Lovereunited

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d gsTexas &catsFebruary 2012Houston

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Joint Support:

Love Reunited

Puppy 101

Reunited

Tips for Finding a Lost Pet

Microchipping

The Story of Boots

Sit at the Door

Demystifying Joint Support Supplements

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Joint Support: Meet the vet

Marketplace

Spotted by the Pupperazzi

PubLiSheRShannan Parker

Tel: 281.781.4727info@texascatsanddogs.com

ediToRTiffany Robinson

tiffanyrobinson99@gmail.com

accounT eXecuTiveJeff Parker

Tel: 281.781.4727

deSigneRFran Sherman314.275.2208

fran@shermanstudios.com

Contributing WritersDougie Deogi

Tricia FaganNadine Jol-Coeur

Amy KellyDean Miller

Monica Schmidt

pHotograpHerSonya Sellers

printed byDemocrat Printing &Lithographing Co.

6401 Lindsey RoadLittle Rock, AR 72206Phone: 815.334.8740

adveRTiSe WiTh uS!281.781.4727 • Houston@TexasDogsAndCats.com

Next Issue: March 2012advertiser’s deadline: February 15th 2012

Just Throw Me A Bone!

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dougie deogi, Rescue Reporter

22 doggy dentistry

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6 d gsTexas &cats6

Providing good quality joint support supplements is one of the most common and impor-tant aspects of maintaining joint health, especially in colder weather and as the pet ages. With so many products available how does one choose the right product for your pet’s

specific needs? Here are a few key ingredients that are important to look for when shopping for the perfect joint supplement.

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Glucosamine is perhaps the most widely known and one of the most important ingredients for joint health. Glucosamine is a fairly small particle and is absorbed well by the body and is used to make thick and viscous joint fluid. This viscous joint fluid cushions the two bone endings and allows them to glide smoothly over each other. The recommended amount of Glucos-amine for a 50 pound dog is 1000 milligrams per day. If there is less than this it is simply not enough.

Chondroitin is another common ingredient found in joint supple-ments. This molecule is an impor-tant component of cartilage. It is a larger molecule than Glucosamine and thus is not as readily absorbed into the body.

MSM is an ingredient that is widely known to have an anti-in-flammatory effect. This is impor-

tant as inflammation causes the release of hydrolyzing enzymes. These enzymes cause the break down of the joint fluid that cush-ions the joint.

Hylauronic Acid is another component found in many joint supplements that chemically is the same as joint fluid. Wouldn’t this be the ideal product to give to your pet you might ask? The downside of

Hylauronic Acid is that it is a very large molecule and unlike Glucosamine it is not absorbed well into the body.

Herbs are also a great choice for joint support. A few herbs to look for are boswelia, an herb that also helps to stop the breakdown of joint fluid, yucca, curcumin, and corydalis. Cinnamon is also a great choice because it has a slight warm-ing quality for pets that have joint issues that tend to get worse in cold

weather.One other suggestion is to add

Omega 3 fatty acids to the pet’s diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory by nature and help to provide great joint support as well!

As always, it is generally a good idea to be preventative when it comes to joint care. It is a great idea to support your pet through-out their life rather than wait until problems occur.

Demystifying Joint Support Supplements

Christine Bessent, DVM is the owner and founder of Herbsmith Inc. She created Herbsmith Inc. as a way to provide impeccable quality herbal supplements for pets. Dr. Bessent has been a practicing Veterinarian for nearly 25 years in Southeast Wisconsin, most of which as a Holistic Veterinarian.

Mar. 31, 2012

findingyour pet

Tips & Ideas to Help

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• Check the immediate area calling your pet’s name. Check sheds, crawlspaces, garages, etc, think about where your pet could be hiding. Stay calm and try and focus on the following list of things to do.

• Make posters and flyers with a picture of your pet and post them in the area. Also post them in convenience stores, pet stores, local veterinary clinics and the pet food aisle of the grocery story. (Be sure to ask per-mission and remove posters when your pet is located). Visit www.missingpetpart-nership.org. They have some specific tips on likely behav-ior of lost animals to help you locate your pet. This is important!

