Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth

Pet Dental Care from First Regional Vet

The team at First Regional Vet is concerned about your pet's health and safety, that's why we have provided this great article for your information! At home dental care is one of the most important steps to giving your pet a healthy life. Please contact our team if you have questions about dental health!

Brushing Your Pet's Teeth

Equally important to annual dental exams at your veterinarian’s practice is home dental care, including brushing your pet’s teeth every day if possible. AAHA recommends a technique for both younger and older animals, although it’s easier to start brushing when your pet is young.

To introduce a fearful cat or dog to the idea of dental care, start slowly and gradually. Dip a finger into beef bouillon (for dogs) or tuna water (for cats) and gently rub along your pet’s gums and teeth. The most important area to focus on is the gum line (the crevice where the gums meet the teeth), where bacteria and food mix to form plaque. Focusing on the gum line, start at the front of the mouth, then move to the back upper and lower teeth and gum areas. Once your pet is okay with a little bit of touching, gradually introduce gauze over your finger and rub the teeth and gums in a circular fashion.

When your four-legged friend can handle the gauze, try brushing with a toothbrush specially designed for pets or a very soft, ultra-sensitive toothbrush designed for people. The bristles should be held at a 45-degree angle to the tooth surface and be moved in an oval motion. Scrub in the gum line, as this is where odor and infection begin. Gradually add special dog/cat toothpaste (flavored with meat or fish), but never use people toothpaste or baking soda, as both will upset your pet’s stomach.

Use the following process to clean the inside surfaces of your pet’s teeth:

1. Place your hand over your pet’s muzzle from the top
2. Gently squeeze and push his lips on one side between the back teeth (to keep his mouth open)
3. Pull his head back gently so his mouth opens
4. Brush his teeth on the opposite side
5. Repeat this process for the other side

The entire process should only take a minute or two. If your dog or cat continues to resist, try gently wrapping him in a large bath towel with only his head sticking out. Above all, avoid overstraining and keep sessions short and positive. With plenty of praise and reassurance, your dental sessions can bring the two of you closer---a closeness that won’t be marred by the perils of dog breath.

Home care can be improved by feeding your pet an unmoistened dry pet food and offering him hard biscuits after each meal. Both dry food and hard biscuits produce abrasion to help keep plaque to a minimum on the crown of each tooth. 

Dental care of dogs and cats is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care; however, it is necessary to provide optimum health and quality of life. Diseases of the oral cavity, if left untreated, are often painful and can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung and kidney disease.

AAHA encourages pet owners to regularly examine their pet’s teeth for signs of periodontal disease, such as brownish colored teeth; swollen, red, or bleeding gums; persistent bad breath; loose teeth or loss of teeth; pus between the gums and teeth; broken teeth and any unusual growth in the mouth. Reluctance to eat, play with chew toys, or drink cold water are warning signs of periodontal or gum disease. Consult your veterinarian if you notice any of these signs in your pet to schedule a dental exam.

There are two critical components of your pet’s veterinary dental care: oral examinations and dental cleanings. Veterinary dental care begins at the puppy and kitten life stage. As your pet ages, your veterinarian will look for developmental anomalies, the accumulation of plaque and tartar, periodontal disease and oral tumors. Veterinarians can perform a basic oral examination on patients that are awake. However, when a cleaning is required, your pet will need to be induced under general anesthesia wherein a thorough examination will be done prior to the cleaning. Dental cleanings performed while your pet is awake is not only dangerous for the team member performing the cleaning but dangerous to your pet as well.

Since there is an element of risk associated with any medical procedure, it is important that safety precautions are used. Among the many standards in the dentistry section, AAHA accreditation requires that veterinarians perform thorough examinations of the teeth and structures of the oral cavity in patients presented for dental procedures and only properly trained practice team members perform dental procedures. Additionally, AAHA Standards recommend that dental procedures are accompanied by pain assessment and appropriate pain treatment.

For more information on pet dental care, read our AAHA Dental Care Guidelines article.

Click here for an instructive video by the Cornell Feline Health Center on brushing your cat’s teeth.

Originally published on Healthy Pet.

