Toothbrushing

How To: Toothbrushing

By Dr. Karen Burgess

Pet face
Hold your pet as you normally would when petting. Rub or stroke their outer cheek (overlying their teeth) with your finger. Lift their lip periodically during this process. Provide a reward/treat at the end of each session. Repeat this process twice daily for gradually increasing amounts of time until able to perform for 2 minutes and successfully rub over both upper and lower teeth.

Opening the mouth
Put a hand underneath your pet’s chin and let them rest their head in your hand. At the same time, place your second hand on top of their nose (muzzle). Immediately release and provide a reward/treat. Repeat 5-10 times a couple times a day. After several days (when pet appears at ease with above), do the same but lift the upper lips with the hand on the nose exposing the teeth for a few seconds. Reward and repeat as above. Next gradually increase the time teeth are exposed until up to 10 seconds. Once this has been achieved, open your pet’s mouth and touch inside the mouth for a second. Reward and repeat 5-10 times a couple times daily. With each session, try and open mouth slightly wider with the goal being to see all the way to the back teeth. Finally, gradually increase the time the mouth is kept open and time that your finger is kept in the mouth/touching the teeth/gums. If at any time your pet shows signs of anxiety or resentment go back a step until they are comfortable and relaxed before moving on.

Bouillon or tuna water dip
Dip your finger in a tasty liquid of choice. As before, hold the nose and lift the upper lift keeping mouth closed, gently rub your opposite hand’s finger along the gums and teeth working from back to front. The gum line (crevice where gum meets crown or white part of tooth) is of particular importance. Initially perform for 2-3 seconds before providing a reward/treat. Repeat 2 to 3 times daily for gradually increasing amounts of time until able to rub outer surface of all teeth for 10 seconds each.

Pantyhose wrap
Repeat step 3 but with finger wrapped in pantyhose or gauze. Provide a reward/treat at the end of each session.

Taste test toothpaste
Repeat step 4 after placing a small amount of animal toothpaste on your finger. Provide a reward/treat at the end of each session.

Toothbrush
Place a small amount of toothpaste on soft bristled children’s or pet’s toothbrush; try to apply the paste between the bristles thus allowing it to last longer and not be immediately licked off. Lift the upper lip and using slow oval motion at a 45 degree angle focusing on the gum line; brush one tooth and associated gum only. Pay particular attention to the gum line as this is where bacteria and plaque collect. Provide a reward/treat at the end of session and repeat twice daily.

Gradually increase
As pet is comfortable with it, increase the number of teeth that are brushed up until brushing each side for 30 seconds. Attempt to do three to four teeth at a time and complete 10 strokes over each section. As always, provide a reward/treat at the end of each and every session.

Inside of teeth
Although of less importance, above steps can also be repeated for the inner surfaces of the teeth.

Subcutaneous Fluids

Subcutaneous Fluid Administration

By Dr. Karen Burgess

• Keep supplies at room temperature.
• Prior to getting your pet, set up your administration set.
• Remove fluid bag and administration tubing from packaging.
• Remove plastic tab from end of fluid bag.
• Hang fluid bag ideally just above head height (the higher the bag the faster the fluids will flow due to gravity).
• Remove cap from pointed end of administration set and carefully pierce fluid bag; do not touch tip of administration set during this process.
• Squeeze clear plastic tube on administration set immediately below fluid bag to fill chamber partially; the idea is to keep air out of the line but still be able to see the fluid drip into the chamber. If you fill the chamber too full you will not be able to see the drips. In this situation, take the bag down, hold it upside down, squeeze chamber to empty fluid back into the fluid bag, and start again.
• After the chamber is partially full, use roll bar on the fluid line to open up flow. Once fluid is flowing freely from end of line, reclamp the roll bar stopping flow of fluid.
• Place a fresh needle on end of administration tubing.

Setting

• Chose a time of day and location that are as relaxing as possible for fluid administration. This may be on your lap, a favorite pillow, or perched near a window.
• Offer your pet a high value food reward while giving fluids or immediately after if possible. This can often help alleviate some of the negative feelings they may have about the process.

