When It Comes to Your Pet: Dental Disease is More Than Just a Cosmetic Issue

Dental disease is more than just a cosmetic issue — when your canine companion or feline friend has red gums, yellow teeth and stinky breath, it could be a sign of serious oral disease that could, if left untreated, lead to devastating affects on your pet’s quality of life. Neglecting your pet’s teeth and gums can cause chronic pain issues that may even be at the center of certain behavioral problems.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some kind of oral disease by the age of 3.

But never fear, pet owners — February is National Pet Dental Health Month, so now is the perfect time to call your veterinarian and schedule a dental check up for your furry family members.

“We hope National Pet Dental Health Month in February will draw attention to this serious health issue for pets,” said California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) President Dr. Jeff Smith. “Oral disease can lead to serious consequences for pets, including infection, severe pain and even organ damage. With regular oral health maintenance and check-ups, most of these problems can be avoided.”

Caring for your pet’s pearly whites isn’t just a February thing; veterinarians all across the country want to remind pet owners that their pet’s dental health should be a concern all year long.

“Between regular veterinary examinations, pet owners should look for the warning signs of gum disease such as bad breath, red and swollen gums, yellow-brown crusts of tartar along the gum lines, and bleeding or pain when the gums or mouth are touched,” Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. chief veterinary medical officer Dr. Carol McConnell recommends.

Pets with developing gingivitis and periodontal diseases often paw at their face or mouth frequently, have excessive drool, and may exhibit an unwillingness to eat harder foods.

As with many health issues, prevention is always the best medicine. One way you can take a proactive role in preventing oral disease in your pet is by using an important tool that many pet owners neglect to purchase for their four-legged friends: a toothbrush.

“Unfortunately, only about 1 percent of pet owners brush their pets teeth,” explains Academy of Veterinary Dentistry President Dr. Brook A. Niemic.

A soft-bristled toothbrush should be used to clean your pet’s teeth daily to remove any food particles and prevent the build up of tartar and plaque deposits. Make sure to only use toothpaste that is specially formulated for use on pets.

Overall health begins with a good diet, but did you know that many dental health issues are caused by malnutrition? Work with your veterinarian to address your pet’s nutrition and develop a healthy eating plan. Foods with the Veterinary Oral Health Care (VOHC) seal of approval are highly recommended.

Your veterinarian may recommend a professional teeth cleaning for your dog or cat once or twice a year or as needed. Performing a thorough oral exam can sometimes require the use of general anesthesia. Your veterinarian will use instruments to scale and polish your pet’s teeth, removing tartar and plaque build up that could otherwise lead to dental issues. In cases of serious oral disease, your veterinarian may recommend a tooth extraction. You can also find many dental clinics depending on where you live that offer dental cleanings at a discounted rate like the Smile Specialists in Southern California.

Keeping on top of your pet’s dental health has lasting positive effects — some studies suggest that maintaining oral health can add up to five years to your pet’s life.

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Kitten Dies in Do-It-Yourself Declawing Operation: Two People Charged

When Carmenza Piedrahita wanted to declaw her kitten Toby, Miami-Dade prosecutors say, she didn’t go to a licensed veterinarian.

Instead, she turned to an elderly Miami man who along with another man performed an illegal do-it-yourself declawing of the cat, police said. Toby fell ill. For two weeks, he lingered in pain and dehydration, vomiting a green substance, the exposed bones on his front paws infected and swollen.

Piedrahita finally took Toby to a Miami animal clinic, where he died. Now, prosecutors have formally charged Piedrahita, 54, and Geronimo Gonzalez, 72, with felony animal cruelty.

“She feels terrible about the whole situation,” said Piedrahita’s lawyer, Christian Dunham. “She really wanted the cat. If not, she wouldn’t have taken him to the clinic.”

Piedrahita was formally charged last week and plans to fight the prosecution. Gonzalez pleaded not guilty Wednesday at arraignment in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. His lawyer declined to comment.