2012 Team Awards

2012 TEAM AWARDS

We recently had our All-Staff Party for the 3 hospitals, their staff and families.  Due to a very rainy day, the party was moved to Polar Ice, a local ice rink.  We had a great turnout and had a fun time eating and ice-skating.  At the party, we held our annual Team Member of the Year Awards Ceremony.  Following are the 2012 winners.  Thanks – we are so proud of all of you!

1. FIRST Regional Animal Hospital
1. Team Member of the Year:  Trina
2. Veterinarian of the Year:  Dr. Hemberg
3. Technician of the Year: Charlotte
4. Client Service Representative of the Year: Meghan

                                          i.    Excellence in Patient Care: Dr. Begay, Erin, Dr. Moentk, Trinity and Lauren

                                        ii.    Excellence in Client Service: Elana, Mary, David, Alison and Cheryl

                                       iii.    Excellence in Teamwork: Cristi, Eric, Kim, Kristina and Jaime

2. 1^st Emergency Pet Care
1. Team Member of the Year: Karen
2. Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Tobe
3. Technician of the Year: Cara
4. Client Service Representative of the Year: Karen

                                          i.    Excellence in Patient Care: Ginna, Dr. Mosbacher and Viviane

                                        ii.    Excellence in Client Service: Maryanne, Lisa and Gail

                                       iii.    Excellence in Teamwork: Angie, Tatijuana and Angel

3. North Valley Regional Animal Hospital
1. Team Member of the Year: Darci
2. Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Fitzpatrick
3. Technician of the Year Melinda
4. Client Service Representative of the Year – Lynze
5. Certificate Awards:

                                          i.    Excellence in Patient Care: Dr. Begay, Holly, and Tammy

                                        ii.    Excellence in Client Service: Jessica, Yulonde and Ricki

                                       iii.    Excellence in Teamwork: Lynda, Aubrie and Tina

How to Travel Safely With Your Pet

At First Regional Vet, we are committed to being your go-to for all health and safety questions, that's why we share our expertise with you! Today, how to travel safely with your pet is a big question! Dr. Spencer wants to teach you about safety precautions to avoid emergencies with your pet.


Traveling with pets is becoming more and more popular. Today's dogs, and even some cats, are vacationing thanks to friendlier airlines, safety innovations, pet-friendly hotels, resorts, campsites, and restaurants with outdoor dining privileges.

Gregg Takashima, DVM, founder of the Parkway Veterinary Hospital in Portland, Ore., offers tips to keep pets safe while traveling:

By Plane
In most cases, it's safe for your pet to travel by plane if your vets give the OK. "Animals accustomed to traveling in a car, going out on walks, and who are socialized tend to travel very well depending on their personalities,'' Takashima said.
Traveling internationally or even crossing state lines in a plane requires a health certificate from your vet. Additional ways to prepare:

• Make sure vaccines (especially rabies) are up to date.
• Consider an ID collar and a tag - even a microchip.

The trend nowadays is against sedation unless significant risks for pet injury exist. "Sedation can cause the pet to feel unstable and cause more fear,'' Takashima explained. "Cats tend to fly pretty well because they are usually allowed in the cabin in a cat carrier under the seat.''
Preparations for international travel with pets can be complex and there may be extensive planning. Double check with the airlines and your destination's consulate to make sure you have the most up to date information about the papers you are required to bring. Many documents for international travel require the signature of a certified USDA veterinarian which adds an additional step. Pet travel companies, like travelpets.com, remove a lot of the guesswork. "It's very tedious to have to do the work yourself. You would have to start six months ahead of time,'' Takashima said.

By Car
A few pointers for traveling safely with dogs in motor vehicles:

• Have your dog always wear a specially designed dog seat belt or dog car harness in front and back seats.
• Ensure adequate ventilation.
• Never let your dog put its head outside the window, as this can lead to ear and eye injuries.
• For cats, provide a good carrier, a place to sleep, and a safe place for the litter box. Make sure they cannot escape if the doors or windows accidentally open.

By Boat
Some innovative products make boating and sailing with your dog reasonably safe. "There are dog life vests," Takashima said. "If they do fall overboard, you can pull them up.''
Dogs can also use puppy pads and artificial turf products for elimination. "Your pet can get acclimated fairly easily, but do that well ahead of time,'' Takashima said.