Fluid Administration

• Lift a scruff of skin at nape of neck forming a tent or triangle.
• Taking care to not stick your own hand, pierce skin with needle perpendicular to the skin. Insert until needle is no longer visible.
• If blood is seen after needle insertion, remove the needle and use a different location.
• The needle should pierce the skin easily and cause minimal discomfort. If needle seems dull or causes unexpected pain, replace with a new needle and try again.
• Using one hand open up roll bar clamp on fluids allowing flow while holding pet with other hand. It may be necessary to have an extra pair of hands to help.
• Watch line on fluid bag until volume desired has been administered.
• Close roll bar clamp and swiftly remove needle from pet. Replace lid and then replace needle with fresh needle (thus ensuring a new needle at the start of every treatment).
• Do not touch the needle or the end of the administration tubing with your hands or to any other surfaces. These should be kept as sterile as possible with the needle only coming into contact with your pet’s skin.

Fluid Pocket

• The pocket of subcutaneous fluids is absorbed overtime by the body. If you notice the pocket is still present (you may find it in the same location or “settled” under the chest or belly) at your next scheduled administration time, do not give further fluids and contact Healthy Paws Animal Hospital

Ear Cleaning- How To

Ear Cleaning

By Dr. Karen Burgess

Before discussing how to clean your pet’s ears, it is first important to understand the basics,

• In most cases a healthy dog’s ears should not require “cleaning”. The normal ear’s anatomy and physiology should stay clean on its own.
• In some situations, ear cleanings are medically recommended. Examples would include predisposition to ear infections (due to breed, anatomy, or underlying medical conditions), history of skin allergies, in the treatment of an existing ear infection, or to assist in drying out a wet ear (ex. after swimming or bathing).
• Cleaning a diseased or infected ear is often painful and may require medications to help with this discomfort.
• Signs of ear problems include head shaking, pawing at ears, bad odor, visible debris, or resentment of head petting.
• Nothing, whether it be liquid or solid, should be placed in a pet’s ears without first consulting a veterinarian. Some over the counter ear products are not only ineffective, but may actually be harmful.

Understanding the ear

• The ear is really just a canal or tube lined by skin. If a pet has underlying skin disease it is common to also have ear issues and it is fairly uncommon for a pet to just “get an ear infection”. Instead it is often a sign of underlying skin disease or systemic allergies.
• The anatomy of some breeds can affect the ear’s ability to stay healthy. Whether it be a too narrow passage or an ear with excessive secretions these are typically lifelong issues.
• The ear canal is L-shaped with a vertical and horizontal portion. The vertical portion is visible to the naked eye, the horizontal portion is visible only via a veterinarian’s otoscope. The tympanic membrane (TM) lies at the end of the horizontal canal. Often a pet owner may see a normal appearing vertical canal while the otoscope may reveal a completely occluded horizontal canal. To address ear disease both the vertical and horizontal portion of the ear must be treated while protecting the TM. The TM or eardrum can be damaged by disease, medications, or objects placed into the ear (i.e. Qtips). While the eardrum can heal, damage can also potentially affect hearing longterm.

Cleaning 101

• If you feel you are not able to safely clean your pet’s ears, do not proceed. Ear cleaning can be scary and painful which could potentially make a normally docile animal become aggressive.
• Before starting, gather supplies: ear cleaner, cotton balls, towels, treats, old clothing.
• Location, location, location-find an area where your pet can be confined. An elevated surface or corner of a room often work well. Having an extra pair of hands is often helpful. For smaller animals a towel can be used to “burrito” wrap and better control the process. For some really messy ears, cleaning outdoors may be preferable.

Soak two cotton balls fully with ear cleaner

Place cotton balls lightly into the visible vertical canal. They will not get lost!

Hold the ear flap (also called the pinna) closed like a resealable bag. Massage the base of the ear for 1 minute.

Allow pet to shake head, this will cause the cotton balls, some cleaner, and typically abnormal ear debris to come flying out. The act of shaking and the centripetal force involved are far more effective at cleaning out the ears than any wiping could ever be.

Dry outer ear lightly.