogs that are overweight are also at increased risk for these types of injuries.

Ramps and Steps Help Protect Dogs’ Backs

Pet steps are most commonly used inside the home for helping pets climb into bed, or onto their favorite chair or the couch. Some pet parents also like to pamper their dogs with a set of stairs by a window so they can check out who’s going for their morning or evening stroll around the block.

Installing a set of steps is a simple way to save wear and tear on your dogs’ spine and joints – especially if your dog is too short to handle jumping those small distances with ease.

Pet ramps can also work well indoors, but are great back-and-joint-savers for dogs of all sizes and abilities outdoors. Whether you’re asking your dog to climb out of the pool with ease or manage jumping into the bed of a tall pickup truck, a ramp is a safe way to make the job much easier.

Most types of dog ramps and stairs can be moved to wherever your dog needs them at the time, so you won’t need to buy several.

Important Things to Remember About Dog Ramps and Stairs

Ramps and stairs must be secured before use to prevent movement and slipping. If you are unable to physically latch down the ramp or stairs, consider adding non-skid padding, or even holding down the end of a ramp with your foot before your dog steps on it. Please remember – just because it looks like it’s secured doesn’t mean it will stay in place when your dog steps on it.

Teach puppies how to use ramps and stairs. Don’t just assume your dog is going to get the hang of using stairs when he no longer seems capable of jumping or when he is injured. By then, he may be so in the habit of jumping that using stairs or a ramp may be a very tough battle. Teach your dog how to use ramps and stairs at a young age to ensure his safety and success with ramps and stairs.

By installing ramps and stairs for your dog, you can spare him or her a lifetime of back or hip problems. Take the simple step of investing in pet stairs and ramps, and your dog with thank you later!

Does Your Pet Look Spooktacular?

Teddy’s Pride Halloween Pet Costume Photo Contest 2010

If you like to dress up your pets in their Halloween finest, you’re invited to join the Teddy’s  Pride Halloween Pet Costume Photo Contest 2010! All you need to do is send us a picture of your pet looking super spooky (or super cute!) in their Halloween finery by November 1.

First Prize – One full year’s supply (for one pet) of Teddy’s Pride Oral Care Probiotics for Cats and Dogs, the simple probiotic sprinkle that eliminates bad breath in cats and dogs while whitening and cleaning teeth.

Ten lucky runners up will win one jar of Teddy’s Pride – a two-month supply for one pet!

Steps For Entering

1) Make sure you are a friend of Teddy’s Pride on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000371177855).

2) Enter your photo by posting it to the wall of the Teddy’s Pride page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/TeddysPride).

3) Start self promoting! Direct your friends and families to your photo. Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter. Have them friend Teddy’s Pride and the more “likes” and comments you can get, the more likely you are to walk away with our grand prize!

This contest is sponsored by Teddy’s Pride, the first 100% natural Oral Care Probiotic for Cats and Dogs. Click here www.teddyspride.com to learn more about this innovative new product.

Doggy Dental Downers

What’s Happening In Fido’s Mouth?

Whether your pooch has stinky smooches or crooked teeth, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on what goes on inside his mouth. Just ask your veterinarian – your dog’s mouth is the gateway to his good health.

Here are some common oral conditions dogs may encounter:

Calculus, or tartar. Tartar looks a little different in dogs than it does in humans. In dogs, calculus is generally brown (instead of yellow, as it is in humans). This condition, which overlaps both the tooth and the gum line, is one of the most common dental problems that dogs may encounter. If left untreated, calculus can lead to abscesses and tooth loss. Moreover, an extreme case of calculus can lead to internal organ damage because bacteria can travel from the teeth into the blood stream.

Brushing your dog’s teeth, or gently rubbing his teeth with gauze, will help prevent the buildup and subsequent hardening of plaque and forming of calculus.

Malocclusions. This dental problem that is commonly faced by puppies when an adult tooth erupts before the baby tooth has fallen out. This can cause inflammation and tooth breakdown, and, if left untreated, sometimes causes an infection. Malocclusions can also cause adult teeth to erupt in the wrong position. Malocclusions cannot be prevented, but keeping an eye out for them can keep them from causing any harm. The critical window to monitor your puppy’s mouth is between 14 and 24 weeks old. If you suspect an adult tooth is growing in below or behind a baby tooth, call your dog’s veterinarian.

Gingivitis. Just like in humans, harmful bacteria in the mouth can build up on teeth, causing inflammation. This is called gingivitis. This inflammation can, in turn, lead to receding gums, loose teeth and, eventually, tooth loss. This is another reason to make sure your dog’s teeth are free from plaque.

