Fleas, ticks and bugs, OH MY!

Spring is here and summer is around the corner and you know what that means, it's time to protect your K9 from flea and tick infestation.

Now, the dirty talk... flea's cause a lot of irritation to your dog because they latch onto your dog's skin and feed off your canine’s blood. Flea saliva can cause your pet to become allergic to the bite. This will cause far worse scratching than than the normal itch. It gets even worse - they have the potential to spread tapeworms inside your pet. If your dog ingests the flea then then is the potential that tapeworms could grow creating an even worse infection. All it takes is a small group of these vampires to cause problems.

Where Do They Come From?

Anywhere! Every time you take your dog for a stroll, throw the ball in the back yard or head on a hike, he is potentially a victim to these parasites. The flea may not be there when you go out the door, but after that trip in the bush your K9 took to fetch the ball, the flea has just hitched a ride! Fleas only bite to suck blood that will nourish it’s eggs. Then it will hop off most likely in your home, especially the carpet.

So, what's the solution?

1. If you start to see your dog scratching more than usual after an outing, check for fleas. Fleas can sometimes look like little moving black dots. Brush your dog often and move that fur around to check for parasites. Check his back, the ears, along his neck, torso and tail. If you find fleas then bathe your dog and get flea repellent to protect your home.

2. The good news is that there is a product that helps in removing these harmful elements from your pet’s skin called, Frontline Plus. Many users and consumers are satisfied with the effects this product. When applying the product in the skin of your pet, the active ingredient of it will immediately function and distributed to protect your pet. Although this can be a spendy product, its worth it to protect not only your pup, but you!

This product and other great environmentally safe products can be found at www.911savebeans.com. The have FREE shipping too!

Q: My dog has terrible breath. Is there anything I can do?

A: Dental disease is the mot common cause of "dog breath." Bits of food and bacteria form soft deposits called plaque on the teeth, which eventually hardens into tartar. Tarter irritates the gums and gives bacteria access to the tooth roots, which leads to infection, pain and tooth loss, as well a bad breath. The bacteria can even wind up in the bloodstream and infect a dog's heart valves or kidneys.

To assess the general condition of your dog's teeth check along the base of the upper canines (fangs) and the first large teeth in the back. Do you see yellowish, brownish, or garish gunk on the teeth? That's tartar. Does the gum line look red rather than pink? That's gingivitis. Are there sores or crusts on his or her lips? All of these are signs of dental disease. They symptoms of dental disease aren't restricted to the mouth. Infection from an abscessed upper canine tooth may break through the dogs nasal passages and produce a yellowish or white discharge from the nose.

If your dog has tartar on their teeth or signs of an infection, make an appointment with your vet. Once tartar has hardened it's almost impossible to remove at home. A dental cleaning under anesthesia is required. Vets clean a dog's teeth using the same types of instruments your dental hygienist uses on your teeth. The vet also checks for gum recession, infections, loose teeth, and growths in the dog's mouth. Loose teeth are often removed, but a veterinary dental specialist sometimes can do a root canal instead to save a tooth.

Once your dog's teeth have been professionally cleaned, you should start brushing them every day. I know, seems impossible, but it could help keep your K9 pain free and healthy!

Happy brushing!