By Claudia Loomis

Dental Health is as important for your pet as it is for you!
Everyone knows that it is important to take good care of your teeth but dental health is equally important for our canine and feline companions. Aside from causing bad breath, plaque and tartar build up leads to tooth and gum infections that cause tremendous discomfort to our pets and threaten their overall health. Fortunately there are a number of great products available to help us keep our pets teeth clean, their breath fresh, and their gums healthy from puppy to senior.

The best defense is a good offense
A daily dental treat or chew such as Petrodex Dental Chews, or a daily chew session with a special knobby textured Nylabone Dental Chew or a Nylabone Dental Dinosaur bone will help fight tartar buildup. It is best to give these after meals or when brushing is not possible. They provide mild abrasion to teeth and gums that will help fight plaque build up.
Other great products for daily dental care are mouthwash or dental rinse products such as Dental Fresh and all natural Mr. Groom OxyGreen Solution. A little added to your pet’s water bowl each day will also help fight plaque and tartar build up.
In addition, we have a new weapon in our arsenal to fight plaque called PlaqueOff. This natural product is derived from granulated Norwegian seaweed and is added to your pet’s food (wet or dry). Once ingested, PlaqueOff is secreted through the saliva to break down the bacterial biofilm that forms on teeth and gums thus preventing bacteria from taking hold.
The use of these products will help reduce plaque, but they are not a substitute for regular brushing. Regular use of dental treats, dental rinses and Plaque Off will make the brushing easier for you and your pet and maybe, just maybe, you won’t have to brush quite as frequently.

You can’t brush off brushing
OK, there is no way around it. You will need to pick up a toothbrush and get busy. If you have never brushed your pets’ teeth before, it is important to try to make this a stress free time. To get your pet used to brushing, bring out the tooth brush weekly and be sure to praise your dog before and after brushing. This will help them view brushing time as a pleasant experience.
Pet toothbrushes come in a number of shapes and sizes and which one you use is a matter of personal preference. Personally, I like to use a finger brush, which slides over your finger, such as the one in the Oral Hygiene kit. It allows me more of a sense of control, and I can reach in and get the back teeth. However, a finger brush means that your hand is in your pet’s mouth and this may not be for everyone.
A long handled toothbrush will allow you to keep your hand out of your pet’s mouth. There are several to choose from. There are traditional toothbrushes like those from Petrodex or triple surface brushes like the one offered by Triple Pet. This toothbrush has bristles on three sides to hit all the tooth surfaces at once. I find when using the Three-in-One toothbrush you may still need to go in with a more traditional brush to reach the gums. It is very important not to forget the gums. If you are purchasing a dental kit is a good idea to get a kit that comes complete with a massager for gums, such as the DDS Dental Care Kit. Most gum massagers fit over your finger like the finger brush so you can get up close and personal with your pet’s gums.

How to Brush
Lift the upper lip gently and place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gumline. Gently move the brush back and forth being sure to touch every tooth. Repeat for the bottom teeth.

Never use human toothpaste on your pet
Many of our human toothpastes contain compounds that are safe for us but are harmful for our pets to ingest. Luckily your cat or dog has options when it comes to toothpaste. There are a number of different toothpastes to choose from, and it is a matter of personal preference as to which one your pet will like. Pet Toothpastes come in a range of flavors that appeal to pets such as peanut butter, poultry and liver. There are even all natural toothpastes and gels available.

There is no need to take a vacation from oral health while you are on vacation
If you are traveling with your pet there is no need to take a break from good oral hygiene. There are a number of products that travel well. Cherrybrook offers a DoggieDents Pre pasted Disposable toothbrush as well as several types of dental wipes and dental swabs that are easy to use and make taking care of you pets choppers a breeze. You can even use Spotscent Oral Care Strips to freshen Fido’s breath.

Does your dog cower when it thunders? Is your dog afraid of fireworks? Does he panic and try to escape the house, the crate, or the room until he hurts himself? Or maybe your dog suffers from dog separation anxiety.

