The health and condition of your dog or cat’s teeth and gums is often times a reflection of what’s going on internally, since everything is interconnected. The mouth is at the forefront of it all, therefore it is wise to be vigilant at home and with veterinary care. An unhealthy mouth can develop bacteria that can be released into the blood stream and intestinal tract where 70% of the immune system resides. This can result in inflammation leading to disease.
There is an enormous link between the immune system and major organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. Additionally, your animal’s teeth and gums play a huge role in the day to day quality of life and comfort while eating and chewing.
The good news is, at home care and visits to the veterinarian will help to keep the teeth and gums, as well as the rest of the body healthy.
At home care begins with a whole food diet that does not produce inflammation or set the stage for tartar formation. Recent studies are showing more and more, that a plant-based diet may help to reduce inflammation. Earth Animal offers Dr. Bob Goldstein’s plant-based Wisdom Air-Dried From the Seed as an option. In addition to diet, we also suggest condition specific supplementation for maintaining a healthy immune system, mouth, teeth, and gums.
Ester-C is a form of vitamin C that is easier on the stomach and supports the immune system to fight off microorganisms which can cause disease. CoenzymeQ10 an antioxidant that will help to minimize inflammation at the gum level, and Echinacea is a powerful herb which supports immune cell function. A good source of echinacea is Earth Animal’s Clean Mouth, Gums and Breath formulated by Dr. Bob Goldstein. Clean Mouth, Gums, and Breath is a super star in Earth Animal’s line of liquid herbal remedies. It contains synergistic herbs such as echinacea leaf, echinacea root, myrrh, calendula, and goldenseal. This remedy is easy to administer in the drinking water, directly in the mouth or mixed in with your dog or cats toothpaste.
Try our DIY Home Healer Toothpaste:
Earth Animal’s DIY Home Healer Toothpaste
1 TBS baking soda
1 TBS organic virgin coconut oil (expeller pressed, unrefined) We have found the solid coconut oil gives the toothpaste a better consistency than the liquid coconut oil.
1 tsp. Earth Animal’s Herbal Remedy “Clean Mouth, Gums & Breath”
Video coming soon to our social media channels!
At home dental care should also include a daily chew. We suggest finding an alternative to rawhide that is not abrasive to the gums and has nutritional benefits. According to many of our customers, Earth Animal’s No-Hide Chews get loads of positive endorsements from veterinarians with regards to gum health.
No-Hide Chews are made from 6 wholesome ingredients: Brown Rice Flour, Pineapple stem, Banana Powder, Olive Oil, Eggs and Agar-Agar plus multiple protein flavor choices and sizes to appeal to even the pickiest of pups.
Testimonial: “My vet has asked me what I feed my dogs that scrapes the tartar off their teeth so well….IT’S YOUR NO-HIDES!!!!”
-Michelle S. from Wisconsin
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Veterinary care and the number of visits to your dog and cat’s doctor should be based on individual needs such as age and current state of overall health. It is helpful to evaluate your dog or cats state of oral wellness. The signs of a healthy vibrant mouth are pink and warm gums, lack of bad odor, and an absence of bleeding. There should never be difficulty or discomfort in chewing. By contrast, signs of mouth and gum disease are a foul odor, pale color gums, tenderness to the touch, and bleeding especially during chewing. These symptoms require a trip to your veterinarian.
Routine visits should always include a dental evaluation as part of the exam. Common wellness oral hygiene procedures are teeth cleanings (scaling or scraping) which depending upon individual tolerance, may be done without anesthesia. On the other hand, when gum disease is present such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth extractions or abscesses, general anesthesia will be required. Discuss with your veterinarian, the possibility of mild sedation as an alternative to general anesthesia. Mild sedation may offer fewer risks than traditional anesthesia.
Be aware that with all cleanings and procedures, there will be a release of bacteria which may be harmful. We recommend being proactive by protecting the immune system in advance by administering Earth Animal’s Immune Support Herbal Remedy, formulated by Dr. Bob Goldstein, back in stock soon at earthanimal.com and available at independent pet stores that carry Earth Animal products.
Immune Support is a combination of synergistic herbs consisting of a proprietary immune support herbal blend of Astragalus Root, Echinacea Root, Turmeric, Goldenseal, Ashwagandha, Elder Berry, Echinacea Leaf, and a proprietary flower essence blend of Chamomile, Calendula, Echinacea, and Yarrow. We suggest starting Immune Boost 10 days before any procedure and continue for one month after. You may also administer Ester-C and Echinacea separately. We hope these tips have helped.
If your dog or cat is a “Nervous Nelly” when going to the vet…we have tips for you.
How To Keep Your Dog or Cat Calm When Visiting the Veterinarian
“It is very upsetting to watch your dog or cat shaking and tremoring before, during, and after visiting the veterinarian. We have experienced this firsthand, as our dog Jack suffers from acute anxiety when even the word veterinarian is mentioned. We have learned that it’s best to feed him a light snack as opposed to a full meal at least 1 hour before getting into the car. We also recommend administering a mild calming agent to help to reduce nervousness 30 minutes before leaving home, and again just before entering the hospital. Our suggestion is Earth Animal’s Calmness Herbal Remedy formulated by Dr. Bob Goldstein or Bach Flower Rescue Remedy. It makes a world of difference in decreasing stress and anxiety for your animal as well as your veterinarian.” -Susan Goldstein