• Place an ad in your local newspaper and its online version and check for lost pet ads. Follow up on any ad that sounds even remotely like your pet. Not everyone will classify a pet as the same breed.

• Contact your veterinarian and make sure they have current contact information for you. If someone finds your pet and calls them based on the rabies tag, they will need to contact you. Don’t forget to contact past veterinarians as well as

just in case the pet is traced back to them.

• Contact local emergency vets. If you pet was injured it might have been taken there. Leave contact infor-mation and a description of your pet.

• If your pet is microchipped contact the microchip company and make sure they have current contact information.

• Call your local Police Department

• Contact local Animal Care and Control and other local shelters.

• Visit local animal shelters every day, IN PERSON. Only you can truly ID your pet and they may not have long to be recovered once they are in the shelter. Do not only check in your city, check in neighboring cities in case your pet wandered into their jurisdiction.

• If your pet is a specific breed contact local breed-ers or breed specific rescue groups. Give them your information.

• Check and post on websites including social networking sites if you are a member. Also, if your neighborhood has a website, post an ad on there.

• Petfinder also has some really useful information as

well as a section to post lost and found pets. Also check the adoptable pet section. If a good Samaritan found the pet there is a chance it ended up at a rescue group instead of the local shelter, and the rescue group may have posted it as an adopt-able pet.

• Don’t give up too early! Keep at it! Pets have been found months after they were originally lost.

• Please note that even if you do not have a computer or use the internet frequently, that does not mean that the person who found your pet is the same way. Your pet may be listed on five different sites but you won’t know unless you look. The opposite is true as well. The person who found your pet may not have the internet and may bet listing the pet in newspapers. Please keep this in mind and use every available resource to look for your pet.

This information courtesy of Friendship Animal Hospital 9825 South Mason Rd, Suite 150, Richmond, TX. 77406 281-239-6500. To learn more about Friendship Animal Hospital be sure to visit their website-www.FriendshipAH.com

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Microchips are typically about the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is inserted into the loose skin on the back of the neck or between the shoulders using a spe-cially designed implanting device. The procedure is quick, surgery-free, and often de-scribed as similar to your pet receiving a vaccination. The pain associated with your pet having a microchip inserted would also be similar to the vaccination process.

Each microchip carries a unique registration number that is logged into a database where information is stored about the dog and its owner. When a scanner is passed over the microchip the unique number is displayed on a screen. The person scanning the pet is able to contact the company to request the pet owner’s information from the registry. Aside from get-ting your pet microchipped the most important thing to remember is to register your

chip and keep the information associated with it up to date. Phone numbers, addresses, and emails may change over time. If the contact informa-tion is not up to date your pet may not be able to find his or her way home.

A quick browse of the American Veterinary Medical Assocation’s (AVMA’s) web-site gave astonishing insight into just how important a microchip can be. Citing a study of over 7,700 stray pets at various animal shelters, the AVMA states that dogs with-out a microchip were returned to their family 21.9% of the time. Microchipped dogs found their way home 52.2% of the time! That’s a pretty big difference. But even more astonishing was the fact that non-microchipped cats were only reunited with owners 1.8% of the time. In contrast, cats with a microchip found their family 38.5% of the time! That’s a HUGE differ-ence. (The AVMA website

credits Lord et al, JAVMA, July 15, 2009, for the infor-mation) AVMA’s website also states that “for microchipped animals that weren’t returned to their owners, most of the time it was due to incorrect owner information (or no owner information) in the microchip registry database.”

At Houston Humane Society, we feel microchip-ping is such an important step in protecting pets that we microchip every cat and dog adopted from our program, and it is registered to his or her new family before they leave the building. In addi-tion, if you have a pet that needs to be microchipped, the HHS Animal Wellness Clinic offers the service for just $25! We also recommend you still use a traditional collar and tag system with your pet as well. Don’t wait, arm your pet with the tools he or she may need one day to safely return to you.

