Do This Healthy Pet DIY Project - Find Your Pet's Body Condition Score

Here is a Healthy Pet DIY Project: 

Pet - Body Condition Score

Here is a DIY project you won't see on HGTV.  Determine your pets BCS - Body Condition Score.  Just like in humans, a lean, fit body is a good sign that your pet is eating the right amount of food and getting proper exercise.  So tackle this project this weekend.  You don't even have to go to Home Depot.

Body Condition Score

To determine a body condition score use your hands not you eyes.  Use your fingers, hands flat. Pressing lightly, rub down the side of the pet's body while feeling its ribs.

The skin should feel like a t-shirt covering the ribs, not a sweatshirt or a parka.

1)  Make a fist and feel over your knuckles, if the pet's ribs feel like your knuckles...the animal is too thin.

2)  Now open your fist and feel the top of your knuckles.  If the pet's ribs feel like that... it's just right.

3)  Now turn your hand over, palm up and feel the base of your fingers.  If the pet's ribs feel like that... the animal is too fat.

The ribs and hips should be widest part of the body; waistline the narrowest.  The base of the tail of most dogs should be bony and feel like it does while tapping your kneecap.

What to do: Start by looking at your pet and what you feed your pet. Go to http://www.petobesityprevention.com/pet-weight-check for a visual chart of what your pet should look like. Make sure you are not feeding your pet more than 1 (measuring) cup of food per 20 lbs. of weight per day. This is just a general guideline we use at All Creatures so then, consult with us or your veterinarian about the specific diet and activity needs of your pet.

If you have questions, call us to set up a free Pet Diet Consult with one of our Certified Veterinary Assistants.

REFERERNCES

http://www.petobesityprevention.com

http://www.petfit.com (Live Light Videos with Alison Sweeney)

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Free Pet Diet Consults

Friday, July 26, 2013

11:00am - 2:00pm

Come and Go

$10 OFF Tuesdays on Express Pet Bath

On Tuesdays, bring your pet in for a discounted "Express Bath". Express baths will be $10 off the regular price every Tuesday and will still include nail trim, anal gland expression and ear cleaning but will be limited to a 15 minute brush out (that's what makes it express!) (Discounts may not be combined)

Learn First Aid for Your Pet at All Creatures Veterinary Center

April is National Pet First Aid Month and All Creatures is sponsoring a Pet CPR & First Aid Class on April 27th from 1 to 6 p.m. at All Creatures (2525 E Hebron Pkwy., Carrollton, Texas 75010).  Cost for the class is $79 but each participant will receive personalized instruction on Pet CPR & First Aid and $25 in pet products and services discounts.  To pay for your spot in the class go to: http://allcreaturespetfirstaid.eventbrite.com/#.

SKCG Guardian Cat Survival Kit (Google Affiliate Ad)
SKDG Guardian Dog Survival Kit (Google Affiliate Ad)

Does Your Pet Like to Eat? - Pet Nutrition Topics

All Creatures continues to offer discounts on Pet Dental services through March 31st, but March is also National Pet Nutrition Month so we wanted address this topic, too.  Nutrition affects the way our pet’s grow and age. It is commonly a hot topic issue with pet owners and many feel strongly about what they feed their pets.  Here are some of the topics that come up often in pet food discussions, whether in person or online.

Ingredients          
Ingredients are always the most scrutinized aspect of pet food, but some ingredient terms are not understood like the word meal.  For example, a pet food with lamb means that whole ingredient includes all  moisture content (about 80% water). A dry food listing lamb as the first ingredient may not contain much lamb because the water has been removed. By comparison, lamb meal is fresh lamb dehydrated prior to weighing, resulting in 7 times more lamb used. In chicken meal, there is 5 times more poultry used than in chicken with the moisture content.
AAFCO
Have you ever noticed the AAFCO statement on your bag? AAFCO or Association of American Feed Control Officials have 2 standards pet foods must meet to receive the label; the food must meet a nutrient profile (labeled as formulated) or by passing a feeding trial. Formulated food is analyzed in a laboratory and compared to minimum nutritional values established by AAFCO.  Feeding trials mean the finished product has been fed to dogs or cats over the course of 26 weeks to verify nutritional claims. Feeding trials are expensive for pet food companies, so not many brands conduct them.
Life Stages
Another AAFCO protocol is life stages.  Most pet food has an AAFCO statement on the bag that will list a life stage like adult, puppy/growth or all life stages.  All life stages means the food has been formulated to be nutritious enough for puppies all the way to senior pets. However, puppies need more nutrition than adults or seniors since their bodies are growing, so all life stages may be more nutrients than your adult or senior pet needs. Always try to get food that is appropriately formulated for your pet.
Food Allergies
Food allergy myths are rampant. One is that dogs and cats are most allergic to corn.  In fact, corn is highly digestible when ground. It’s the outer shell layer of the corn that is not digestible, even by people. The most common food allergens for dogs are: beef, dairy, and wheat. These three ingredients account for 68% of canine food allergies. The most common food allergens in cats are: beef, dairy, and fish. These three ingredients account for 80% of feline food allergies.
Common Terms
Another confusion for consumers are classification or descriptive terms used on pet food bags. Some pet food manufacturers use terms to describe their foods, some of which are legally defined and others which are purely marketing terminology without any valid legal definition.