Periodontal disease. Harmful bacteria strikes again! Periodontal disease is a serious, harmful condition caused by an imbalance of harmful bacteria in your dog’s mouth. One of the primary symptoms of periodontal disease in dogs is bleeding gum, so look for red or dark brown spots on your dogs chew toys. Severe periodontal disease in dogs has been linked to kidney failure, heart conditions and other life-threatening illnesses. If you suspect your dog has periodontal disease, be sure to contact your vet right away.

You can keep Fido’s breath sweet as a puppy’s and his teeth clean and white by adding a scoop of oral care probiotics to his food once daily. These beneficial bacteria crowd out the bacteria known to cause bad breath.

Bad Breath Might Be a Bad Sign

Is Bacteria Attacking Your Pets’ Organs?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three – Pet lovers are sure to find this statistic very startling, since most of us still thik of our pets as puppies and kittens at age three!

Does Your Pet Have Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is caused by the accumulation of dental plaque and inflammation of the tissues in the mouth. When the gums become inflamed, enzymes start to break down the connective tissues surrounding the teeth. This breakdown of tissues allows harmful bacteria that naturally reside in your pets’ mouths to pass through the tissue and into the bloodstream, where it can affect the liver, kidneys and heart.

The hallmark symptom of periodontal disease in pets is bad breath  -  the kind of bad breath that makes y0u not want to share a smooch, no matter how much you love your dog or cat.

If you mention that breath to your vet, he’s likely to recommend that you brush your pets’ teeth – a task that can be messy and stressful for both you and your pet.

I Love My Pets, But I Hate Their Breath!

Don’t worry! There’s a very simple way to eliminate stinky breath. By adding oral probiotics to your pets’ food once daily, you can improve the population of good bacteria in your pets’ mouths. These beneficial bacteria – or probiotics – eat the same foods and populate the same areas of the mouth as harmful bacteria. When you give the beneficial bacteria the upper hand, they return the favor by pushing out the harmful bacteria.

And with that, viola!

Bye-bye bad breath!

Easy Ways to Save!

Simple Money Saving Tips For Grooming Your Dog At-Home

Taking your dog’s grooming into your own hands is a great way to cut back on the expense of owning a pet, especially this time of year when the hot, sticky summer weather requires more bathing and grooming.

Bathing, nail trimming and oral care are some of the many ways you can be involved in grooming your dog. Here are some tips to help you curb your expenses at the groomers.

Invest In a Good Shedding Brush

If you don’t brush your dog with a good grooming rake or shedding brush before putting him in the tub, his loose hair and dirt will end up everywhere – on your hands, in the tub and down the drain. The world’s best-selling shedding brush is called the Furminator for a reason – it truly does remove a lot of loose dog hair, especially if your dog sheds a lot.

Nail Trimming Tips

Nail trimmers are another area where you want to spend your money wisely. Buying quality clippers will help you avoid splitting a nail, which not only hurts your dog – it could lead to an infection.

Unless your dog is super calm and cooperative, you might want to try clipping his nails while he sleeps, at least until you get your technique down. Be sure to trim only the very ends of the nails and to not nip the quick, which can cause pain and bleeding.

Getting Into the Bath

When it comes to bathing, each dog generally has his own preferences. Some dogs don’t mind a soapy romp with the hose in the backyard. Other dogs may prefer to be immersed in warm water. If it’s the first time you’re bathing your dog, try to find someone to lend a hand, in case you need it. It’s nice to have one person in charge of soaping and making sure the soap is thoroughly rinsed while the other runs the water.

Cleaning Teeth

It’s recommended that we brush our dogs’ teeth three times each week, if not every day. If your dog has smelly kisses, you probably understand that recommendation. A much simpler way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is to simply sprinkle Teddy’s Pride Oral Care Probiotics on his food once a day. Unlike any other pet oral care product available, the ProBiora3™ probiotics included in Teddy’s Pride™ Oral Care have been formulated to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause bad breath.

You don’t need to know all the tips of the grooming trade to keep your dog clean and fresh smelling at home! Just roll up your sleeves, roll out the hose and say goodbye to doggy smell!

Go Raw!

Feeding Pets Raw Foods Could Combat Common Allergies

You only have to read the dedication in Veterinarian Dr. Greg Martinez’s book, “The Dog Dish Diet” to know how very much he loves animals and wants them to be happy and healthy family members. “I’ve spent my whole life has centered around animals and keeping them healthy. This book is for them,” he writes.

Dr. Greg’s path as a veterinarian is revolutionary. Instead of loading pets up with prescription drugs, ointments and skin-care products, Dr. Greg has taken a step back to look at the root cause of common health challenges faced by pets. What he’s found is that many, many pets are suffering from food allergies.