“I can’t imagine the pain and suffering this cat endured. Animals suffer in silence,” said Miami-Dade Chief Assistant State Attorney Kathleen Hoague, who is prosecuting the case with Kimberly Archila.

The declawing of cats, while legal when performed by a licensed veterinarian, is frowned upon by many veterinarians and the animal-rights community. It has been banned in some countries.

According to the Humane Society, which opposes declawing, many pet owners falsely believe the operation is akin to trimming nails. In fact, the procedure actually involves amputating the last bone of each toe. “If performed on a human being, declawing would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle,” according to Humane Society literature.

Because of the health risks — some cats end up with limps for life — many vets won’t perform the delicate procedure anymore. That includes Miami’s Silver Bluff Animal Clinic, which encourages cat owners to buy a scratching post or try replaceable soft plastic caps for the nails of the felines.

“We also try to teach owners of kittens to trim their nails,” said Silver Bluff vet Melanie Anderson. “We really try to steer them away from the declawing process.”

As for Toby, he was a stray who at 2 months old was adopted through the county’s animal shelter in July 2014. By the time he was 8 months old, Piedrahita decided to get him declawed.

“I thought it was best for him because he had damaged some furniture,” she wrote in her statement to Miami-Dade police. “I had the best intentions. I wanted to keep him in the house because he was our beloved cat.”

Piedrahita admitted that she did not take Toby directly to a clinic because it was too expensive. In September, while at a party at a ranch in Homestead, Piedrahita met Gonzalez.

According to her statement and to her lawyer, Piedrahita honestly believed he was a vet. “She thought he was legit,” Dunham said. “She definitely wouldn’t have gone to him if she thought he wasn’t a vet.”

But Miami-Dade police say Piedrahita “had full knowledge” that Gonzalez was not licensed.

The elderly man picked up Toby from Piedrahita’s West Kendall home on Sept 28 and took him somewhere in South Miami-Dade. Most of the procedure was actually performed by another man identified only as Jose, according to police report. (He has yet to be charged.)

Exactly what cutting tool was used in the operation is unknown. The operation was done for free, although Piedrahita offered to give Gonzalez $100. He declined.

Gonzalez claimed he only assisted by “holding” the sedated animal and “applying crazy glue” to the paws after they were cut, police said. Piedrahita claimed she took the cat to the clinic four days later, although police believed it was longer — he was brought to the Animal Welfare Society of South Florida on Oct. 9, nearly two weeks after the surgery.

Photos in the court file depicted the gruesome wounds. A vet also noted that the animal was “in severe pain due to exposed bones in both front legs.”

Piedrahita, who has no criminal record, is charged with a third-degree felony and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

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Man Allegedly Pulls Up to Wendy's Drive-Thru Window, Got a Drink from the Employee, and Then Threw a 3-And-A-Half-Foot Alligator into the Window

A worker at a Wendy's drive-thru did when a customer allegedly threw a 3-and-a-half-foot alligator into the window at restaurant in Florida, according to an incident report, WPTV reported.

Joshua James, 23, of Jupiter, allegedly pulled up to the drive-thru window for his order, got a drink from the employee, and then threw the alligator into the restaurant, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told the station.

James is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, illegally killing, possessing or capturing an alligator, and second-degree larceny petit theft, according to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred at a restaurant east of Loxahatchee, Fla., in October, but James was arrested by U.S. Marshals this week, WPTV reported.

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Have You Seen the Animal Chairs of Maximo Riera?

When you’re designing your dream room, you may find yourself thinking about the one piece of furniture that will really make a statement.

And if making a seriously unforgettable statement is for you, then the animal chairs of Maximo Riera just might be for you. But don’t say we didn’t warn you! These things are intense.

Creating, or even making over, a piece of furniture is a serious project and takes a considerable amount of time, just like this conversion of a century-old sleigh.