Legally defined pet food terms:

Natural - According to AAFCO – the term “natural” requires a pet food to consist of only natural ingredients without chemical alterations. 

Organic - According to the USDA – the term “Organic’ may only be applied to pet food labels that follow USDA rules. Look for the organic seal. http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Consumers/brochure.html

Marketing terms:

Human Grade - Claims that a product contains or is made from ingredients that are “human grade”, “human quality”, “people foods”, “ingredients you (the purchaser) would eat”, are false and misleading according to AAFCO. (Association of American Feed Control Officials (March 2004) Section IV – Pet Food Label Claims – Page 66 Section E)

Holistic - There is no legal definition of this term under laws devoted to pet foods. Any manufacturer can make claims of “holistic” in literature and brochures regardless of ingredients chosen.
All Creatures Veterinary Center 2525 E Hebron Pkwy., Carrollton, Texas 75010 972-307-7400
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FAQ on Pet Dental Health

PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTHS (Jan-Mar)            All Creatures Veterinary Center             972-307-7400

FAQ on Pet Dental Health

Did you know that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over age three have some form of oral disease?

 If left untreated, bacteria from the teeth and gums can spread through the bloodstream and affect other body systems.  At All Creatures, we are dedicated to using preventative care to change the statistics of dental disease for your pet.  Here are some questions/concerns we get about pet dental health and having your pet's teeth cleaned.

I Don't Know What Condition My Pet's Teeth Are In.

If you don't know the condition of your pet's teeth, just call us at All Creatures Veterinary Center and make an appointment with one our Certified Veterinary Assistants and they will exam your pet's teeth, evaluate the overall dental health and give you a condition score.  This service is free.

What About Anesthesia?
Your pet must be anesthetized to have its teeth completely cleaned and should be in good health before receiving anesthesia.  That is why we test your pet's blood before a dental procedure.  The results of the test tell our doctors if your pets internal organs are functioning properly and can handle anesthesia.  If your pet has had blood tests in the last 60 days let us know and we may be able to use those tests and save the cost of the preanesthetic blood tests.

What About Follow Up Care?
The best way to keep your pet's teeth clean and their breath bearable is to begin a maintenance program at home.  The good news is there are a variety of products to help you do this from poultry flavored toothpaste to an easy water additive.  What is the best home pet dental care?  Ask any All Creatures staff member for the answer.

Do You Have a Question About Pet Dental Health?  Just click HERE and send us an email.

 

The Best Home Dental Care for Your Pet

PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTHS (Jan-Mar)               All Creatures Veterinary Center               972-307-7400

The Best Home Dental Care For Your Pet

Has your pet ever flopped in your lap and then dissatisfied with your attention put it's face right in your face to say 'hey, I need some attention right now'? Did you marvel at your pet's affection or think 'we have got get you a mint or something'?

That something is home dental care for your pet. Your pet needs regular home dental care and now there is a variety of ways to make that happen like tooth brushing, rinses, chews and even food. What is the BEST dental care for your pet? It is the one you and your pet WILL DO! Whatever type of pet oral health care fits into your daily routine.

If you are not aware of all the choices you have for daily home pet oral care, here they are rated Good to Best:
 

GOOD

C.E.T.^®Enzymatic Oral Chews for Dogs and Cats
·These feature a Dual-Enzyme System, are made from select beefhide to combine a natural antiseptic plus an abrasive texture that works with the pet's chewing action to loosen tartar and provide plaque control. These come in a 30-count bag designed for giving one each day.


BETTER
C.E.T. AQUADENT^® Drinking Water Additive


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·         A daily drinking water additive with xylitol for dogs and cats to help fight plaque and freshen breath. Add 2 teaspoons to a quart of pet’s drinking water every day to provide clinically tested dental care every time a pet drinks.

C.E.T.^® Oral Hygiene Rinse

·         Dental rinse for cats and dogs containing chlorhexidine gluconate, cetylpyridinium chloride, in an oral rinse formulation to help fight plaque, maintain oral health, and freshen breath fast. One squeeze into your pet's mouth quickly covers and rinses the entire mouth. You don't have to rub it around. Your pet's natural licking action does it automatically. Ideal when brushing is not an option.

Hill's T/D Prescription Diet Food

Prescription Diet® t/d® is formulated with the following benefits:
·         Unique kibble scrubs away laden plaque in the mouth to promote systemic health
·         Clinically proven to reduce plaque, stain and tartar buildup
·         Reduces bad breath and has antioxidants to control cell oxidation and promote a healthy immune system

Science Diet® Healthy Advantage™ Pet Food

Available exclusively from your veterinarian, Hill's® Science Diet® Healthy Advantage™ is formulated to help address five common health concerns for pets and one of those is dental health. Healthy Advantage food uses the same kibble technology as t/d but the preventative effect is less as it is a non-prescription diet.

BEST

Brushing
Daily tooth brushing is the best at-home method for maintaining good dental health for cats and dogs. There are several types of toothbrushes and different flavors of toothpaste to make it easy and effective for cat and dog owners to care for their pet’s teeth as part of their daily routines. We will be happy to show you the different styles of toothbrushes and demonstrate them if you wish. Keep in mind, you do not have to choose just one method of dental care for your pet. It may be better for you and your pet to brush some days and have a chew some other days.

PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTHS (Jan-Mar)              All Creatures Veterinary Center             972-307-7400