Microchipping is recognized as the most effective and secure way to locate a lost pet. For exam-ple, it could be quite difficult to describe YOUR

lab mix to someone who is looking at 30 other lab mixes the same color. But if your dog was microchipped, the finder could quickly discover who the pet belonged to, there would be no confusion, and little to no time spent searching to match up dog and owner. Veterinary offic-es, animal shelters, and many pet boarding and shopping facilities are outfitted with a microchip scanner.

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To add the cue, “sit” to the dog’s behavior of sitting, first have your dog do a few sits. With your dog on a leash, and a supply of yummy treats, wait. When your dog does sit, give him a treat. You may praise your dog for sitting, if you like. Repeat this a few times. When your dog is in a steady rhythm of sitting, say “sit” while your dog is standing. In order for the as-sociation to be made between

the word “sit” and the dog’s behavior of sitting, you must say sit before he begins to sit.

So, you are saying “sit”, and your dog sits. Wow! It looks like your dog knows the meaning of the word sit. Not so fast. It will take many rep-etitions before Fido makes the association between the word and his behavior. Do this exercise fifteen to twenty five times a day for a week or two. Fido will begin to understand.

Now we need to teach your dog the word associated with lying down. As with sit, we need to have the dog lying down frequently. With your dog on leash, and lots of yummy treats, wait. Having just received lots of treats for sitting, Fido will sit, and sit and sit. Don’t worry. Just continue to wait. When Fido is lying down quickly, you are ready to add the cue. When Fido is sitting or standing,

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Last month, we taught your dog to sit and lie down. this month, we will add the cue to sit and down, as well at teach your dog to sit and wait at the door.

d gsTexas &cats

sit!at the door

13{February 2012}

say, “down”. Wait! When your dog is lying down, give him a treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Again, it looks like your dog understands the word down. He doesn’t, not yet anyway. Practice sit and down every day. Sometimes, start with fifteen to twenty five sits, and other times start with fifteen to twenty five downs.

Now that your dog sits, you can turn that behavior into something very useful, for example, sit at the door. So many people call me, “My dog runs out the door when it is opened!” If you teach your dog to sit every time the door is opened, you will not have to worry about losing him.

To ensure your dog’s safe-ty while training, you will need a long leash. A really long leash! The faster your dog is, the slower you are, the longer the leash should be. The leash prevents the dog from running out the door when you open it. You can usually find twenty to fifty foot leashes at local pet stores. A retractable leash will not work, you need an old fashioned leash. Attach the long leash to your dog’s harness before attempting to teach sit at the door. Treats in hand, and your twenty to fifty foot leash dragging on the ground, go to the door of your home. Ask your dog to sit, and give him a treat when he sits. While your dog is sitting, take one step toward the door. If your dog remains in a sit, give him a treat.

Did your dog get up from his sit? Try again, but be sure to take only one step.

Reward your dog when he successfully remains in a sit. What? He still did not remain in a sit? Try lift-ing one of your feet, then put it back. Was your dog successful? Yeah! Reward him. If your dog is success-ful with you lifting one of your feet off the ground, try one step toward the door. A tiny step. Reward your dog each time he is successful. Try again when he is not. Slowly increase your move-ments toward the door.

When you are close enough, touch the door. Re-ward Fido for remaining in a sit. Next, touch the door handle, again rewarding your dog for staying in his sitting position. Wiggle the door handle, give the dog a treat for sitting. Open the door a fraction of an inch, close the door, reward your dog for staying. Gradually open the door wider and wider, giving the dog a treat each time he succeeds.

Should your dog try to go out the door, step on your long leash, preventing him from enjoying a romp around the neighborhood. Practice until you can open the door, even go outside, and your dog remains in a sit. Use the long leash until you are certain your dog will stay. Congratulations! You are on your way to a well behaved dog.

