A recent study by national veterinary practice Banfield sheds some light on breed predispositions for periodontal disease among dogs. The results of the study, reported widely in the veterinary and pet communities, come as little surprise to those of us who recommend dental care to pets.

Nine of the 10 breeds to make the list have an adult weights under 30 pounds. Of these 9 breeds, the Sheltie is the only one that doesn’t qualify as a miniature or toy breed. The only large breed to make the list? The standard poodle, which is widely known in veterinary circles to have a variety of other dental problems, notably malocclusion (poorly aligned teeth, abnormal bite) and/or congenitally missing teeth, as well.

The TOP TEN, as reported by Banfield’s Applied Research and Knowledge (BARK, cute huh?) team:

• Toy poodle
• Yorkshire terrier (Yorkie)
• Maltese
• Pomeranian
• Shetland sheepdog (Sheltie)
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Papillon
• Standard Poodle
• Dachshund
• Havanese

Keep in mind that the designer breeds (Malti-Poos, Yorkie-Poos, Morkies, etc.) derived from any of these breeds likely are at increased risk as well.

The dachshund is the only breed on this list that doesn’t have considerable grooming requirements. The saddest part of all this is that while cost is often cited as a reason that owners won’t have a pet’s teeth professionally cleaned,  many, many of the toy dogs we meet in practice are immaculately groomed–some cost more than $100 a month to keep that way! For a fraction of the annual cost of grooming, most of these dogs could have healthy, pain- and infection-free mouths and keep all their teeth for their entire lives–IF their family makes professional and home dental care a priority.

Priority Pet Hospital includes the mouth and teeth in EVERY physical exam our doctors perform. We also offer complimentary oral health assessments for ALL breeds when the pet is up-to-date on other wellness services such as their annual physical exam and vaccinations. Give us a call, we’d love to “flip the lip” and show you what’s lurking in your dog’s mouth!

For more information, read Top 10 Dog Breeds Affected By Periodontal Disease, featured on petpeoplesplace.com.

Posted on March 4th, 2010 by Dr. G
Filed under: Dogs, Preserving the Bond, Feature Stories | No Comments »

We’re looking forward to our annual Open House, to be held in conjunction with Vista Dorada Dental on the morning of April 17th, 2010. Hospital tours, raffles, giveaways, and demonstrations are on tap for this year. Keep an eye on our website, blog, and facebook page for more details!

Posted on February 24th, 2010 by Dr. G
Filed under: Headlines | No Comments »

Pet food manufacturer Nature’s Variety has recalled frozen raw chicken diets due to concern about possible Salmonella contamination; a list of recalled products is available on the manufacturer’s website. The company notes that this recall is voluntary, and no human or pet illneses have been associated with the recalled products at this time.

Vomiting, diarrhea, and other signs of gastrointestinal upset may occur when pets are exposed to Salmonella-contaminated foodstuffs; severe cases can result in serious illness, particularly in young or small dogs. A discussion of Salmonella in dogs can be found at veterinarypartner.com. Foodborne illnesses including Salmonella can be transmitted to human family members. The CDC has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions about foodborne illnesses in humans. Always practice safe food-handling if you are feeding a raw or home-cooked diet to your pets.

Posted on February 12th, 2010 by Dr. G
Filed under: Product Safety and Recalls | No Comments »

In observance of Thanksgiving, Priority Pet Hospital will be CLOSED from Thursday, November 26th through Sunday, November 29th. If your pet requires urgent or emergency care during the holiday weekend, please call the Emergency Animal Clinic at (480) 497-0222.

Have a safe and festive Thanksgiving with your two- and four-legged family members!

Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by Dr. G
Filed under: Announcements, Headlines | No Comments »

The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that Iowa health officials have confirmed that a pet cat has been diagnosed with H1N1 influenza virus. The cat has made a full recovery, and its illness is suspected to have arisen from a person in the household who was sick with H1N1. There is no indication that the cat may have passed infection on to other animals or people.

This event was not unanticipated, as some viruses can be spread between animals and people, and H1N1 had previously been diagnosed in pigs, birds, and ferrets; other strains of influenza have previously been diagnosed in cats.

Protecting your pets’ health while you or a family member is similar to protecting human health: wash your hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and limit close contact while you’re ill. As always, Priority Pet Hospital encourages pet owners to monitor their pets’ health and call a veterinarian if signs of illness are detected.

The AVMA is tracking news about H1N1 on its website.

Posted on November 4th, 2009 by Dr. G
Filed under: Cats, News and Reviews, Headlines | No Comments »

Veterinarian Translates Barks And Meows, a popular interview with Dr. Nancy Kay was originally aired in March. This week was animal week at Fresh Air, and the interview was rebroadcast. Dr. Kay is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and author of Speaking for Spot: be the advocate your dog needs to live a happy, healthy, longer life, a book that really gets at the heart of our mission: to help people help pets by involving them as educated, active, participants in their pets’ medical care. Click the link above to listen to the full interview.

Posted on August 31st, 2009 by Dr. G
Filed under: Nurturing the Bond, Feature Stories | No Comments »

The manufacturer of Iverhart Plus, a popular generic heartworm preventative used in dogs, recently recalled two lots of this medication when quality control measures revealed that they did not contain an adequate amount of ivermectin to protect dogs larger than 85 pounds from heartworm disease.

