News for You and Your Pet

February 15, 2011
   
Dear ,

Ingrid and AmberDoes it feel like this has been the longest winter to you, too?  Between the snow and the cold, spring just can't come soon enough for me.  If you need a little mid-winter pick me up, and if you're in the Washington DC area, why not join me for a fun evening on Monday (President's Day), February 21, at the Stray Cat Cafe. 

 In This Issue:

February is Pet Dental Health Month. Dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets, and, if left untreated, it can lead to health problems, ranging from bad breath, dental pain and loose teeth to systemic illnesses that can be life-threatening. Find out why good dental health is important for your pets. 
 
We're almost through winter, but for people suffering from seasonal affective disorder, February can be one of the toughest months to get through.  There are a number of things you can do to fight the winter blues.

With warm regards to you and your furry family members,     
In This Issue
The Importance of Good Dental Health for Your Pets
Beating the Winter Blues
Upcoming Book Signings
Marketplace
The Importance of Good Dental Health for Your Pets

cat with toothbrush

By Ingrid King

Dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets.  Dogs and cats are particularly prone to tooth and gum diseases.  An astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society.

 

Normal teeth in both cats and dogs should be white or just a little yellow.  Gums should be light pink and smooth (except in breeds with pigmented gums).

 

Oral disease begins with a build up of plaque and tartar in your pet's mouth.  Without proper preventive and therapeutic care, plaque and tartar buildup leads to periodontal disease, which manifests in red and/or swollen and tender gums, bad breath, and bleeding.  When the gums are swollen, they can be painful - a good rule of thumb is that if it looks like it might be painful, it probably is. Pets are masters at masking pain - when in doubt, assume that your pet is experiencing at least some discomfort.

 

The inflammation and infection associated with periodontal disease can lead to damage to other organs such as the heart, kidney and liver, and lead to other serious health problems.  Dental disease can also be an indicator of immune system disorders, particulary in cats.

 

Common indicators of oral disease in dogs include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth and depression.  If you notice any of these, don't wait until your dog's next annual check up, take him to the veterinarian for a thorough exam.

 

Cats rarely show any symptoms at all unless the situation is literally life-threatening.  They will eat even when their level of chronic mouth pain would send a person to the emergency room.  They almost never paw at their face, even with loose or abscessed teeth.  They get pretty smelly breath from eating cat food, so it's tough to tell by smelling the breath whether your cat has dental disease or just had breakfast.  But even though they don't show us much in the way of outward symptoms, chronic dental/periodontal disease can cause severe and often irreversible damage to internal organs.  So it's important to get regular veterinary exams at least once a year, and twice a year for cats six and older or for cats with a known history of dental problems.  

 

Since our pets won't just sit still and open their mouths to have their teeth cleaned like humans, dental procedures for pets require general anesthesia, something that makes many pet owners nervous.  While there are always risks with anesthesia, they can be minimized with a thorough pre-anesthetic check up, including bloodwork to assess kidney and liver function and rule out other underlying health issues.  This will allow your veterinarian to customize the anesthesia to your pet's health status and potential special needs.  Keep in mind that leaving dental disease untreated may present a far greater risk than anesthesia.

 

For more information on anesthesia for pets, read this article by Dr. Louise Murray about Safe Anesthesia for Pets.

 

                                      (c) Ingrid King 2011 

Beating the Winter Blues

winter scene


By Esther Kane, MSW

 

As a psychotherapist, this is my busiest time of year. Why? Because a lot of people are really bummed out and don't understand why. They come to me feeling desperate in the hopes that I will help them get their "pep" back. Many are predisposed to seasonal depression, otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a very common form of depression, which is only noticeable during those months where there is very little sunlight (like now!).

 

Symptoms of SAD

 

The symptoms of SAD commonly begin every year between September and November and continue until March or April. Symptoms often include a number of the following*:

  • Sleep problems: Oversleeping and difficulty staying awake but, in some cases, disturbed sleep and early morning wakening
  • Lethargy: Feeling of fatigue and inability to carry out normal routine
  • Overeating: Craving for carbohydrates and sweet foods, usually resulting in weight gain
  • Depression: Feelings of misery, guilt and loss of self-esteem, sometimes hopelessness and despair, sometimes apathy
  • Social problems: Irritability and avoidance of social contact
  • Anxiety: Tension and inability to tolerate stress
  • Loss of libido: Decreased interest in sex and physical contact
  • Mood changes: In some sufferers, extremes of mood and short periods of hypomania (overactivity) in spring and autumn.

If you identify readily with all or most of the above symptoms and you've experienced them every winter for at least three consecutive years, chances are you are suffering from SAD. Luckily, there can be great relief found from a variety of non-invasive modalities available. I will outline the methods that the majority of my clients struggling with SAD have found most helpful:

 

Light therapy

 

Recent research has shown that 85 percent of people diagnosed with SAD have been helped by light therapy.  This involves being exposed to very bright light (at least ten times the intensity of household lighting) first thing in the morning for 15-30 minutes every day.

 

Look into getting a special light used to treat SAD. The one I use and recommend constantly to my clients is called the "Litebook Elite". It's small, lightweight (8 oz), and durable.  The great thing about light therapy is that it is safe, has no side effects, and easy to use.

 

Regular Exercise

 

A 2001 study by  Duke University, in North Carolina, found exercise to be a more effective treatment for depression than anti-depressants, with fewer relapses and a higher recovery rate. Researchers say a chemical in the brain called serotonin may be the key. People suffering from depression have low levels of serotonin, and exercise can boost those levels.

 

Find an exercise routine you enjoy and can commit to at least three times a week. Make sure it's active enough to get your heart-rate up and your blood pumping - this boosts serotonin levels and leaves you feeling more upbeat and positive.

 

Talk Therapy

 

Engaging in regular sessions with a psychotherapist who specializes in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to treat various forms of depression will give you the tools you need to re-train your brain from negative to positive thinking. When combined with other modalities of healing, this can provide much relief from SAD.

 

Practice lots of positive self-talk; much of depression is a result of what we say to ourselves. We need to learn to 'think happy': when we do this, the brain follows suit.

 

If you'd rather work on your own, I suggest you pick up a copy of David Burn's classic self-help guide to overcoming depression,  The Feeling Good Handbook. This is a wonderful resource and can be helpful to anyone who needs to change his or her thinking from negative to positive.

 

*adapted from The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association's website.

 

Esther Kane, MSW, Registered Clinical Counselor, is in full-time private practice as a psychotherapist in Courtenay, B.C. Esther has over a decade of experience counseling women and their loved ones with a multitude of presenting problems.Her main focus is helping women to become free of barriers which keep them stuck so that they can become all that they dream of being. To learn more about Esther's services, please visit her website at EstherKane.com.

 

This article was first published by VenusVision.com, a website dedicated to providing inspiration and information to women without the conflicting messages found in traditional media.  


 
Upcoming Book Signings 

Buckley's StoryFebruary 21, 2011
Stray Cat Cafe
Arlington, VA

March 13, 2011
Purcellville Public Library
Purcellville, VA 
Please visit the Events Page on my website
for more information and directions.
Marketplace

   


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