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This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

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The Most Common Dental Problems in Dogs

by Melissa on January 19, 2012

As veterinary care advances, the animal medical community is developing more sophisticated means to treat common ailments and afflictions, including canine dental care. Since dogs use their mouths for practically everything they do, it is important to not overlook dental care. An article in the February 2012 issue of Dog Fancy states that the three main signs of canine dental problems are periodontal disease, malocclusions, and fractured teeth. Signs of dental problems include bad breath, bleeding gums, plaque buildup on the teeth, and difficulty eating.

Periodontal disease is said to be seen in eighty percent of dogs by the age of three, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. The disease begins with plaque buildup, which ultimately leads to gingivitis, which causes the gums to bleed, just like in humans. Luckily, a good dental cleaning and mouth maintenance can reverse this condition.

Malocclusions happen when the teeth do not align or are in the wrong position. This condition commonly occurs by inheriting certain breed traits. If there is a malocclusion, such as an overbite, wear on developing teeth can push teeth into the wrong position. Sometimes these teeth will need to be extracted, while if a dog has an underbite, it isn’t a problem.

Fractured teeth can happened in multiple ways, like hard chewing and playing. Broken teeth can cause a great deal of pain, and if it houses bacteria, the tooth becomes even more painful. Sometimes minor procedures, like sanding or smoothing teeth are all that is needed, but veterinarians can even perform root canals on broken teeth. Broken teeth may also be extracted.

To prevent these diseases, there are several steps that can be taken. Just like with people, it is recommended that dogs get their teeth brushed every day. While many pet parents do not want or will not go to that level, there are dental chews or water and food additives to provide dental care. Biotene Veterinarian Drinking Water Additive is just one product that aids in plaque removal and bacteria removal.

This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

The Poinsettia Urban Legend and Toxic Holiday Plants

by Melissa on December 6, 2011

It is that time of year where animal advocate groups are publishing lists of which plants are poisonous to pets, as plants are a very popular gift item all year round. One of the biggest plants that takes the heat on these lists is the lush poinsettia! How many times have you heard that it is deadly for cats? Well, it is a plant to be cautious with, but there is also a bit of an urban legend behind this symbol of the holiday season.

The legend behind this plant being dangerous dates back to an unestablished story from 1919. According to the story, the two-year-old child of an Army officer died in Hawaii after chewing on a poinsettia leaf. Although an examination concluded that this was untrue, the story spread and hence the urban legend was born. Ohio State University and POISINDEX revealed that a fifty-pound child would need to eat 500-600 leaves before becoming dangerously ill.

This doesn’t leave poinsettia plants completely in the clear. The plant does have some mild toxicity effects, but it will not cause death. It is toxic in that it can irritate the mouth and stomach, and occasionally cause vomiting. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, it is overrated in toxicity.

Another popular holiday plant, one that needs to be watched out for, is mistletoe! This plant is not so romantic if ingested by dogs, cats, or horses. Some species of mistletoe can cause several health problems, including blood pressure change, blurred vision, abdominal pain, and even death. The leaves are the most toxic part of the mistletoe, but the berries should not be eaten either. Even if your pets don’t normally chew on plants, the addition of new ones in the home will spark curiosity, especially with cats.

Other holiday plants, like lilies, amaryllis, Christmas cacti, pine trees, and holly all have some level of toxicity. That doesn’t mean these plants can’t be enjoyed. Since most plants are easy to transport, simply move them to a different room where pets can’t access them while you are out of the house, or crate the pets if possible. Keep a veterinary emergency number on hand as well, and always call to be on the safe side if your pet ingests a harmful holiday plant.

This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

Forty-One Beagles Rescued From Spain

by Melissa on December 2, 2011

In late November of 2011, forty-one beagles were rescued by the Beagle Freedom Project from a testing lab in Spain. The dogs, used for human drug research, have finally seen the light of day for the first time and are now in the process of being rehabilitated. According to Shannon Keith of the Beagle Freedom Project, the dogs were going to be killed when the lab closed. All of the dogs are male and range from four to seven years old. One question asked surrounding this story has been “Why beagles?”

According to KTLA of Los Angeles, 70,000 dogs are tested on by labs each year in the United States. Beagles are the most popular breed of dog for animal testing purposes, because they are forgiving and trusting, and they are also people pleasers. They adopt easily to their living conditions as well. Not only that, beagles are smaller sized dogs that don’t cost much to feed, making them ideal testing subjects, according to researchers. Because of this, beagles are subjected to bleak living conditions and often do not see grass or daylight, much like the beagles that were rescued from Spain.

The Beagle Freedom Project specializes in rescuing beagles from research laboratories. With their latest rescue, which has been highly publicized in media outlets, they are looking to get the dogs into an adoptable state. This includes much needed medical attention. Many of the dogs need blood work and their teeth extracted, and some still need foster homes. The ultimate goal is to find homes for all of the dogs.