THIS RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVES DISPENSED AT PRIORITY PET HOSPITAL. Pet owners who purchased their heartworm preventative through other avenues, including internet pharmacies, should check to see what brand of medication is being used. If your pet has been receiving Iverhart Plus, check VIN News for the full article and affected lot numbers. Dogs who have received affected product should be switched to a different lot or product and tested for heartworm disease four to five months after the switch.

We recommend year-round heartworm prevention for all dogs. These preventatives not only protect your dog from heartworm disease; they also protect all members of the family against intestinal parasites, some of which can infect people. Heartworm testing is quick and affordable, and prevention costs less than a couple lattes a month. If your dog has been taking Iverhart Plus from an affected lot, please don’t hesitate to call Priority Pet Hospital with questions or concerns.

Posted on August 21st, 2009 by Dr. G
Filed under: Product Safety and Recalls, Headlines | No Comments »

A recent study about pet owners’ attitudes and behaviors related to smoking has demonstrated that more than 28% of pet owners would try to quit if they knew that secondhand smoke (SHS) was a danger to their pets.

The study, which involved an online survey of over 3,200 adults, found that about one in five pet owners smoke, and one in four live with someone who smokes. Smoking pet owners said that information about the dangers of SHS to pet health would motivate them to quit smoking (28.4%), ask smokers living with them to quit (8.7%), or stop smoking indoors (14.2%). Almost twice as many non-smokers would be motivated to ask their smoking roomates to either quit or stop smoking indoors.

For the record, studies have demonstrated links between SHS and cancer in both cats and dogs. Additional observations suggest links between SHS and allergic reactions, bronchitis and asthma, and other illnesses. 

Authors of the study admit that it’s unclear wether smokers’ actual behavior would match their predicted behavior, but if even a few puppy dog eyes or kitty purrs are effective in getting their owners to take that first step, it would be just one more examples of pets help us lead happier, healthier lives!

Posted on August 11th, 2009 by Dr. G
Filed under: Preserving the Bond, Headlines | No Comments »

Behavioral wellness is critical for all pets, dogs in particular. Fractures of the human-animal bond resulting from unwanted and inappropriate behaviors are one of the most deadly injuries we treat. Like most diseases, these behavioral problems can often be prevented; teaching clients to foster good behavioral health is among the most important services a veterinary practice can provide.

Sadly, veterinarians receive very little specific training in behavior during vet school. Much like dentistry, behavior has been overlooked in our professional curriculum, and those of us with an interest are left with much learning to do after we graduate. As Dr. Burns, the team and I continue to learn, we are finding that there are a great number of resources out there, some good, some bad, and some potentially dangerous to you, your dogs, and the bond you share. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite resources with you here.

Clickertraining.com is the website of Karen Pryor, author of Don’t Shoot the Dog and one of the best-known proponents of the positive training method known as clicker training. This website contains free articles, blogs, and other information about operant conditioning–a scientifically proven teaching and training method used to train a wide range of species from dolphins to rhinos to Nile crocodiles and even aquarium fish–and its applications in dog training. I’ve done most of Archie’s training using a clicker, and I am a huge believer in its effectiveness. 

It’s Me or the Dog airs on Animal Planet; in strong contrast to another popular TV show, this one demonstrates only the non-aversive techniques of positive reinforcement and negative punishment. Dog trainer Victoria Stillwell helps families learn how to train problem dogs using positive techniques. Victoria is a no-nonsense trainer who isn’t afraid to tell pet owners when they are responsible for creating the problems they’ve asked her to fix, and you won’t catch her using outdated references to dominance, physical punishment, or other aversive or compulsion-based training methods.

4 Paws University provides training services in Sacremento, California. Owner Lisa Mullinax and her team have created a fantastic library of articles on a huge variety of training topics. Of particular usefulness are a number of very clear explainations about the dangers of dominance theory, a great discussion about how to compare dog trainers and behavior consultants, and specific tips for correcting a variety of problem behaviors using positive techniques. Many of the articles include “recommended viewing/reading” references for those who want to learn more.

Dr. Kelly Moffat is Arizona’s only board-certified veterinary behaviorist. We’re quite fortunate that she is here in the southeast Valley, and she is a great resource for our most difficult and perplexing behavioral cases. Board-certified veterinary behaviorists are veterinarians who have completed a residency in veterinary behavior and behavioral medicine and passed a rigorous certification exam. They are true specialists–on the order of the surgeons, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, and internists that we refer other challenging cases to when we’ve reached the limits of our expertise or experience.

The Kikopup Dog Training Channel on YouTube is maintained by positive trainer Emily Larlham and features the most comprehensive library of training videos you’re likely to find online. The short videos range from how-to’s to amazing examples of the tricks and behaviors she and others have trained dogs to perform using only positive techniques. ”You don’t have to use punishment to teach obedience,” Emily says. I couldn’t agree more. 

Posted on July 21st, 2009 by Dr. G
Filed under: Nurturing the Bond, Dogs, Preserving the Bond, Headlines | 2 Comments »

The hospital will close for this weekend at 4 pm on Friday, June 19th for a team appreciation event. Please call the Emergency Animal Clinic at (480) 497-0222 should you have an emergency while we are out of the office. Thank you for your understanding.

Posted on June 17th, 2009 by Dr. G
Filed under: Announcements, Headlines | No Comments »