The frog days of summer - Harbour Spiel Online

pet talk
Some veterinarians support feeding
raw but most veterinarians tend to
promote commercial food as a better
choice.
However, the nutrition component
of the average veterinarian’s
multiple years of education literally
amounts to the same amount of time a
lucky dog gets walked in a week.
For the most part, and for good
reason, their education encourages
resistance to any “evidence” that is
anecdotal and the “studies” supporting
commercial foods are pretty much all
they have to work with.
That makes me chuckle sometimes
because when a layperson, no
matter how experienced, offers an
opinion contrary to traditional scientifi
c thought it’s dismissed as “anecdotal
evidence.”
If a person of science says the
same thing, then it’s a “theory.”
I’ve heard a lot about how a raw
diet can really harm a dog but for the
most part I’ve found the dog harmed
was being fed by someone winging it.
That’s basically the main problem
for me.
It’s not the dietary philosophy,
it’s how willy-nilly some people interpret
and apply it.
Sometimes the consequences of
“winging it” don’t turn up right away
as it might take a few months or even
years.
For those who decide to feed a
commercial food, the need for research
is no less.
Quality varies from “will support
life” to some sincere efforts to
produce as good as you can get in a
commercially prepared food.
Many dog owners would be sur-
prised to learn where on that line their
own dog food falls.
For those that decide to go the
raw route, don’t just start tossing rabbits
to your dog.
Do your research including
speaking with people from both ends
of the spectrum and, if you decide to
go raw, get some support from people
with a few years experience
My hygienist told me I require more frequent cleaning.
Is it really necessary?
Periodontal disease has diff erent stages which are oft en silent and
painless. But if it is left untreated, it may involve loss of supporti ng bone
and, eventually, teeth. Clinical studies are now linking periodontal disease
and the bacteria associated with oral health problems to serious conditi ons
such as heart and cardiovascular disease, hardening of the arteries, obesity,
diabetes and osteoporosis.
If you are a smoker, have diabetes, have a weakened immune system,
are prone to getti ng caviti es or currently have gum disease, your denti st may
ask you to come in more frequently.
Pati ents with a history of periodontal disease need a deeper cleaning
from a hygienist or a periodonti st because they have formed “pockets.”
Pockets are spaces between the teeth and gums that can trap plaque and
tartar. With regular deep cleanings, the pockets can shrink and the gums
can become healthier.
Once the periodontal disease is brought under control with treatment,
it is very important that you receive periodontal maintenance care on a
regular basis to preserve the progress
made. Your denti st and hygienist may
recommend treatment every three
to four months, or even more oft en.
Cleaning your mouth daily at home is a
must, but it is not enough to keep periodontal
disease in check.
Professional cleanings are like insurance
for your smile. The investment can
save you thousands of dollars in the
long run, as smaller problems diagnosed
along the way can prevent much bigger
problems from occurring later on.
Pender Harbour Health Centre • (604) 883-2997
Pawsitively yours,
John Wade
e-mail John at: johnwade@johnwade.ca
or visit his website at www.
johnwade.ca
September 2012 Page 29