HOW TO KEEP A DOG'S HEART HEALTHY

Just like people, dogs are at risk for Heart Disease too.  In fact, it is estimated that nearly 8 million dogs suffer from heart disease. That translates into 10% of all dogs living in the U.S.  Heart disease can seriously impact your dog's quality of life, and his longevity. Knowing how to keep a dog's heart healthy is vital for your dog's health and longevity. 

It would be simple if there was just one thing that caused a dog or cat to get heart disease, we could just address that one thing and be done with it. But there is no one single cause for heart disease in dogs. Several factors can contribute to it, and senior dogs are considered to be at greater risk for heart disease.

I had the opportunity to speak about Pet Heart Health with Dr. Claire Walther, DMV and Petcare Medical Lead at Zoetis animal health company. After practicing at both Banfield and in an independent general Veterinary practice, Dr. Walther's passion for educating pet parents and other Veterinarians led her to join Zoetis.

How to Keep Your Dog's Heart Healthy

Dr. Walther shared her expertise about heart disease in dogs, and how to keep a dog's heart healthy.  Most of what we'll be discussing applies to both a dog's heart health and cat heart health as well. So c'mon pet parents, let's dive in!

IS A SIBERIAN HUSKY THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOU?

Wondering if a Siberian Husky is the right dog for you?  What is it that makes a Husky so irresistible?  For starters, it's hard not to fall in love with a Husky's Striking looks. Their wolf-like facial features, thick double coated fur, and beautiful eyes; blue, amber, and bi- colored, are stunning! Hardly a week goes by without at least one stranger saying "What a beautiful dog!" when they see me with my Siberian Husky, Icy.  

Then there's the impressive athleticism of Siberian Husky dogs, their friendly loving personality, and of course their impressive role in the historical Serum Run of 1925. Teams of sled dogs saved an Alaskan town from a Diphtheria epidemic by transporting life saving anti toxin through punishing blizzard conditions and rough terrain! 

With all that going for them, who wouldn't admire and desire a Siberian Husky dog? But is a Husky right for you and your lifestyle? Sadly, Huskies are often bought or adopted and then abandoned once they are no longer puppies. Their owners soon realize they aren't able to handle the once adorable and easy to manage Husky puppy they brought home.  

My Husky Icy on a hike. Siberian Huskies are a super high energy breed!

A Siberian Husky is not the right breed of dog for everyone. To determine whether a Husky is right for you, let's delve into their key traits. Once you have the facts you can make an informed decision about whether or not you are able to give a Husky the care and attention they need to thrive.

WHY DENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT FOR DOGS #PetDentalHealthMonthWithOratene

 February is Pet Dental Health Month!

Lack of dental health in dogs and cats can lead to dental disease, which can cause more serious health issues. Toxins from periodontal disease get absorbed into the pet's blood stream which can cause infection in the body. This can potentially damage kidney, lever, heart, and brain tissue.

It's estimated that over 80% of dogs will show signs of periodontal disease by age three! I think we can safely say that paying attention to a dog's teeth should be part of our overall dog health care routine.

The large majority of dog owners don't brush their dog's teeth at all. That doesn't surprise me, in fact I'm one of those dog parents who don't brush their dog's teeth. Oh, it's not for lack of effort, believe me I've tried many times! But honestly it was always a struggle, especially with my Siberian Husky, Icy. She hated it! My efforts at trying to develop a habit of brushing their teeth every day was an Epic Fail.  But you know what? It's OK, because I found a great line of brushless pet dental health products. That's right, I said BRUSHLESS!

Providing dental care for my dogs is easy with the Oratene line of Brushless Pet Oral Care products, by Zymox. With Oratene, my dogs really can have healthy gums, clean teeth, and fresh breath, without brushing! Oratene products are free of antibiotics and other harsh ingredients. These are the best products for dog dental health I've found, and I've tried several brands. 

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Here's how Oratene works to promote Dog Dental Health

The Oratene product line features Enzymatic Brushless Oral Care for pets. That means it uses the power of enzymes to help keep your dog or cats' teeth clean, breath fresh, and gums healthy. These Veterinarian approved products make dog dental care so easy, I have pretty much ditched the dog toothbrush for good!

HEARTWORM DISEASE IN DOGS

Heartworm disease in dogs is a serious, potentially fatal health condition. It can cause significant lung disease, heart failure, and other organ damage in your dog. The impacts of heartworm disease can be devastating for a dog and cause a lot of anguish for the pet parent. Heartworm is easy to prevent but difficult to cure. If your dog contracts heartworm disease the chances of death are high.  Heartworms in dogs is widespread and present in all 50 states.