“Kibble is not a natural diet for cats and dogs, who are meant to be eating meat, not dried foods that are wheat- and corn-based,” Dr. Greg explained, noting that kibble foods are generally full of allergens for pets, particularly glutens.  “All pets would benefit if they have a grain-free diet… I’m done with dry food and done with grains. If your pets are among the 60 percent that have an allergy or a food sensitivity, giving up the grains is absolutely the first place to start.”

So what does Dr. Greg recommend we feed pets? Meat and vegetables, either raw or slow cooked in a crockpot. Dr. Greg says that feeding pets a natural raw diet is not only healthy for their digestion, but it also works the pet’s bodies as they were meant to be worked. For instance, feeding dogs raw, frozen chicken thigh is great for their oral health, for both working the jaw and for scraping plaque and tartar off their teeth in a hypoallergenic way, since it’s his belief that many dog treats are filled with allergens.

To learn more about Dr. Greg’s Dog Dish Diet, check out his blog at www.dogdishdiet.com.

APPROVED!

Teddy’s Pride Receives Animal Wellness Magazine Seal of Approval

Products pour into the Animal Wellness Magazine offices every day, the makers of each hoping to receive the prestigious Animal Wellness Seal of Approval. Only a small handful of products are chosen for each bimonthly edition of the magazine.

We are pleased to announce that Teddy’s Pride Oral Care has been chosen by the editorial board of Animal Wellness to be featured as a product that has received the Animal Wellness Seal of Approval. In order to be chosen to receive the seal, the editorial department has to decide that the product is genuinely healthy and something their readers should know about.

Look for Teddy’s Pride in the June/July edition of the magazine, on newsstands now. You can also see it featured on their website early in June.

Teddy’s Pride is the very first oral care probiotic that freshens cats’ and dogs’ breath within days and can whiten pets’ teeth safely and naturally using beneficial bacteria found naturally in very healthy mouths. Teddy’s Pride is simply sprinkled on pets’ food once daily. The tasteless, odorless probiotic is designed for even the most finicky eaters!

What’s Up With Your Pooch’s Smooches?

Stinky Pet Breath Could Be a Sign of Something Serious

Your dog is nothing but a big, furry pile of love. And, if he’s like 80% of dogs over the age of 3, he’s got some wicked breath.

That’s because, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 80% of dogs over the age of 3 have some form of periodontal disease.

Periodontal infections in dogs have been linked to many life-threatening disorders, including diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease.

How Does Periodontal Disease Develop?

The primary reason periodontal disease is so common in dogs is because owners seldom brush their dogs’ teeth. Because of this, food particles and bacteria collect along the gum line, forming plaque. If plaque is not removed, minerals in the saliva combine with the plaque and form tartar which adheres strongly to the teeth. This tartar irritates the gums, causing an inflammation called gingivitis, which looks like a reddening of the gums near the teeth.

The tartar then begins to form under the gums, as well, separating the gums from the teeth and forming pockets. It’s in these pockets that harmful bacteria thrive. These bacteria produce foul smelling gasses that are responsible for bad breath.

Smooch That Bad Breath Goodbye With Oral Care Probiotics!

Adding a sprinkle of oral care probiotics to your dog’s food each day can help combat your dog’s bad breath. These beneficial bacteria compete with the harmful bacteria in your dog’s mouth for both space and nutrients, leaving little room for those harmful bacteria to set up shop. Without a strong foot-hold, your dog’s bad breath becomes a thing of the past!

Smooch the Pooch! Teddy’s Pride New Facebook Group

Dogs make great best friends for good reason. They know our secrets, always have a listening ear to hear about our day and offer up an endless supply of kisses and affection… Not to mention the fact that they make fantastic models for a holiday fashions like antler head bands and jingle-bell collars.

Dogs really are the perfect companions, making us healthier by inspiring more walks and reducing stress.  Ah, there is so much to love about dogs…it’s no wonder many of us have become dog parents. I, for one, know my dog would be shocked to learn she actually is a dog, especially on Christmas morning when she runs to tear open the new toys and treats in her stocking.

There is just one thing that reminds me that she is actually a pooch… the breath.  I have tried everything to get rid of that bad breath.  Chews, biscuits, brushing – the list goes on and on. If you love smooches from you pooch but don’t want to experience that lingering scent on your freshly kissed cheek, I have the perfect solution for you!
Probiotics!

