Archive for June 8th, 2009
Gum disease linked to arthritis pain. What you and your dog need to know.
Many of us know that gum disease has been linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and premature births.
Now researchers have shown that the pain associated with arthritis is also linked to gum disease. Turns out that when gum disease is treated, the pain of arthritis is reduced. Fascinatingly, it also turns out that the two diseases often go together. In other words, those who suffer from arthritis often suffer from gum disease.
The BBC reports these findings from a recent study conducted at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. [Personal confession: my father is a graduate of the Case Western School of Dental Medicine, and is a periodontist (specialist in treatment of gum disease). So this is a topic I can really sink my teeth into. (Sorry, couldn't resist...)]
Professor Rob Moots from the Arthritis Research Campaign said: “Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of inflammation caused by dysfunction in the immune system.”
“As yet we don’t understand what triggers it, but it seems sensible to think that infection might trigger something in the immune system. It therefore follows that chronic infection aggravates rheumatoid arthritis and dealing with that infection may help rheumatoid arthritis too.”
The recommendation for humans is, as always, brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for prevention and treatment.
What about your dog?
We need to think about the dental health of our pets the way we think of the rest of their health.
Bad breath is often a symptom of oral health problems. Bad breath is not “natural” for dogs, so if your dog suffers from dragon breath, you should investigate that with your vet.
Here’s a link to an article by Dr. Jane Leon, DVM that addresses the dental health of your pet. Dr. Leon has also addressed the issue of dogs with arthritis.
And what would any blog entry be without a pitch for Dog-Wa? The herbs in Dog-Wa are high in Vitamin C, which is an anti-inflammatory. So Dog-Wa can help both with the inflammation associated with gum disease, as well as the painful inflammation at the root of arthritis. The antibacterial effects of peppermint can also provide support for a healthy mouth, when combined with proper oral hygiene for your pet. And for dogs who love Dog-Wa, drinking more helps keep the mouth moist. A moist mouth helps the body processes which combat the bacteria that cause bad breath.
1 comment June 8, 2009
The problem with dogs eating grass
We’ve just added another fantastic article by Dr. Jane Leon, DVM, to our website. This time, Dr. Jane explains the dangers of grass eating for our animals.
You may be wondering exactly what is wrong with allowing your dog to graze in your back yard. After all, a grass-eating dog is exhibiting a ‘natural’ behavior, consuming green vegetation, and looks pretty content while chewing, right? Many pups love to eat the lawn. They look happy, so aside from ruining the lawn, what could be the harm? Sure, a lot of dogs vomit up the just-eaten grass, but as long as they do this outside the house, the grass simply returns to nature and all is well.
Not so fast, cautions Dr. Jane Leon, DVM, distinguished graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
As Dr. Jane explains, grass is a major source of parasites for our animals. Contamination from the droppings of other animals deposits the eggs and larvae which spread roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms to our pets. In addition, lawns are contaminated with chemical toxins, including herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers that can cause both sickness and major damage to our pets’ nervous systems.
One of the great benefits of Dog-Wa is that it replaces or diminishes the need of many dogs to eat grass. So do your pet a favor: give them the fresh leafy greens they seek with Dog-Wa. Dog-Wa is an outstanding source of the micronutrients, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that your dog can’t really digest from grass.
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