And these amazing chairs are no different. Each one is custom-made using cutting-edge technology in a process that can take up to eleven weeks to produce just one.

But take a look at them and you’ll see why. While they might not be the perfect complement to your living room, you have to admit these are pretty fascinating.

Riera’s furniture is certainly not for every home, but there’s something undeniably captivating about it. The pieces are both playful and sinister, celebratory and solemn, and when you look at them, you can’t help but think of humans and their often damaging relationship towards the other animals on Earth. You can see more of Riera’s designs on his website  and Instagram, and if you know someone in the market for a new chair, you can always share this article with them — but you probably shouldn’t expect a giant toad to show up in their living room.

Riera creates these massive chairs that look like the bodies — or at least the partial bodies — of animals.

They are, to say the least, rather strange.

Each piece is manufactured to order, and on average, 480 hours are spent creating just one.

The chairs are made of a high-density polyurethane, which is very durable, and inside, each one has a metal frame for extra support.

What's more, no two are ever alike. The coding that determines their color is unique to each piece, so while the shapes will be the same, the color or color combination never will be.

So...with all this labor involved, why would anyone do this?

For Riera, this series is an homage to nature and the many forms it takes.

Riera took inspiration from each of the animals featured in the collection, using his own feelings about them, as well as cultural associations and scientific information.

Plenty of time and care was spent to create an accurate portrayal of the animals' unique characteristics, shapes, and textures.

They also make us think, uncomfortably, of trophy walls and taxidermy. They make us aware of the way humans that have exploited animals, and how we should be protecting and not damaging our planet.

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Man Saves His Money: Buys an Ambulance to Care for Stray Dogs and Cats in His City

Some people go to great lengths to follow their passion. While this alone is incredible, it is even more amazing when that passion is helping out those in need. Take Balu for example: Balu wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, but he knew he wanted to help animals. To make his dream come true, he saved up his money for 10 years so that he could buy an ambulance and care for stray dogs and cats in his city.

Since he attained his goal of buying an ambulance, he has saved countless animals with broken legs, wounds, and other injuries obtained from living on the streets. He charges less than $5 to pet guardians and non-profit agencies for transporting and boarding. He is able to earn a little extra by charging 15 cents per mile when taking people’s pets to their vet visits. However, Balu isn’t just an ambulance driver, he also helps to care for sick cats and dogs in his home. When there is no room in the shelter, he takes the animals to his house or a care center so that they are given everything they need until they are adopted.

Balu says that he sometimes gets bullied for taking care of the dogs and cats that others believe should just be euthanized. However, Balu won’t give up on the helpless animals. “I decided that I’m not going to do anything else – whatever I do has to be with animals.”

Balu’s example shows that anyone can be a hero to animals, if you just care enough to help them. Want to help animals in your city? Check out your local shelter for volunteer opportunities. You can also help stray animals by pledging to always adopt, not shop when bringing a four-legged companion into your home.

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Continental Giant Rabbit Looking for His Forever Home: Please Share His Story

This is the monster-sized rabbit who is on the look-out for a loving new home in Scotland.

The continental giant rabbit - appropriately named Atlas - could no longer be taken care of by his former owner.

And staff at the SPCA's centre in Glasgow have taken the seven-month-old in until they can find him a new home.

Anna O'Donnell, the centre's manager, thinks Atlas will be a great pet for any potential owner.

She said: 'Atlas is already about the size of a Westie [west highland terrier] and is still young with some growing to do.

'He is a very friendly rabbit who loves attention and getting cuddles.

'Atlas is also an inquisitive boy who makes everyone laugh with his mischievous character.'

Anna stressed that only experienced owners will be considered for Atlas.

She added: 'We are looking for a specific home for Atlas due to his breed and size. A standard rabbit hutch won't do so his new owner will need plenty of space for him.

'Atlas needs an owner with the knowledge to properly care for him, so ideally someone who has kept a continental giant before.'