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anuary 12th was just like any other busy mov-ing day. Jeremy James and his business partners were taking advantage of the gorgeous morning to schlep furniture into their new office building. As usual, Jeremy’s 160lb Saint Bernard, Boots, was

busy “supervising” the work to make sure everything was done to his liking. At approximately 9:50a.m. Jeremy attached Boots’ leash to the office door while he moved in a large piece of furniture. When he returned to the front of the building- less than 10 minutes later- Boots was GONE!

Jeremy immediately set out looking for Boots. He plas-tered full color missing posters around town, made a police report and posted missing ads with local newspapers. He also created a Facebook Page devoted to helping spread the word about his missing dog. Jeremy used his Facebook page (Help me find my Saint Bernard) to notify local media and animal lovers. Within hours several thousands of Houstonians were on the lookout for Boots!

Sightings of Boots began to come in from all over. Sev-eral were from the area where she was stolen. A dedicated group of volunteers set up a stake out in the area where several reports said she had been sighted.

Finally, 7 days after Boots was stolen, Jeremy caught a break. On January 19th a man called him to report he had purchased Boots for $20.00. He subsequently sold her to another man for $50.00. The caller indicated he would get in touch with the man who had Boots and ask him to contact Jeremy. A very long two hours later a different man called Jeremy. He said he didn’t want any trouble; he just wanted to return the dog and be reimbursed for what he had spent at the vet (he claimed over $560.00). He told Jeremy to meet him at the Katy Mills Mall to pick up Boots.

That evening Jeremy contacted a Police friend and set out for the Mall to hopefully be reunited with his lost dog. When Jeremy arrived at the mall he was met by a very shady, agitated man with no Boots! The man did offer a receipt for $560.00 from a vet which Jeremy gladly paid once he heard Boots was safely waiting in the man’s car.

Jeremy’s unwillingness to give up on his best friend helped Boots find his way home, and Jeremy and Boots have some words of advice for all pet own-ers. NEVER leave your dog unattended anywhere, day or night. Also, if your pet is stolen try to bring a police officer or at least a friend with you to meet the person returning your dog, even if they say they bought it from someone else. You never know! And always plan to meet in a public, well-lit area

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17{February 2012}

When Texas Dogs & Cats Magazine decided to dedicate an issue to lost pet information I set out to find an amazing story. Along the way I stumbled across www.wildfirepetrescue.com, a website dedicated to reuniting owners and lost pets from the Texas wildfires. Wow!

This entire project was put together by volunteers, and has some of the most incredible tales of both triumph and heartbreak. The site is organized well, and viewers are able to search for both lost and found pets by area of Texas and by species. It was unbelievable to see how many people banded together to help lost pets find their way home during this horrific crisis.

Wildfire Pet Rescue Group describes themselves on Facebook as a volunteer group, NOT associated with any shelter. Our goal is to help pet owners find their pets that went missing because of the wildfires in Texas, and other disasters. We maintain this page and the website www.wildfirepetres-cue.com as well as some other local or general pages (see links below). We post pictures or... information about pets from many sources, such as the local shelters and craigslist, and we encourage the community to con-tact us with information about strays. Our strategy is to then pass this information on to the pet owners so they know where to look for their pet. If you have a LOST pet, please provide (1) pet’s name, (2) description, including coat coloration and pattern, length of hair, and any unique markings, scars, or behaviors, (3) approximate size and age, (4) location last seen, including city and county, and (5) your contact information. Include any PICTURE - If you do not have a picture sometimes a picture of a similar animal is helpful (please indicate that it is just a representation of your pet). If you have a FOUND pet, this includes any you are car-ing for, have turned in to local shelters or rescue groups, or that you have seen in the neighbor-hood, please post to our page and website. Please provide (1) de-scription, such as coat coloration

and pattern, length of hair, and any unique markings, scars, or behaviors that you were able to note, approximate size and age, (2) location last seen, including city and county, or the location the pet will be staying until owners are found and (3) your contact information. Remember to also check shelters in your area and even in adjacent counties, local rescue groups.

My favorite from the re-united page is Yankee.

