{"id":424,"date":"2021-01-27T17:56:28","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T17:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=424"},"modified":"2021-01-27T17:57:37","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T17:57:37","slug":"february-2021-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/february-2021-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"February 2021 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Pet Dental Month! The Importance of Caring for Your Pet\u2019s Teeth<\/a>
\nHow to Keep Your High-Anxiety Pet Busy While You\u2019re Not Home<\/a>
\nTips on Caring for Your Senior Pet\u2019s Health<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nIt\u2019s Pet Dental Month! The Importance of Caring for Your Pet\u2019s Teeth<\/strong>
\nFebruary is National Pet Dental Health Month, and if you\u2019re wondering why there\u2019s an entire month about pets and their teeth, read on.<\/p>\n

As it is with humans, dental health in pets is important for overall health. When it goes unchecked it can cause serious health problems all around. It is recommended that you have your veterinarian check your pet\u2019s teeth and gums on a yearly basis as a preventative measure and to check for any problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cDog dental disease has serious consequences, so maintaining good dog dental care is very important,\u201d according to the article, \u201c5 Reasons Why Dog Dental Care Is Important\u201d at PetMD.com. It affects teeth, gums as well as structures around your dog\u2019s teeth and starts with the buildup of plaque, which contains bacteria.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaque that stays on the teeth hardens into tartar,\u201d the article said. \u201cWhen tartar is above the gumline, it\u2019s easily visible, and your veterinarian can remove it relatively easily during a professional dental cleaning.\u201d However, tartar below the gums is what can be very dangerous and cause infection.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cPet dental care\u201d at American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), some signs that your pet has serious issues with his teeth include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tBad breath
\n\u2022\tLoose or broken teeth
\n\u2022\tDiscolored teeth or lots of tartar
\n\u2022\tLoss of appetite
\n\u2022\tPain around the mouth<\/p>\n

The most common dental issue in dogs and cats is periodontal disease, which can occur by the time your pet is around 3 years old. The condition will only get worse as your pet gets older if nothing is done.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeriodontal disease doesn\u2019t just affect your pet\u2019s mouth,\u201d the AVMA article said. \u201cOther health problems found in association with periodontal disease include kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, make that appointment to get your pet\u2019s teeth checked.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nHow to Keep Your High-Anxiety Pet Busy While You\u2019re Not Home<\/strong>
\nYou love your dog but he has separation anxiety, so leaving your house gives you anxiety too. What can you do to help your dog for those times you\u2019re out of the house?<\/p>\n

There are dogs who, when left alone, become extremely destructive, destroying household items and even worse. Some start to become nervous even before you leave.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cDoes your dog freak out when you leave?\u201d at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), some of the ways dogs show behavior issues include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tHowling, whining, and barking
\n\u2022\tDestructively chewing
\n\u2022\tScratching and digging
\n\u2022\tUrinating or defecating in the home<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others don\u2019t,\u201d the HSUS article said. \u201cBut remember, your dog\u2019s behaviors are part of a panic response.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are a variety of reasons why a dog has high-anxiety when separated from their owner. According to the article, \u201cHow to Ease Your Dog\u2019s Separation Anxiety,\u201d at Fetch by WebMD, some reasons a dog may act this way include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tBeing left alone for the first time
\n\u2022\tOwnership change
\n\u2022\tA move from a shelter to a home
\n\u2022\tRoutine change<\/p>\n

First discuss with your vet to rule out medical issues. For mild separation anxiety there are a few things you can do. \u201cGive your dog a special treat each time you leave (like a puzzle toy stuffed with peanut butter),\u201d the Fetch article said. \u201cOnly give them this treat when you\u2019re gone, and take it away when you get home.\u201d You can also try to be low key about when you leave and come home. \u201cIgnore your pup for the first few minutes after you get home,\u201d the Fetch article said. You can also leave clothes or another item that smells like you or try over-the-counter natural calming supplements.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nTips on Caring for Your Senior Pet\u2019s Health<\/strong>
\nFrom their health care to playtime, things change as pets get older. Know what to expect so you can prepare and give your pet the best senior life possible.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cSenior Pets,\u201d at American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), \u201cWhile it\u2019s easy to spot the outward signs of aging such as graying haircoat and slower pace, it\u2019s important to remember a pet\u2019s organ systems are also changing.\u201d Senior pets are more susceptible to heart, kidney, and liver disease as well as arthritis or cancer. \u201cDogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans, while cats have a somewhat lower rate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many older pets lose sight and hearing as humans do, and some get cataracts. Behavior changes can also be a sign of aging in pets. \u201cSome behavior changes in older pets may be due to cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to senility in people,\u201d the AVMA article said. Changes can include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tAnxiety, nervousness
\n\u2022\tAccidents in the home
\n\u2022\tLittle interest in playing
\n\u2022\tGrouchy, irritable<\/p>\n

\u201cYour dog may develop arthritis or other degenerative diseases that cause him to slow down,\u201d according to the article, \u201cTips for Caring for Senior Dogs\u201d at PetMD.com. You may find that your dog cannot walk or play for long or that he gets tired faster. He also may have trouble with stairs.<\/p>\n

The PetMD article offers some tips, including:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tGer regular vet checkups.
\n\u2022\tGet a body condition evaluation to find out if your dog is at the proper weight.
\n\u2022\tFeed a high quality diet.
\n\u2022\tBrush your dog\u2019s teeth for good dental health.
\n\u2022\tExercise your dog.
\n\u2022\tKeep your dog stimulated with toys.
\n\u2022\tProvide soft bedding, ramps to make stairs easier, and carpet for slippery floors.<\/p>\n

Senior pets can have fulfilling lives. Be sure to be by their side every step of the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Pet Dental Month! The Importance of Caring for Your Pet\u2019s Teeth How to Keep Your High-Anxiety Pet Busy While You\u2019re Not Home Tips on Caring for Your Senior Pet\u2019s Health It\u2019s Pet Dental Month! The Importance of Caring for Your Pet\u2019s Teeth February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and if you\u2019re wondering why… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=424"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":426,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424\/revisions\/426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}