WHAT IS DOG HEARTWORM DISEASE AND HOW IS IT CONTRACTED

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis. These worms can live inside, and be transmitted by, as many as 30 different species of mosquitos.  They are carried by the mosquitos and spread when a dog or other pet is bitten by an infected mosquito. The Microfilariae, an early lifecycle stage of this parasitic worm, must pass through a mosquito in order to become infective larvae. Once transmitted to a dog through a mosquito bite, they will mature into adults within about 7 months.  They will then mate and reproduce while living inside the dog.

Heartworm worms are called “heartworms” because the adult worms live inside an infected dog's heart, lungs, and corresponding blood vessels.  They can live inside your dog for as many as 7 years! 

7 WAYS THE CARONAVIRUS CHANGED LIFE FOR MY DOGS

The Caronavirus Pandemic has changed the world, creating a New Normal in  how people are navigating their daily lives right now.  Mandatory social distancing, excessive handwashing and use of hand sanitizer, and an obsession with purchasing large quantities of toilet paper! But what about the impact COVID19 has had on our pets?  Life has changed for them too!  

The Caronavirus Pandemic has changed life for my dogs too

Although the risk of dogs being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 appears to be extremely low,  animals can be infected with the virus that causes COVID19 ( SARS-CoV-2).  The CDC recommends that people treat pets as you would other family members to protect them against the virus.  Util we know more about how the virus could impact pets, I've made some changes to our dogs' daily routines.

Here are 7 Changes I Felt Compelled to Make in my dogs' lives due to the Caronavirus:

KEEP CAR SEATS CLEAN WITH 4KNINES PET CAR SEAT COVERS

I finally got one! A 4Knines DOG CAR SEAT COVER!  It's been a couple of years now and this car seat cover for dogs has made our lives so much easier, and cleaner.  Pet friendly travel with dogs is always on our radar, so between muddy paws, debris sticking to their fur, and sand from the beach, the back seat of our SUV takes quite a beating! The best way to avoid the hassle and embarrassment of a dirty car is to keep car seats clean with 4knines pet car seat covers.

What I Love About My 4Knines Car Seat Cover For Dogs

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Phoebe thinks our new 4Knines car seat cover is super comfy!

🐕The 4Knines car back seat cover fits my SUV like a glove!  I can tell it's really comfy too, because the dogs settled into it immediately as soon as they jumped onto the car cover for the first time.  The material is durable but it has comfortable cushioned quilting.

🐕I got the back seat cover that accommodates split rear seats.  I love that I can pull down the back seats or the rear car seat console just by unzipping the car seat cover in between the back seats!  That helps us so much.  With my ratty blanket seat cover, we always had to remove the blanket in order to pull down the rear seats. Now we just unzip and pull down the rear seat or console.  We're always hauling stuff in our SUV's cargo.  We usually need to put one or both rear seats down to accommodate large items, so this is a huge convenience.  We can still access seat belts through the seat cover too.

4Knines car seat covers are versatile, easy to clean, and fit like a glove!

🐕 4Knines car seat covers are super easy to clean.  Even if water or dog food spill on the cover, it's fast easy cleanup.  And the seat cover is machine washable!

I used to use an old blanket draped over the back seat, but it never stayed in place and it was constantly filthy.  Vacuuming up pet hair that stuck to the blanket was such a pain.  The blanket invariably got sucked into the vacuum, especially the fringed edges - so frustrating!  When the 4Knines seat cover gets dirty we can easily wipe or vacuum up the mess, hose it down, or throw it in the washing machine.

TIPS TO PREVENT DOG BITES IN KIDS

Spring is in the air! That means spending more time outside, for both dogs and kids.  It's a great time to reinforce child safety around dogs. Kids and dogs can be great friends. However, children should be taught how to safely approach a dog and how to interact safely with dogs. Follow these tips to help prevent dog bites in kids.

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Teach Kids how to properly approach and interact with dogs

According to a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur each year in the U.S. and nearly 1 in 5 dog bite victims need medical attention.  

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Children are the most common victims of dog bites, with over half of dog bite victims being 14 years old or younger.  Aside from causing painful injury and being traumatic, dog bites can spread germs and cause infections, such as rabies and Tetanus. 

These statistics demonstrate the importance of teaching your child how to recognize stress in dogs and how to safely interact with a dog.  Know the signs yourself as well and always supervise interactions between your kids and dogs.