Yankee, a sun conure belonging to Louis of Bastrop was reported missing by Lou-is’ brother. Evidently Yankee and his cage went missing from his post. The family hoped someone took him in an attempt to rescue him, but feared for the worst. On September 14th, 2011, the internet world found out what happened to Yankee. Fire fighters left a note on Louis’ door with a number to call. In a heroic act, fire fighters grabbed Yankee knowing he was sure to perish if left alone. They loaded up Yankee and his cage, and off they went to save lives. Yankee road with them to every fire they fought that day. When he made it to the station, firemen fought over who would get to take him home and foster him until his owner could be found. He was declared their unofficial mascot, and even offered to care for him until Louis was back on his feet!

Though time has passed, the wildfire pet rescue site is still very much active. People have not given up hope of be-ing reunited with their furry family members. In addition, the group continues to help other pets that have been lost or found since the fires. Out of the tragic fires that ravaged our state came this amazing group of volunteers and this creative system to help pets find their way home. A lost dog, cat, or any other creature can’t pipe up and tell you where they belong. Take a little time this week to do the following: get your pet micro-chipped. If they already are, make sure the information is current. Take a new photo of your furry friend. Make sure you get close ups of any distinguishing marks. Don’t forget to update their tags! And keep their collar and tags on them at all times.

yankee

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Kathy Bigham’s cat Doc, went missing for several days. Day after day of searching, we began to lose hope that we would ever even find out what had happened to him. Then one night we heard a familiar, yet faint, meowing at the door. There he was! Covered in mud and unable to move his back legs, he had crawled his way home by pulling himself with his front paws. A quick trip to the vet proved what we had feared, he had been struck by a car. The trauma to his back legs was tempo-rary and he was able to walk again, but the vet was concerned they might have to amputate his tail. Our sweet kitty who had struggled to return home seemed to sense what might happen and would stare at his tail intently each day until one day, the tip began to move and finally he was able to lift it again. He carried his tail proudly the rest of his 18 years and never left the safety of our yard again. The love and loyalty of both cats and dogs is a blessing to all who experience it.

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reunited (conTinued)

19{February 2012}

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the trouble with Tucker:

“It’s ‘National Pet Dental Month’ and time to get my choppers cleaned. It’s so scary for me. First I spend all day at the veterinary clinic. Because I’m asleep for the cleaning, I must go with an empty stomach. Therefore, I can’t eat supper the night

before. So I’m not only frightened and uncomfortable but, also, famished.

just throw me a

Before I go to sleep a nurse takes blood from my little front leg. This is checked to make sure I’m healthy. I feel and look perfectly fine. I’m not sure why all the worry. Finally, the doctor appears with the syringe loaded with medicine to make me sleepy. Well, that’s all I remember. When I wake up I have a kis-sin’ clean mouth and my teeth sparkle. I’m confused about all this fuss and expense. I’m

sure that gnawing on an old steak bone would be just as effective, more enjoyable and cost less. Mom, please explain” WHY” I need a PROFESSIONAL DEN-TAL CLEANING.”

“Well, Tucker you pose a very good question that justi-fies an explanation.” Let’s begin with a brief descrip-tion of a “professional dental cleaning”. This refers to scaling both above and below

the gums (or gingiva) with power and/or hand instru-mentation. Afterward each tooth is polished to restore the enamel’s smooth surface. Trained, veterinary health providers do the entire pro-cess under general anesthesia. Frequently, teeth are brushed or hand scaled by pet own-ers or individuals untrained in dental hygiene techniques. While this serves to remove some accumulated food and

bone!

plaque on top of the teeth (crown), the portion of the teeth below the gums (root) remains neglected. Only a “professional dental cleaning” adequately cleanses to main-tain oral health.

February has been des-ignated as “National Pet Dental Month”. At this time veterinarians throughout the country put extra emphasis on oral hygiene and health. However, as pet owners we need to maintain focus on this throughout the year making it a life-long effort beginning at an early age.

