As Pet Dental Health month comes to a close, Chicken Soup For the Pet Lovers Soul™ brand encourages you to protect your pooch’s teeth and mouth all year long!

Just like humans, dogs can develop gum disease, tooth decay and a host of other dental conditions. Unlike humans, your pup cannot be taught to brush his teeth and floss everyday!

You can brush your dog’s teeth daily, using a toothbrush and toothpaste that are made specifically for pups. Using human products will not suffice, in fact the human toothpaste’s foaming action and ingredients may upset his stomach! Your veterinarian can suggest the best products for your dog and show you proper technique.

Not ready to try it on your own? Your veterinarian can clean your dog’s teeth, but the procedure does require general anesthesia and can be costly. Your dog may need to have a professional cleaning, but some attention to those teeth between cleanings will help prolong the time between cleanings and make your dog more likely to have a healthy mouth and keep all of his teeth.

You can improve your dog’s teeth in other, less invasive ways that are easy and fun for everyone! Here are a few ideas:

Provide him with size and age appropriate chew toys that are designed for tarter reduction
Check chew toys regularly for broken pieces or sharp edges (like a broken Frisbee) and do not allow him to chew on wood or sharp bones, as any of these items could damage his mouth and start an infection
Feed your dog healthy food to nourish and clean teeth. Like Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul™ brand Adult Dog Dry Food formula and delightful Treats!

Check out Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul™ brand’s Vet Notes for more tips!

Chicken Soup For the Pet Lovers Soul™ brand encourages you to protect your furry Valentine’s heart all year long!

Heartworm disease can be a serious and deadly condition for your canine sweetheart, but luckily it is also very preventable.

Heartworm disease occurs when a mosquito that is carrying the heartworm larvae bites an unprotected dog or cat. The larvae circulate in the bloodstream and develop into mature adults. These adults reside within the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. The adults can become so numerous that they completely fill the heart and surrounding vessels, causing heart failure and death.

Treatment involves the administration of a poison that kills the worms. Although safer than it used to be, your dog will likely feel under the weather during the treatment. A possible complication of treatment is the dislodging of the adult worms, leading to difficulty breathing when they are delivered into the lungs. Treatment is usually quite expensive, so prevention is the key.

Luckily today there are several preventative medicines available though your vet to protect your dog from being infected by this disease, most of which can be given monthly in the form of a tasty treat!

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul™ brand formulas contain all natural ingredients designed to support your furry valentine’s health, keeping her healthy and trim is the best token of love you can give!

Check out Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul™ brand’s Vet Notes for more tips!

Chicken Soup For the Pet Lovers Soul™ brand’s Valentines’ Day tips

Chocolates, candy hearts and flowers abound as we shower our loved ones with Valentines’ gifts! Although these lovely tokens may delight us - be cautious of where you leave them as your kitty may find her way to trouble!

Cats are more likely to play with and swallow ribbons or foil than they are to eat the chocolate inside, but some cats may have a sweet tooth and get into digestive trouble from eating something they should not. According to North Shore Animal League chocolate can cause a host of digestive problems including vomiting or diarrhea. If the amount ingested is great enough, more serious problems like seizures and increased heart rate can occur. The sugar in the candy can also produce digestive issues. Foil, ribbons, or other foreign objects can get stuck in the digestive tract, often requiring aggressive treatment and possibly even surgery. You should always consult your veterinarian if your kitty has an upset stomach.

Flowers and plants make lovely gifts, but if your sweetie has a feline friend – think twice about what type of plant you buy and where he or she may display it. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has a comprehensive list of plants and flowers that are safe and those that are toxic to our feline friends. Generally speaking, roses are not toxic, but should be kept out of reach from your kitty. The chemicals that may be on the plants or flowers could compromise her digestive tract, along with making quite a mess when the vase is knocked down!!

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul™ brand formulas contain all natural ingredients designed to support your furry valentine’s health, keeping her healthy and trim is the best token of love you can give!

Check out Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul™ brand’s Vet Notes for more tips!