There are many products available to address dog anxiety. From herbal remedies to prescription tranquilizers. Most of these products work to mask the symptoms of dog anxiety in the short term. The key to a happy well balanced dog is to get the dog to “let go” of the old sensation and to modify the behavior.

Cherrybrook is happy to offer a useful tool to assist with this goal; the Anxiety Wrap.

The Anxiety Wrap was created by Susan Sharpe and Kimberly Ring based on a body wrapping method by internationally recognized animal expert Linda Tellington Jones; developer of the Tellington TTouch Method.

The Tellington TTouch is a gentle, alternative healing method based on circular movements of the fingers and hands all over the body. Using a combination of specific touches, lifts, and movement exercises, TTouch helps the dog to release tension and increase body awareness.

The Anxiety Wrap is based on the theory that maintained pressure acts to calm and redirect the animal’s focus. The Anxiety Wrap can significantly reduce, or even end, fear of thunderstorms, barking and other behaviors that benefit from calming and relaxing.

The Anxiety Wrap is non restrictive, easy to use and has been tested on dogs who have worn it sleeping, swimming, performing field work, during agility, as well as other areas of dog training. It can be a useful tool for travel anxiety, fear based aggression, shy or fearful dogs, destructive chewing, sound sensitivity, dog separation anxiety and to help a dog in training relax. A relaxed dog will be easier to train.

Testimonials from Anxiety Wrap users:

“The Anxiety Wrap puts in an unchanging, quieting stimulus that causes the receptors to adapt and modify their thresholds in a cumulative manner”
Dr. Shareen D. Farber PhD, OTR, FAOTA

…”Her heart rate decreased and her cortisol levels decreased after only 15-20 minutes of wearing the wrap.”
Dr. Pam Perry of Cornell University

“I used the wrap on my thunder phobic boy last night, and instead of crawling up my legs on the walk, he walked next to me, with much more confidence, even though it was thundering to beat the band.”
Debi Davis Trainer of the 1999 Service Dog of the Year

”Traveler is doing GREAT – we have had some horrific thunderstorms here and, as long as his Wrap is on, he handles them well with minimal panting. He also wears the wrap during the day when his family goes to work and it has taken away his anxiety problem of destroying things in their absence….the anxiety wrap allowed him to stop all his meds.”
Sandi, Anxiety Wrap Client

”Barney is a blue Weimaraner rescued off the streets. His life on the streets was very traumatic and he had severe anxiety issues and fear/terror as a result. After using it (Anxiety Wrap) three times, he was more connected with his body and did not spin out of control as quickly. It was one of several tools I employed to help him deal with hid anxiety, and it worked the fastest.”
Kathleen Berard
Animal Communicator, Bach Practitioner and Holistic Animal Care Consultant

Cherrybrook, a NJ based distributor of show dog, grooming and pet supplies, recently announced their partnership with Wholistic Pet Organics. Cherrybrook will be offering Wholistic Pet Organics’ complete line of certified organic supplements at American Kennel Club (AKC) Dog Shows in the US. The products will also be available to customers worldwide through Cherrybrook’s website. The Wholistic Pet supplements are designed to optimize overall health and performance of dogs, cats and horses. Formulas such as Canine Complete and Feline Complete are blended to benefit overall health, and more specific formulas are also available to address issues such as digestive disorders, skin ailments, bladder ailments, fertility needs and joint problems.

“Our goal is to provide show dog and grooming professionals and pet parents with the products they need to help their pets lead a long, healthy and happy life,” said Roy Loomis, president and CEO of Cherrybrook. “Wholistic Pet Organics’ line of supplements fits perfectly with our company’s mission. We look forward to bringing these great products to our customers throughout the world.”