“Tucker, let’s outline a home plan to keep our pet’s mouths clean and disease free to assure a full set of teeth throughout their life”. As a puppy or kitten the teeth should be brushed several times a week or, ideally, once a day. Start slowly and progress gradually.

The mechanical process of brushing is the best way to physically remove soft deposits of food and plaque. A number of products are available at pet stores and veterinary clinics. They range in various shapes, sizes, angles and textures appropriate for the small cat or the large ca-nine. Our pets have sensitive gums so the bristles should be very soft. If brushes aren’t an option rubber finger cots, gauze pads or cloth finger wraps provide sufficient abrasive action to do a good job. These are often less bulky than a brush and may be a better choice.

“Tucker, let’s look at a way to start a puppy or kitten on a home- brushing campaign.” Begin slowly and exercise patience. Get the pet ac-customed to regular handling

around the head and muzzle. Keep the sessions short and follow by a positive reward such as a treat or affection-ate pat on the head. Make slow deliberate movements that simulate a caress to put the pet at ease. When he/she is comfortable and trusts the movements, slowly run the hand over the lips pulling them back to expose the teeth. Put a little pressure on the back teeth to help hold the lips back. Initially, it’s best to use a gauze pad or washcloth to wipe the outside surface of the front, side and back teeth (incisors, canines, premolars

and molars, respectively). Once this has been accom-plished, water or pleasant tasting liquid (such as broth or tuna water) can be used to facilitate success. The next step is to introduce the toothbrush. It’s best to rotate the bristles at a 45-degree angle and use a circular action over the surface. Obviously, the front and side teeth are easiest to clean. The molars and surfaces adjacent to the tongue are more difficult to reach. However, with a lot of positive reinforcement and patience this is an attainable goal. Fortunately, there is a

20 d gsTexas &cats

variety of dentifrices available in pet stores and veterinary clinics. Human toothpaste, which contains detergents for foaming and other ingredients, such as fluoride should never be used. They are made for brushing and then to be rinsed and expec-torated. When swallowed they can cause gastritis and, if ingested on a regular basis, are toxic. Few dogs and cats are talented enough to rinse and spit! Also, fluoride is of little benefit in dogs and cats. ALWAYS USE PET APPROVED PRODUCTS.

If brushing isn’t an option or additional home care is desired there’s a number of other products. One group consists of gels and rinses. Most contain chlorhexidine or chlorine dioxide, antimicrobial drugs that kill bacteria, the culprits of periodontal

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disease. Some contain fluoride, which serves to restore weakened or sensitive enamel. ONLY USE PET APPROVED PROD-UCTS.

Dry food with a scientifically designed shape and texture has been tested and manufactured to aid in plaque control. The kibble is made to remain intact for the first chew. The morsels keep their integrity as the tooth enters to provide a squeegee-type effect. For added protection some diets contain sodium hexametaphos-phate. Once again a veterinarian should be consulted prior to selec-tion and purchase.

If brushing with doggie tooth paste, applying anti-plaque solu-tions and feeding anti-plaque diets isn’t enough then why not try one or several of the chewing materials specially formulated for oral care. The purpose of teeth is to grab and chew food. Chewing is a necessary activity. This in-stinctive behavior can be satisfied with chew material. Items that mimic chewing through a hide provide some of the best plaque control. Rawhide strips impreg-nated with toothpaste have flex-ibility and suppleness that make excellent choices. Harder chew material, such as hooves, bones, and compressed plastic, may have

greater longevity, but the poten-tial for tooth fracture and wear is much greater.

“Tucker, a healthy mouth is the responsibility of every pet owner. We should protect our beloved, four- legged companions from calculus formation, gum disease and inevitable tooth loss. A healthy mouth is paramount to overall health. Accumulated calculus impinges upon and ir-ritates the gums causing recession, gum infection (peridontitis) and, ultimately, loose teeth. From the mouth bacteria can enter the blood stream and travel to any part of the body.. Peridontitis is especially dangerous to pets with pre-existing conditions such as sugar diabetes or cardiac, respira-tory, liver and kidney disease. If this isn’t bad enough, infection contributes to bad breath or halitosis, a primary indicator of dental problems. As pet owners we can clean the exposed tooth surfaces but not those areas below the gums and the less assessable, lingual surfaces. Therefore, for a healthy mouth you need to have a “professional dental cleaning”. Now, Tucker, do you understand “WHY” this is necessary? Chew-ing on an old bone may be less ex-pensive but it’s not advisable and certainly not as effective.

