Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic

The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic DENTAL CARE RECOMMENDATIONS:

Good teeth and gums are very important to the health of your pet, the average animal lives 2-3 years longer with healthy teeth, than those with gingivitis and tartar. Bad teeth and gingivitis can lead to heart disease, kidney and liver failure, and many other diseases.

1. We recommend starting on Plaque Off. It bonds to tartar, and breaks tartar off the teeth in addition to preventing new tartar from forming. Simply add this powder to ’s food daily. This product works well for dogs and cats that do not like to chew or are too sick for a dental cleaning.

2. You can also use dental chews, and we recommend CET HEXTRA chews. A recent study in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry noted a 46% reduction in gingivitis with rawhide chews. CET chews have enzymes that help eat the tartar off the teeth. It also has an antibacterial agent (Chlorhexidine gluconate), that acts like a mouth wash. These help to scrape tartar and plaque off the teeth and to reduce bacteria in the mouth. If you purchase chews from a local pet store, please keep in mind that they must be “enzymatic” to be really effective.
*Overall chews are safe and very beneficial to the teeth; however, if you pet swallows them whole they must be discontinued as they can cause a blockage and may require surgery. Other rawhides/chews tend to cause more problems with diarrhea/vomiting as they are cured with formaldehyde. The CET Chews are cured with a bake and press method which make them safer to give to your pet, and easier to digest when swallowed.

3. We also recommend you try brushing ’s teeth 2 times weekly. You can buy toothpaste and toothbrushes here or at the local pet store. Do not use a human tooth paste as these cannot be swallowed.

4. Greenies can be beneficial to the teeth. Make sure your pet does not swallow them whole as they can cause a blockage and possibly require surgery.

5. Dental cleanings are recommended for pets with tartar and gingivitis, and for pets that will possible require tooth extractions. At The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic we have great discounts on our dental prophys the month of September and February, with discounts of 25% on the cleanings. Most dogs and cats will require a dental cleaning around 7 years of age and every 1-2 years after to keep the teeth in good condition.

Dr William ( Bill ) Langhofer
The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic
7311 E Thomas Rd
Scottsdale, Az 85251
Open 7 days a week!!

These are a list of the things that the doctors at the Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic may recommend for back pain or back injury with your pet

1. Pain medications- Tramadol , hydromorphone, and buprenorphine are morphine type products that can help with back pain. This product may cause constipation; therefore,  laxatives are recommended.

2. Muscle relaxants- Methocarbamol or Diazepam may be used to help reduce the amount of muscle spasms that your pet may experience with back pain. These are recommended if they are restless, panting, or unable to sleep at night.

3. Weight loss and exercise- if your pet is overweight we will recommend weight loss. Exercise is recommended to keep the muscles in the back strong. Leash walk or swimming is the best exercise. Absolutely no fetch, jumping should be allowed for the next month, as this type of exercise can continue to injure the back.

4. Anti-inflammatory medications- Prednisone (cortisone) may be recommended for disc disease, this cannot be given with any aspirin type products. Some potential side effect include: diabetes, liver disease, immune suppression, and stomach ulcers.

5. Other pain meds may include rimadyl, aspirin, metacam, etc- these cannot be given with any type of cortisone, and should be discontinued if any vomiting or diarrhea is noted.

6. We recommend fiber to prevent constipation: canned pumpkin or metamucil.

7. Docusate sodium (Colace) may also be recommended for constipation.

8. Injectable adequan can speed healing with arthritis, and with disc disease. This is usually given 1-2 times per week for one month, then monthly.

9. Heat and massage therapy on the area that is painful may help relax the muscles and aid in recovery. This can be performed daily at home.

10. Acupuncture and a chiropractic adjustment with Dr D’Monte has had some significant success in treating back pain, and back injuries.

11. Duralactin is highly recommended as an effective anti-inflammatory agent for arthritis in the back and back injuries. This will probably be recommended for life if your pet injures their back.

12. Fish oil appears to be helpful in the treatment and prevention of back injuries and arthritis. Fish oil does take some time to build up in the body to start showing its effectiveness.

13. With disc disease it is possible for your pet to become completely paralyzed, if this happens surgery may be the only solution for this condition. Monitor your pet closely through the recovery period, and recheck immediately if worse or if not improving.

Dr. Bill Langhofer, DVM

The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic

Serving the Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix, and Mesa Area of Arizona

480-945-8484