Over the past few years Cherrybrook has placed a major focus on expanding their health and wellness product offerings. According to Roy Loomis, the company is carrying an increasing variety of all-natural products that are truly beneficial to a pet’s health. “Wholistic Pet Organics are extremely rich in nutrients. They do not contain any fillers, chemicals or additives, making them not only very healthy but also very cost effective,” he said. “These products maintain the highest standard of quality we have seen and have a clear purpose—to keep pets healthy.”

Wholistic Pet Organics was founded over 12 years ago by Jack and Sandy Phillips. Both Jack and Sandy are avid animal lovers and breeders. They were concerned by the health problems that plagued domesticated pets. They realized that conditions such as hip dysplasia, cancer, and skin disorders are all too common. In order to combat these problems, they began to formulate their own organic supplements. The Philips’ began manufacturing and selling their products at dog shows. The company rapidly grew to where it is today---now partnering with Cherrybrook, one of the most well-respected professional pet supply distributors.

According to Phillips, he chooses his partners very carefully. “Many companies want to carry our products,” he said. “But we want to make sure we align ourselves with companies who have a passion for keeping pets healthy. Cherrybrook’s unique position as the industry leader in show dog supplies makes them an exceptional partner for Wholistic Pet Organics.”

Cherrybrook will offer Wholistic Pet Organics at over 200 AKC Dog Shows throughout the Northeast United States and the West Coast. The full product line will also be available to customers throughout the world from their website at www.cherrybrook.com.

Cherrybrook is a leading distributor of premium pet supplies. They offer a wide selection of health and wellness products, professional grooming equipment and unique gifts for pet lovers. Cherrybrook’s Mobile Stores appears at over 200 AKC Dog Shows each year, featuring 2,500 products. The company is located in Broadway, NJ. For more information visit www.cherrybrook.com.

Wholistic Pet Organics is located in Bedford, NH. The company sells dozens of certified organic pet products including supplements, shampoos, dog food and dog treats. Every product is completely natural and contains only whole, human grade ingredients. Wholistic Pet Organics is an active member of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) and the Organic Trade Association.

Even as adults, most of us can recall childhood admonitions about the dangers of eating too much or too fast. The caveats, “...it’s bad for your digestion” or “…you’ll get a stomach ache” still ring in our ears each time the opportunity to eat and run arises. Our pets are no different.

Eating or drinking too quickly can be dangerous to your pet—causing relatively benign health issues like indigestion and gas, or more serious complications such as vomiting, bloat in dogs, or the potentially fatal gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV).

Why are dogs at risk for digestive problems?
The tendency of dogs to eat quickly dates to their history as pack animals when eating quickly meant a greater share of the available food. Even today, domestic dogs—particularly those that live in multiple-dog households--can feel a sense of competition that translates into rapid eating and possible canine digestive distress.

What is Bloat?
Bloat occurs when the stomach becomes distended and filled with air causing discomfort and pressure on the surrounding organs.

What is GDV?
Dog Bloat becomes more serious when volvulus occurs with gastric dilatation and the gas and pressure cause the stomach to twist. When the stomach rotates, the air becomes trapped, the blood supply is cut off and other major organs, especially the spleen, can be affected. At this point, the tissue of the stomach and surrounding organs starts to die and death of the dog is imminent without immediate surgical intervention.

How can the EatBetter and DrinkBetter products can help?
The EatBetter and DrinkBetter bowls from Contech Electronics are designed to slow the pace of your dog’s consumption in order to improve nutrient absorption, reduce dog digestive problems and minimize the health issues associated with fast-paced eating and drinking

Specific benefits of the EatBetter Bowl:
Encourages slower, healthier eating
Reduces vomiting and stomach bloating
Improves absorption of nutrients through better digestion
Sturdy, non-skid design
High-quality, food-grade, dishwasher-safe plastic

Specific benefits of the DrinkBetter Bowl:
Slows your dog’s drinking
Reduces choking and vomiting
Reduces water spills
Keeps ears dry and minimizes muzzle staining from chlorinated water
High-quality, food-grade, dishwasher-safe plastic
Sturdy, non-skid design