{February 2012}

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In the wild, would you expect to see tartar on a wolf or a wild animal? Of course not. So why is it that in domestic animals that dental disease and is-sues is probably the #1 most common health problem seen by veterinarians.

Dry Food cleans my pet’s teeth.

The #1 myth out there is that crunchy food helps clean my pet’s teeth. After you eat a cookie and run your tongue over your teeth, how do your teeth feel? How do your teeth

feel when you eat raw crunchy vegetables? It is not surpris-ing that pet foods made from highly processed ingredients may be a contributor to your pet’s overall dental health. Poor quality or highly pro-cessed ingredients combined

with your pet’s saliva foster a breeding ground for bacteria.

Every pet must have a dental cleaning 1-2 times/year

Not all pets are created equal. Some toy breed dogs

denTaL MyThS

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have a tendency to develop severe den-tal issues, and when left unchecked they result in tooth loss or extraction. Other breeds may have overcrowded teeth that make them more prone to dental issues. Some pets have great teeth and may just need a regular maintenance program.

All pet owners should have a dental health plan for their pet. A healthy mouth is important to the overall health of your pet. Bacteria, left unchecked, can enter the bloodstream through their gums and affect critical organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys; as well as causing inflamma-tion in joints and other areas.

aWaReneSSRegularly examine your pet’s teeth and

gums. Healthy gums are firm and pink, black or spotted. Young dogs have smooth white teeth that tend to darken with age. To check your dog’s mouth, lift up the sides of their mouth. Make sure the gums are healthy and that there is not a bad breath order. If you see yellow or brownish stuff on the teeth, this is plaque or tartar. If the gums are red that is likely gingivitis.

Prevention - a healthy dietA healthy diet is important for overall

health and also for dental health. When we eat a healthy diet our teeth and gums feel cleaner. Animals in the wild have white clean teeth. Limit processed treats and foods. Feed a diet comprised of high ingredients thus reducing plaque and tartar. You can also look to feed raw meaty bones. The chewing action and the en-zymes in the bones help keep teeth white and clean. Remember, the healthier your pet is, the better the immune system, and the less infection will develop.

Brushing at HomeBrushing your pet’s teeth weekly will

help reduce the buildup of plaque and stimulates the gums to keep them healthy. Only a little pet toothpaste is needed and never use human toothpaste. There are several products ranging from den-tal wipes, rubber brushes and specially designed toothbrushes. Whatever you use, make sure to rub gently in a downward motion so as not to push bacteria up into the gums.

dental health Products.There are many products on the

market. You may want to use one or a combination of a few prod-ucts. I recommend that you look for products made in the USA.

• Triple Pet Products - An all natural dental solution that is made in the USA. The tooth-paste is all natural, made in the US and the plaque off solution for the water is odorless, color-less and tasteless for those picky pets.

• TrueBlue Dental wipes - dental wipes are an easy way to wipe off any plaque buildup between brushings

• Ark Naturals Brushless tooth-paste chews - if you do not want to brush their teeth, it is a chew with toothpaste and its ridged surface is meant to help massage the gums as the dogs chew them.

• Terrabone Fresh Breath chews - are an all-natural and organic edible, dental chew bone spe-cifically formulated with natural ingredients that help promote

fresh breath and clean teeth.• Aromadog Blutos (for dogs) or

purrly whites (for cats) - An all natural breath freshener, an ex-ceptional blend for oral hygiene, bad breath, and periodontal disease.

• Hydrosols of peppermint and helichrysum, combined with anti-inflammatory (thyme linelol) and antibacterial (niaouli) provide an effective and natural oral hygiene treat-ment. It is great for pets that have excessive tartar buildup.

