In Alberta and in the spring time, there is a crop of ticks traditionally “blooming” around. Those ticks are called Dermacentor albipictus, and may be vectors for a host of diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. However, for 2018, we are watching for the arrival of new species of ticks that may carry Lyme disease, a potentially incurable and fatal disease affected our companion animals, as well as humans. Please make sure to connect with us in April regarding the status on Lyme disease in Alberta, tick “prophylaxis” is available. For dogs only 🙂

Some American universities are starting to research the link with grain-free diets. It is postulated that the uptake of taurine may be impaired in some grain-free diets, especially the ones containing lentils and peas. It’s not simply about supplementing diets with taurine, an essential amino acid, but why the body is not absorbing or metabolizing it. Choose carefully what you feed your dog and prioritize what is safe, nutritious, and affordable. 

This is Belle Darling.

She is Jann Arden ‘s faithful companion (along with Midi). 
Jann videoed their walk together prior to coming to #BandedPeakVets.

This is hugely helpful.

I was able to assess Belle’s gait, her mental status, her urination pattern… and save much time in our afternoon appointment to work on precise diagnostics.

So the point is, as a veterinarian, I love when pet owners bring videos or photos of what is concerning them, it shows you care and it’s helpful.

I love it! – Judith DVM

Natural disasters can occur at any time without any warning, so ask yourself – are you and your pet prepared? 

Here are some quick tips to help you get ready: 
(1) Make sure your pet is microchipped and/or wearing updated collars and tags. 
(2) Put together a quick pet disaster kit that includes a carrier, food, medicine, vaccination records, identification papers and leashes/harnesses. 
(3) Take a selfie with your pet!

If you become separated, having that photo will provide proof of ownership and hopefully increases the chances of you being reunited again. 

Stay safe!

As you know, regular walks, hiking, playing fetch and swimming can help keep your pet physically active and fit, but don’t forget about their mental health! Providing puzzle toys to play with, hiding treats, changing up your walking routine to open up new scenery/smells, building obstacle courses and practicing new tricks will all help to keep your pet’s brain in tip top shape.

According to the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), dental disease affects almost all dogs and cats as early as the age of three! In 2008 a research paper published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry showed that there is a positive correlation between the extent of periodontal disease and the increased likelihood of heart, lung and liver damage in dogs.

Now you may be asking what to look for in your dog when it comes to dental disease? Well, it can present in many different ways including: oral pain, chewing difficulties, bad breath, excessive drooling, lumps/bumps inside of the mouth, missing/discoloured teeth, red/swollen/painful or bleeding gums and/or a yellowish-brown tartar crust on the tooth or along the gum line. If you are noticing any of these signs in your furry friend, then give us a call as we would love to check them out!

You might find that your furry friend is not too thrilled for tooth brushing at first, but with these tips and some practice you can make it a fun experience for you both! First big tip is to try to choose a time when your dog has had a decent amount of exercise, so that they are more inclined to sit still and be more welcoming of the new idea. Second important tip is to remember not to overdo it, as it is always better to start slowly and quit even if you don’t brush the whole mouth, as you can always increase the time as they get used to it. Lastly, make sure to reward your dog with a treat afterwards and lots of praise and happy attention. You will find that before too long, both you and your dog will start to look forward to the weekly bonding event.

Here is a getting started checklist to follow:

• You can use a specially designed dog toothbrush, a child’s soft toothbrush, a finger toothbrush, or simply place gauze around a finger.
• NEVER use human toothpaste because they contain fluoride, which is extremely poisonous to dogs. Instead, only use a pet-safe toothpaste.
• Give your dog a small sample of the toothpaste to introduce the taste.
• Lift the lip to expose the outside surfaces of your dog’s gums and teeth.
• Brush with gentle motions to clean the teeth and gums, as you would your own.
• Focus on cleaning the outside (cheek-facing) tooth surfaces, as most pets will not allow you to brush the inside surface of the teeth.
• Be sure to reach the back upper molars and canines, as these teeth tend to quickly build up tartar.
• Reward your dog with play, petting or a favorite activity after brushing in order to make the experience fun & rewarding.

‘Claw counseling’ is helping cat parents understand their cat’s natural behavior and scratching preferences. Scratching is considered to be both natural and necessary for the mental health of our feline friends and is never done with any mean spirited intentions.

The concept of a world that contains both ‘okay’ and ‘not okay’ scratching surfaces simply does not exist for the cat, as scratching to them is simply a form of communication, mental stimulation and is required for their nail health.

It is very important for us to understand that scratching is vital for our furry friends and to make sure that we provide them with several scratching options to choose from. The staff here at Banded Peak would love to sit down and discuss ‘claw counseling’ with you at any time, so please feel free to give us a call!

Earlier we had discussed how dental disease can affect our furry friends and shared tips for at home brushing. This month we thought it would be fun to talk about dental radiographs, which here at Banded Peak we consider to be an important part of the dental procedure.

In a nutshell, dental X-Ray allow us to see the entire tooth (above & below the gum line) to help identify any ‘hidden’ concerns.

What maybe hidden from plain view – you ask? Well – several things!

For example there can be root reabsorption/destruction, bone loss/pockets below the gum line, caries (also known as cavities) and traumas (think tooth fractures). These issues can be very painful for your best friend, but the good news is that they can be easily identified during their dental procedure here at BVPH with our digital dental X-Ray equipment.

It hurts.
This condition is called “entropion”.

At #BandedPeakVets we see this condition commonly especially in breeds at risk such as bulldogs and mastiffs.

Beware, there is a strong genetic component to entropion and often requires surgery to correct it.