Murphy Rolled in Something!

Do you notice how she is studiously ignoring me?

She knows she rolled in something dead and putrid and she is secretly very satisfied about it.

Ho man, she came happily trotting into the kitchen last night looking incredibly contented and the smell just about knocked me off my feet! Wow.

I quickly hustled her back out, and with my trusty flash light, I took a look around to see what she could possibly have rolled in. I never did find it, so I have no idea what she got into.

At that late hour I couldn't bathe her, so I sprayed some flea tick stuff on that I never use, but has a perfume-like smell. I just wanted to mask the stench enough to get through the night.

And then, can you believe she was perverse enough to keep trying to rub up and get close to me!!! That rat!!!!

I bathed her today, but she still has an underlying odor that I can’t seem to get out.

If any of you have any suggestions how to get icky dead animal smell out of her coat, please drop me a comment! I would really appreciate it.

Murphy won't but she'll just have to live with it!

Thanks!

Dog Teeth Cleaning

Ok, Murphy is going in to get her teeth cleaned in two weeks. A few of you were kind of enough to either make a comment or email me more information about what to do about Murphy's teeth.

With so much information, I am going to add an article or two just about teeth to the Health & Training Tips section of the Dog Names Woof Site.

Until I get those written, here is what a Certified Veterinary Nurse Susan Allen had to say:

Get your dog's teeth cleaned at least once a year, and if you can afford it, every 6 months. It's so important, because as the gums get inflamed (due to excess tarter) they bleed, and then bacteria from the tarter enters the bloodstream. This contributes to problems with the heart and kidneys, amongst other things. Really!

I can't brush a dog's teeth . . I don't thing most people really can. I noticed recently that Foster and Smith is carrying some sort of cleansing pad that you just wipe your dog's teeth with. That might really help.

If you have cats DON'T use it on them . . . it contains chlorhexidine, which can slough a cat's tongue - I nearly wrote to the company, because they are recommending it for cats too and they shouldn't.

Also, greenies and other dental chews can help. Rawhide chewing helps. If you dog eats both wet and dry food, give them a good quality dry food - so they have to chew a bit - and mix in just a little wet food for taste. With Murphy, her little teeth might be sore. . .you may have to use some kibble with tiny bites. I know Iams and Science Diet both carry some. Iams you can get in the grocery store.

Some people get a dental tool called a scaler and pick the tarter from the dog's teeth. DON'T do that. When you pick at the teeth, you leave microscopic little nicks, which actually invite tarter to accumulate - so you actually do more harm than good.

At the vet's they use a polisher after they scale the teeth, to remove the nicks - just like your dentist does. Leave scaling up to them.

Finally, just know that some dogs, like some people, are just prone to bad teeth. No matter what you do. The trick is to keep up on it, so that bacteria isn't entering the bloodstream all the time.

So. .. crunchy food, dental treats, regular cleaning. That is really all you can do.

Murphy's Check Up!

Yesterday was Murphy's yearly check up at the vet. She is doing really well, but once again the one thing that needs extra attention right now is her teeth!

Does anyone out there have a dog with bad teeth? If you do, what do you do to keep them clean?

The Murphs, as we call her, has had 4 back molars pulled already due to cracking, and just plain old bad teeth.

I was told to start having them cleaned every year to keep them healthy. Sounds reasonable to me; I have my teeth cleaned every 6 months, so why shouldn't hers need it too?

Does anyone know if this is enough to help? I know I won't brush her teeth daily, so that is out, but is there anything else I should be doing to keep her mouth happy?

If you do, please leave me a comment!

Meanwhile, I will do my best to keep her healthy by getting her teeth cleaned at the vet every year.

Thanks!