If anyone is interested in offering him a home they should give the centre on 03000 999 999.

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15-Inch Monster Rat Burrowed Itself in a Family’s Home Behind Their Kitchen Sink

A Swedish family actually lived what is probably many people’s worst nightmare after they discovered that a 15-inch monster rat had chewed through the wood and cement into their home and burrowed itself behind their kitchen sink.

This “Viking rat” was discovered by the Bengtsson-Korsås family at their Solna home after their cat Enok refused to enter the kitchen. The family already had suspicions that there was a mouse in their home after hearing noises, so when they went to empty the trash bin, they were shocked to find that a monster rat had made itself a home.

“It was right there in our rubbish bin, a mighty monster. I was petrified. I couldn't believe such a big rat could exist,” said Signe Bengtsson-Korsås. “I couldn't help but do the old classic and jump on the kitchen table and scream.”

Signe’s husband Eric said he didn’t believe his wife at first, but when he finally came in contact with the rat himself, he was horrified by how large it was.

“It was quite a shocking experience,” said Eric Bengtsson-Korsås. “By the time I got home, the rat was so domesticated that it just sat under the kitchen table.”

The family quickly realized that the rat had actually came in through the basement, chewed through the wood and cement, and then made its way into the kitchen to chew through the pipes under the sink, ultimately causing a flood in the home.

Exterminators were called to kill the monster rat, and a day after putting three giant rat traps down, one of them went off. Shockingly, the rat wasn’t immediately killed. It ran around with the rat trap around its neck for some time before it eventually died.

"In the end we managed to find it dead, it had slowly strangled," said Eric. "Then we felt a bit sorry for it."

  

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Hermit Crabs Make Adorable Pets: But These Little Packages of Cuteness Are High-Maintenance

Hermit crabs make adorable pets but these little packages of cuteness are high-maintenance and require very exacting care

Hermit crabs are widely believed to be easy to care for, and ideal first pets for children. Neither of these beliefs is true. Unfortunately, hermit crabs are very difficult to keep healthy, and they should be kept in groups. Not only are hermit crabs are not hermit-like at all, they are gregarious partiers who will keep a crab-party going all night.

You’ve probably seen the clear plastic critter-carriers and one-gallon fish tanks where hermit crabs are sometimes displayed. These are not safe homes for hermit crabs. In fact, if the critter-carrier has a standard “berry-basket” top for ventilation, the crab inside is probably already dying a slow and painful death. Hermit crabs breathe air through modified gills. They will drown in water, and they have no lungs. If the gills ever dry out, the animal is in serious trouble. The resulting death by suffocation can take months, but it is inevitable. Therefore, maintaining sufficient humidity in the hermit crab enclosure is very, very important.

This brings us to the topic of equipment.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

This list is a very rudimentary introduction to the equipment needed to keep crabs healthy.

• An aquarium tank, marine terrarium, or large covered enclosure strong enough to contain wet sand. Be sure the cover is tight enough to prevent the crabs from pushing their way out, that some air can get in, and that it keeps moisture inside the tank;

• Water-conditioning fluid, to neutralize chlorine and its by-products in the water;

• Safe sea salt, of the kind sold for marine fish and crustaceans;

• Safe sand, enough to be a few inches (15cm minimum) deep in the tank;

• Water dishes, sea sponges, shallow food dishes, and a slotted scoop to remove uneaten food from the sand;

• Quarantine tank, which is basically the full set-up in miniature, for safe moulting;

• Hidey-huts for the crabs to relax in, during the day;

• Extra shells of the correct sizes and shapes, at least three per crab;

• Thermometers for the sand and hygrometers for the main tank and the quarantine tank;

• Branches and rocks to climb on;

• Moss and extra sea sponges for soaking, to help keep the humidity above 75%; and

• Heater for one end of the tank: most hermit crab species like a temperature of 75-80F/24-27C on the warm end of the tank.