Dental care requires some ef-fort but it is well worth it. Often independent pet stores will be able to give you good advice to steer you towards products that best meet your needs. It goes a long way to keep your pet healthy, happy and around for a long time. If your pet seems cranky, take a look inside their mouth. Dental problems are often an underlying cause of your pet not feeling well and once addressed they become healthy and playful again.

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Hello Houston! Yes, it’s me, Dougie Deogi, Rescue Reporter, coming to you from the

unbelievable world of dog rescue.So, it’s Valentine month, right?

Love, love, love...all you need is love! Right? Right!

Deogi Dougie

24 d gsTexas &cats

rescue reporter

{February 2012}

Hello Houston!Yes, it’s me, Dougie Deogi,

Rescue Reporter, coming to you from the unbelievable world of dog rescue.

So, it’s Valentine month, right? Love, love, love . . . . all you need is love! Right? Right!

Lotsa people get dogs because of all the love we give, right? Yep. We’re loyal, don’t care if you’re skinny or fat, young or old. We just L.O.V.E. you, uncondition-ally, right?

Yep, so how come so many folks get rid of their dogs when they get a little old? HUH?

Well, guess what? I know why, so let me tell you!

It’s because these old dogs are TOTALLY BORING! Yes, that’s right, BORING.

They sleep all day. They are too darn quiet and they leave all of the chewing up of furniture and stuff to me and my puppy sisters.

They don’t like to run through the yard getting muddy and then jump up on the white couch – so I always get blamed for the muddy foot prints on the couch.

And, good grief, they ALWAYS go outside to go potty. HUMPH. They are just making me look bad.

Why keep an old, calm dog

with you can have little pup-pies who run outside in the rain, jump in each and every mud puddle outside and then come bounding into the house, bringing all the mud with them.

Anyone want one of these boring dogs?

There’s Jock, a 14 year old lhasa that was left at BARC just before Christmas. We have Daisy May, a sweet 13 year old brown lhasa girl. There’s Dolly, who is around 13 and was left at the Mont-gomery County shelter,

So, all of these old dogs, who are so boring and have such good manners that they are making me look bad – well, they are looking for homes. So contact my crazy lady owner’s rescue to adopt one of these so I can get back to normal. Or, if you like other breeds, look on Petfinder.com. Other breed rescues have dogs that are just as boring.

Neat little Valentine’s say-ing….

“Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.”

Dougie Deogi, rescue reporter, over and out.

Dougie Deogi is the official spokes-dog for Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue (www.facebook.com/lsstlar) headquartered in Houston. He has his own facebook page, www.facebook.com/ac-cordingtodougie, where you can follow his many adventures with his crazy lady owner. Contact Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue at www.facebook.com/lsstlar

6434 Washington AvenueHouston, TX 77007

713-868-7555deogi@deogidogspa.com

Doggie Daycare, Boarding, Grooming and

Obedience Training

26 d gsTexas &cats

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Fifi will be the talk of the town in this adorable denim and fleece Monkey daze jacket! available at the Pawty Palace!

keeping your pets teeth clean has never been so fun! This toys are designed to crunch, chew and clean their teeth while they play! natural Pawz is the place to get yours!

your dog will “bug” out when he/she sees this super long plush toy!

our dog(s) will have a “ball” with these tennis ball parody of human candy hearts! available at natural Pawz

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petvalentinegifts

2727{February 2012}

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Follow your pet’s every movement with this Tagg collar that uses gPS to track your wandering pet. available at pettracker.com

Get your dog excited about the boogy Monster coming to visit! ask your favorite pet store about this guy!

dogs just wanna have fun, and they will have plenty of fun with these valentines themed Loofa Dog toys! available at natural Pawz

your lost pets first chance at finding its way home is with a pet tag! Keep the information current and also on him.

28 d gsTexas &cats

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Furr-tastic or flea infested! The Pupperazzi is on the

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29{February 2012}

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