If you are interested in helping out the Beagle Freedom Project, there are a few ways to help. One is by offering to foster a dog. There is an application to fill out, and it is preferred that the family is located in the Los Angeles area. Another way to help is to adopt, of course! The Beagle Freedom Project requires that dogs are adopted into homes with at last one other dog, and they also require a home check. The reason for having another dog, is because the BFP has “noticed that they thrive by learning from a dog who can teach them how to be a dog.” The adoption fee is $300 and also requires an application first. Pre-adoption applications are being taken now for the beagles from Spain.

The final way to help is by making a donation, even if it is just one dollar. Every little bit helps to serve this cause. The donation is tax deductible. If you love beagles but want to help a more local organization, try looking into a beagle rescue organization that needs help. Even simply spreading the word about testing beagles helps this wonderful breed of dog and the efforts to rescue them.

This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

Learning About Mutts

by Melissa on November 26, 2011

Going to the shelter to adopt a pet is a wonderful thing to do, and the perfect way to add a new pet to the family. While there are many purebred dogs and cats in shelters and at rescues (some statistics cite up to 25% of their dogs as being purebreds), the most likely scenario is that a new dog, and especially cat, will be two breeds, or possibly more than that. If the breeds are known, learning about personality traits from those breeds will help the whole family know what to expect when the pet enters the family.

One example of this is my own dog, Walter. When I adopted him, he was listed as a Golden Retriever mix. I had no idea if he was a purebred dog from the listing, but once I brought him home, it was clear that he was mixed with Chow Chow! Both of these breeds are wonderful, but learning more about each breed really helped to figure out Walter’s personality. It was clear from the beginning he was blessed with that typical Golden Retriever sweet side, and the prey drive and aloofness of the Chow Chow. Walter has no interest in retrieving anything, but he sure loves ripping up stuffed animals and would love to chase small animals, like squirrels, if given the chance. Other dominant Chow Chow traits that Walter has include being fiercely loyal to one person (Me! I’m so lucky!), and he is quite stubborn. These are not negative traits, but knowing typical traits for both breeds has given me insight into why Walter acts the way he does sometimes.

There are many ways to find out about different pet breeds. For general information, Dogster has a page devoted to most dog breeds, while Catster takes care of the feline population. Checking out books from the library, whether it is a breed encyclopedia or a book dedicated to a certain type of dog or cat. Even the “For Dummies” guides are good sources of information.

Of course, it is not only breed that shapes a dog’s personality. Having background information on the dog, if available, is important as well. Some dogs may need to be rehabilitated mentally and behaviorally before their true instincts show. Other mutts may not lean toward very dominant traits within their breed, especially if they are mixed with several breeds. Every situation is not the same, but it doesn’t hurt to know as much information as possible when it comes to adopting a mutt!

This article was written by My Pet Saving’s contributor Melissa. She has a master’s degree in creative writing, owns several pets and runs her own online pet magazine. To learn more about this author check out the contributor profile page.

Practicing Responsible Giving

by Melissa on November 24, 2011

With the holidays nearly in full swing, many people are feeling generous and opening up their pocketbooks and wallets and giving generously to causes of their choice. With television, radio, and print advertisements quite literally splashed nearly everywhere, it isn’t hard to pick up on a charity that requests donations or needs help, but are these charities the best picks? For some, yes, but there are some factors to consider when wanting to donate to an animal-centric charity.

Most animal lovers are well-aware of the big name charities when it comes to donating to the cause of animal rescue. It’s hard not to notice the sad eyes of homeless or abused animals on the television screen as a sad song plays in the background, but when it comes down to it, most large rescue organizations have plenty of funds secured for a long time, or the money is not being utilized as we think. A prime example of this is the Humane Society of the United States. Many mistake the HSUS as an umbrella for ALL humane societies in the country, but this is not the case. Humane Watch is a watchdog group dedicated to keeping track of how the HSUS handles their funds and cases. They have an extensive document library dedicated to showing where the HSUS places their funds, and they break down the numbers when it comes to where their money goes:

A recent report by HumaneWatch, a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom, determined that HSUS gives less than one percent of its annual budget to local groups—totaling $527,000 over the last three years—despite raising more than $120 million annually.

While the HSUS has undoubtedly done good things for animals through puppy mill investigations and educating the public on animal welfare topics, the distribution of money is questionable. This is why it is so important to be aware of where donations are going. If you want to make donations toward animal rescue causes during the holiday season (or throughout the year), donate to local programs that are in need instead of the large name rescue corporations. By practicing responsible giving and researching the organization in which you want to donate, you can see where your dollar is going, how it is used, and make a big difference in a small organization.