EXERCISE

These cute little crustaceans will keep themselves fit, presuming their tank is big enough. They love to climb, and crawl, and pull. If you are very careful, you can “walk” them across your hands held low over a soft surface. As the crab moves across one hand, bring the other one around in front. To do this, your hands need to be positioned side to side, and not fingertip-to-fingertip. Otherwise, the surface will be too narrow and the tiny crab will become frightened.

FEEDING

Hermit crabs are beachcombing scavengers. As omnivores, they require both meat and plant-matter in their diets. Unfortunately, the commercial crab foods do not make a good diet for hermit crabs. They tend to contain preservatives, but some are safe enough: read the ingredient list. The real problem is that commercial foods are boring. Crabs don’t like to smell the same meal twice in a row. They will be happiest if every meal is a little different: some fish and a touch of apple today, perhaps some chicken and seaweed tomorrow.  (Thacker, 1998).

Wash all fruits and vegetables before feeding them to your crabs, and use de-chlorinated water to do it. Always do everything you can to keep your crabs away from chlorine. Meat can be raw or cooked, or even freeze-dried, but avoid preservatives (including salt).

That’s not to say that everything always needs to be fresh. Stock up on an assortment of jars of baby foods. Keep some freeze-dried daphnia, bloodworms, tubifex, and shrimp on hand from the aquarium section of the pet store. Offer a few pieces of low-salt cat food.

Crabs need calcium. The simplest way to provide it is to drop a couple of cuttlebones onto the floor of the tank. Cuttlebone is sold in the pet-bird section of the pet store.

Unlike many animals, hermit crabs need two kinds of water bowls: one with freshwater and one with salt water. The salt water cannot be made with table salt, because of the iodine in it. Both bowls need to be big enough for the crabs to submerge themselves, and easy to crawl out of so the crabs don’t drown. A piece of sea sponge in each bowl makes a convenient safety raft.

GROOMING

The hermit crab tank needs to contain a conditioned freshwater bowl and a conditioned saltwater bowl. The precise details of these will vary with the particular species you keep.

Along with the water that the crabs will use for “grooming” themselves, these creatures must be provided with an assortment of appropriate shells. The shapes will vary, again according to species, but whatever the species you should provide at least three shells per crab in your tank. The shell sizes should be slightly smaller than, equal to, and slightly larger than the crab’s current shell. Please, please, please stay away from painted shells. The “non-toxic” paints are meant to be non-toxic to your children: they are generally not safe for your hermit crabs.

HOME ENVIRONMENT

Hermit crabs are primarily nocturnal. They enjoy exploring their home, re-arranging things, and seeing how many of them can sit on a perch before it falls over. You’ll hear them clacking away with their claws through the wee hours. If you do most of your sleeping at night, you probably don’t want to put the crab tanks in the bedroom.

Also, keep in mind that hermit crabs are invertebrates who are subject to the same kinds of poisons that are used to kill insects and spiders. If people in your neighborhood spray their lawns, or if someone in your house tends to go after spiders with a can of “bug-spray”, hermit crabs are not for you.

TRAINING

There is no training required for hermit crabs. While you will need to rescue them from time to time, especially during moults, and you’ll need to provide appropriate shells for them to choose from, they will act according to their natures.

WHERE TO NEXT?

Are these little guys right for you? They are adorable, no question, but they are very difficult for beginners to keep healthy and happy. In many ways, parrots and the licensed exotics are easier to maintain. Perhaps consider a dog instead? Or a pony?

If you have decided that hermit crabs are the right pet for your family, the next step is to do some reading. This care-sheet has only introduced you to the barest skim off the top of the information you need. Investigate the details of putting together a proper enclosure, and the details of shell replacement, and the details of temperature and humidity. Next, put together the main tank and a quarantine tank, and monitor the humidity and temperature for a week or two. Once that is stable, seek out several healthy crabs and a nice assortment of high-quality shells for them.

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