Yeah, I know, who would think these amazing good bacteria could actually keep our dogs breath fresh all the time? Woohoo!  Have no fear my dog-loving friends, better breath is just a pet probiotic sprinkle away. That’s right – no mess, no fuss and no stress trying to get those teeth clean.  Teddy’s Pride Pet Probiotics gently crowd out the bacteria that create the smelly volatile sulfur compounds (VOCs) responsible for dog breath.

Fresher kisses are just a sprinkle away!

GREAT NEWS! You can win a FREE TWO-MONTH SUPPLY of this tale waggin’ new product!

Send me your favorite photo of your pooch and you might just be the lucky winner of a 2 month supply of Teddy’s Pride Oral Care to try it out for yourself!

Everyone is a winner!  Each contestant will receive a digital promo code for $5 off a 2 month supply of Teddy’s Pride Oral Care by participating in at least one of the options below:  
Extra credit – Just like in school, the Tooth Fairy loves extra credit.  The more you participate in the 10 items below the more points you will win!  The five people who have the most point by 12-31-09 will receive a FREE 2 month supply of Teddy’s Pride Oral Care. Lets go people, the quality of your holiday kisses are depending on you.

HERE’S HOW TO WIN the FREE 2 Month Supply of Teddy’s Pride Oral Care:

-    PSST! Enter as often as you like. The more you enter, the better your chances to win!

1.    Upload a picture of your pooch to the new Facebook Group ‘Smooch Your Pooch“ You can join here.

We’d LOVE to see a picture of you with your pooch, OK, if your camera shy we understand, a solo of your four-legged family member will be perfect too!)  Remember, cuteness counts people so get out your camera and start capturing the million adorable looks you get each day.

2.    Subscribe to My blog – www.lindathetoothfairy.com

3.    Follow Teddy’s Pride on Twitter – @TeddysPride

4.   Fan Teddy’s Pride on Facebook – Fan Teddy’s Pride fan Page Page Here for updates, reviews and coupons

5.     Tweet Up! – Tell your friends about the Facebook promo and/or something that you learned about Teddy’s Pride from my blog.   Mention @TeddysPride or use #TeddysPride in your tweet, then make the comment on this post about your tweet.  You can do this daily! I’ll be watching for your entries!

6.   FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES – Blog about this giveaway, with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post.

7.    Add www.Lindathetoothfairy.com to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me!

8.    Fave us on Technorati and leave your User Name in comments.

9.    Digg this post, Stumble or share the Facebook group with your friends and family who LOVE coffee and post a comment to this blog article.

10.    Please leave all actions as a comment to this blog post so I can monitor it daily.

Easy enough?  then!

Please leave your email address with your comment so we can reach you if you win.   Hurry and enter this promo, it will only last until 12-31-09.
Please submit all photos to teddyspridesm at teddyspride dot com for moderation.  Please include your name with the email for reference.

Helpful Hints For Santa

What Your Dog Really Wants in His Stocking This Year

Ah, the holidays and pets. I know I love to spoil my dog, Emma, nearly as much as any mother loves to play Santa’s helper, filling stockings to the brim with fun toys and tasty treats.

It’s incredibly difficult to tell you what YOUR dog will want in his stocking. Of course, some dogs are major fans of the infamous oddly-shaped chewing toy, while others will go through an 18 pack of tennis balls (and not the cheap ones!) in a matter of days.

Make Sure Food Treats are Healthy

What I would like to offer is a little advice to choose healthy treats for your four-footed best friend at the holidays or any time of the year. It’s really sad that “healthy” doesn’t come across as fun, or tasty to we humans. I mean, I LOVE fresh fruits and veggies, but when I say that to anyone, I seldom get the same reaction as when I divulge my chocolate of choice. That being said, our puppies aren’t really as finicky as we humans are. What they REALLY like is something good to chew on and something that tastes like meat.

So, when you’re choosing food treats for your dog, remember that he is, truly, a carnivore by nature. “Beef flavor” may sound appealing but beef-flavored grain-based biscuits are not a very healthy choice for a tasty treat. Clean proteins are always a better choice for your dog.

Make Sure Chew Toys are Safe

And when it comes to chew toys – whatever your dog likes best is just fine as long as it is safe for him. Real bones and rawhides are both choking and digestive hazards, so while your dog may drool up a storm for a fresh bone to chew on, it truly isn’t in his best interest to indulge in that particular treat.

If you want to give your dog a treat that treats you, too – by improving doggie bad breath around the clock, consider trying a jar of Teddy’s Pride Oral Care .  Adding these colorless, odorless probiotic sprinkles to your pet’s food just once a day can quickly turn doggy breath into kissing-fresh breath. That’s a treat both you and your dog can agree on!