Pets’ mouths are biologically similar to humans. Their teeth are susceptible to plaque and tartar build-up and bacterial infections. A significant bacterial infection growing under the gums can damage the structural tissues (gum and bone) that hold teeth in place. If a tooth has been cracked or chipped, bacteria may migrate deeper into the surrounding tissues and cause inflammation or an abscess. In some cases, abscessed teeth require extraction.

The most effective preventive treatment for dental disease is a professional teeth cleaning. Only with a professional cleaning is a veterinarian able to fully assess an animal’s dental health, take X-rays as needed, scale bacteria and tartar off of tooth surfaces as well as from under the gum line, polish and perform more advanced procedures if necessary.

For more information, visit www.healthyteethforpets.com.

Yes, every rose has its thorn, and pets are tempted to taste test those cut arrangements. Keep them off a low coffee table. Be especially careful if that arrangement includes lilies. These lovely and fragrant flowers can be deadly.

Don’t be tempted to give a human love interest a cuddly new puppy or kitten unless this new addition has been discussed beforehand. Instead, give a book care or dog care book, a gift certificate for an adoption at a local shelter or a breed specific book – if the recipient is considering a purebred companion animal.

Would you eat more meals at home or cancel your gym membership for your cat?  Cancel cable or satellite service or curb spending on new clothes? How about push back plans for home remodeling or forgo buying new car or buy a less expensive model?

Other cost saving measures mentioned were looking for sales and/or clipping coupons before shopping for pet products. What was one thing they wouldn’t give up – Internet access.

Think your pet’s name is funnier, stranger, or has a unique story behind it?  Tell us about it by commenting below!

*Plan lodging, plane or train reservations well ahead of your trip and if driving, research your route, making reservations at pet-friendly hotels.

*Make sure your pets have ID, current rabies tags and are microchipped. (Yes, even your cats.)

*Give your pet an extra tag with the address and phone number of where you will be staying for the duration of the trip, in case they get lost after you arrive.

*Bring their health records in case your pet needs to see a veterinarian during your trip.

*Be prepared for emergencies or delays. Keep pet dishes in your car, as well as extra water and pet food, in case of car trouble or bad weather.

*Pets should travel in crates, whether you’re heading to your holiday destination by plane, train or automobile.

*Keep water inside the crate in stainless steel containers that hook to the front or side of the crate.

*Try to keep pets on the same schedule and stop when its meal time or when you would normally let your animals out at home.

*Never leave your pets unattended or in a car alone.

*As a rule, puppies and kittens, sick animals, animals in heat, and frail or pregnant animals should not travel by air. And, animals that are “pug-nosed,” like pugs, boxers and Persian cats, should not fly in the cargo area of a plane.

*If flying, check out health certificate regulations.

*Tranquilizing pets is not recommended when flying because it’s difficult to monitor the animal’s breathing, which can be impaired by the combination of sedatives and high altitude.

*Boarding is an option as is a licensed pet sitter to take care of your pet in the comfort of his home.

For more information, go to www.americanhumane.org.

In the cold weather, here are a few simple steps you can take to assist the feral cats in your neighborhood. Build an outdoor shelter. Plans are available at www.alleycat.org, or you can modify a pre-built dog-house. Insulate the shelter against moisture as well as cold. Straw resists the wet and keeps a shelter warm, and is the best choice for insulation and bedding. Don’t use blankets. They absorb moisture like a sponge.

Keep food and water from freezing. Use insulated containers to keep canned food from freezing, or replace it with dry food during winter months. Use bowls that are deep, not wide, and placed in a sunny spot. If possible, refill the bowls with hot or warm water. A pinch of sugar stops water from freezing as quickly, and provides an added energy boost.

To reduce the feral cat population in your area, look for a local volunteer group practicing Trap-Neuter-Return. For more information about feral cats, go to Alley Cat Allies’ Web site at www.alleycat.org.

“Cars, antifreeze, heaters and wood stoves can be death traps for animals if pet owners are not careful,” says Smith.  Bang on your car before starting the engine. Outdoor cats often will curl up into the wheel wells and engine compartments for warmth and they could get trapped. Provide plenty of fresh water. Your cat is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer, and of course, snow is not a substitute for water. Wind chill makes days colder than what the actual temperature might show so limit your pet’s time outdoors. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal to keep containers from freezing. Darker colors are recommended as they will absorb more heat.

Dogs and cats eliminate the more complex ingredients in chocolate, such as caffeine, more slowly than people. As a result, these chemicals have longer to act on the body, and ingestion may cause the pet to vomit, develop irregular heartbeats, and seizures. Meats with a large amount of fat should not be given to dogs or cats. These table scraps are too high in fat for a pet’s digestive system, and can lead to vomiting, and in severe cases, pancreatitis. Be careful of cooked bones that come from your holiday turkey or steak. If a pet chews through the bone it may splinter, and the splintered piece may be ingested.

If a pet ingests any foreign object like tinsel or ribbon, get the animal to the vet immediately. These objects can become lodged in the animal’s intestinal tract and may cause injury. Also be aware of holiday plants and flowers that can become a buffet for your cat or dog and cause illness. Animal trauma is usually associated with new visitors coming into the household and accidentally stepping on a pet or letting it escape outside. Electric cables for holiday lights and other festive décor should be kept away from pets as well. If a pet gnaws on the electric cord it could be electrocuted. Keep your pets in a designated area, it can reduce injury and prevent the “indoor-only” cat from getting lost outside.

Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says changes in a dog’s behavior may be explained by other medical conditions. He says dementia is actually connected to a tumor, infection, or stroke.  Subtle signs of an underlying neurological disorder include loss of potty training, deviation from normal behavioral patterns, and changes in food preferences, appetite, or sleep patterns.

“Often dogs are brought to us after displaying obvious signs such as seizures, “circling,” a term that refers to when animals pace in circles, vision deficits such as running into walls, and “head pressing” which is when an animal presses their head against a wall or an object for no apparent reason,” Hicks says. If you notice your pet behaving oddly take them to your veterinarian for an evaluation. Routine testing can include a physical examination, blood work, and urine samples, and help to diagnose diseases such as diabetes, thyroid problems, arthritis, some forms of cancer, or infections.” There are advanced diagnostic tests and treatments are available to help guide pet owners to determine the appropriate level of care.  “There is no single test for ‘Doggie Dementia,’ we must rule out other diseases,” he says.

Matt Turnbull, CEO of Worldwise, Inc., says “With Dogtronics, we’re taking the experience and expertise we’ve developed with our successful line of electronics cat toys to create a new kind of interactive experience for dogs and their owners on a scale that’s never been done before.”

For more information about the dog toys, go to www.dogtronics.com. For cat toys, go to www.worldwise.com.

Any favorite pet toys?  Tell us what your pet’s love.