Basic Tips

• Make sure your pet is well groomed (not itchy or dirty).
• Take along some comforts of home – bed, blanket, toys, litter box.
• Rather than buying new types of food, carry your pet's familiar food from home when practical.
• Carriers should be big enough for standing and turning around, with room for food and water.
• Place absorbent towels on the carrier floor in case of accidents.
• Have a pet first aid kit for emergencies.

Takashima's own dog sleeps in a carrier every night, even at home. "We turn off the television and he runs to his carrier. He's a good traveler,'' Takashima said.


Originally published at Everyday Health.

Holiday Safety Tips

‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling holiday feast that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin’ Turkey

If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage Advice

Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough

Don't spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't Let Them Eat Cake

If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing

A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A Feast Fit for a Kong

While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.


Adapted from a post published by the ASPCA.

Keeping Your Cat from Getting Bored

There is ample evidence that cats who spend their lives entirely indoors live much longer than their outdoor-only counterparts. But keeping an indoor cat happy as well as healthy means providing more than just good nutrition and regular veterinary care - you must also enrich your kitty's environment. Eliciting a cat's natural behaviors with hunting and foraging games can do wonders for your companion's well-being.

With a little creativity, you can keep your cat stimulated and interested, even in a small apartment and on a limited budget. And the good news is that enrichment research has shown that toys that are removed and then returned after several weeks regain much of their novelty; extend your enrichment budget by rotating your cat's toys regularly. Get started with a few of these feline friendly activities, but begin slowly and be sure to get a thumbs up from kitty's veterinarian.

Foraging Fun
Separate each day's food rations into small batches. Place the clusters around the house and then toss a few small treats in random directions. Not only will this encourage active foraging, it'll also keep kitty from scarfing down her food too quickly.

Pleasurable Puzzles
Toss a few treats into a square Rubbermaid® bottle and leave it on the floor with the lid off for a great beginner puzzle.

Any plastic container with a secure lid can become a hanging puzzle. Just cut two or three slots around the bottom outer edge of the container and place a few treats in the center. String a cord through the lid and hang this puzzle over a doorknob. Once your cat gets the hang of it, you can encourage exercise by raising it higher.

Scent Searching

Use old socks as washable scent baits. Just mark the sock with a dab of perfume, lotion, vanilla extract or even peanut butter, or place a pinch of any aromatic spice inside, then rub it over a slice of lunchmeat to pick up the scent. Scatter the socks throughout the house and your cat will be on the prowl for hours, delighted by the variety of scents. If you're pressed for time, simply mark a scent trail with a bit of cheese and then hide the cheese at the end of the trail.

Bird Watching

Attach a suction-cup bird feeder outside your cat's favorite window. Hungry birds will provide hours of entertainment. Don't place feeders too close to the ground as it leaves birds vulnerable to enemy attacks, and be sure to keep the window closed - 'excited cats can push right through screens.

Mouse Trap
Leave a ping-pong ball in the bathtub and watch as your cat makes it sail around the curves during her hunt for the elusive orb.

Crafty Cardboard
Use cardboard boxes as beds, dens, tunnels and mazes.

Make a "busy box" by attaching small toys to short lengths of cord and suspending them from the ceiling of a large box. Cut window flaps in the den at various heights.

Add a "Tiger Tug," ' a miniature version of a game popular with both tigers and chimps. Feed both ends of a length of parachute cord into the box through small holes. Tie a toy or a large knot on each end. When the cat tugs at one end, the other end mysteriously comes to life. For multicat households, run the ends into separate boxes.

Article Originally Written by W.R. Shaw and published on PetFinder. 

Bees and Wasps in September

We tend to see a lot more bees and wasps buzzing around picnics during September than any other month of the year. Because they become bigger pests, it’s important to make sure that your pet is safe! If you suspect your pet has been stung by a bee or a wasp, monitor them for symptoms for the next 24 hours. You should see swelling near the sting site, and should notice that your pet is uncomfortable. Apply an icepack wrapped in a towel, if possible, to reduce swelling. If symptoms persist, please seek veterinary care with us immediately!

Allergies and Pets

Allergies make us miserable…headaches, runny noses, sneezing. But with our pets, it’s different. They experience itchy skin, uncomfortable rashes, and even earaches. During the fall, your pet may develop seasonal allergies, and for some they might be more severe than in the spring or summer season. If your pet has seasonal allergies, be sure to get them medical attention right away, so their uncomfortable symptoms can be relieved.