The February issue of the AKC Gazette, published by the AmericanKennel Club, has several articles about the importance of healthyteeth and gums for dogs.
And February is National Pet Dental Health Month, sponsored inpart by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
According to vets, there's a 75 percent chance that your dog, ifhe is 3 years old or older, has dental disease, tartar or inflamedgums. Other than just nasty breath, it could also lead to biggerproblems because oral cavity infections can spread to internal organsand shorten your dog's life.
So what do you do?
According to the article, here are the important tips:
Don't ignore bad breath, discolored teeth or red gums. Have yourvet examine your dog's teeth regularly.
Symptoms of canine oral disease include bad breath, a change ineating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth, anddepression.
Small-breed dogs are prone to tartar accumulation when very youngand often lose many teeth by the time they're 10 years old.
Larger breeds, such as German shepherds, don't collect as muchtartar on their teeth. But they can have problems with gingivitis andtartar, and often break teeth.
Look in your dog's mouth regularly.
If his gums are cherry red, he has gingivitis. If you smell foulbreath, he has a bacterial infection -- it might just be from plaque,but it could also be an abscessed tooth. If you see somethingsuspicious, call your vet.
SICSA offering neuter, spay program for cats
The Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animalswill be offering $10 male cat neuters on Feb. 28 for those withincomes less than $20,000 and a limited number of cat spays for $30.An application must be completed with proof of income and your feepaid prior to being scheduled. Call (937) 294-6505 for moreinformation.
The Humane Society of Greater Dayton will be offering reduced-cost spay neuter certificates -- call (937) 268-7387 for moreinformation. The Humane Society and SICSA also offer their regularreduced-cost spay/neuter program for dogs and cats throughout theyear.
Kennel Club looking for exemplary dogs
The American Kennel Club Award for Canine Excellence is lookingfor the five top dogs who have performed an exemplary act or seriesof acts that benefited a community or individual. One award is givenin the following five categories: law enforcement, search and rescue,therapy, service and exemplary companion dog.
Each winner receives $1,000, an engraved sterling silver collarmedallion and a trip to the seventh annual AKC/Eukanuba NationalChampionship in December in California. The names of the fiverecipients also will be added to the ACE plaque that is on permanentdisplay on the AKC Library's 'Wall of Fame' in New York City. Anyone,including the dog owner or handler, may submit a nomination, but thedog must be AKC-registered or registrable. Submissions must include:
A nonreturnable, original photograph of the dog. High resolutionelectronic photos (300 dpi and at least 5-by-7 inches or 72 dpi atleast 20-by-30 inches) are permissible, but not scans.
A 500-word-or-less description of how the dog has demonstratedexcellence.
Dog's call name, registered name if applicable, breed, age andsex.
Owner/Nominator name(s), address, phone number. E-mail address ifavailable.
Deadline is June 29. Send the nomination to Ronald N. Rella: ACEAwards 2007, The American Kennel Club, 260 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor,New York, N.Y. 10016.
For more information, visit www.akc.org/news/ace/index.cfm.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2248 or ldenger@DaytonDailyNews.com.
