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MARTIN DOWNS ANIMAL HOSPITAL
CELEBRATE NATIONAL PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTH
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Martin Downs Animal Hospital
1625 Martin Highway
Palm City, FL 34994
772-288-3456
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 February 2011
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A NOTE FROM THE DOCTOR
Drs. Karol and Robin Poderski recently attended the North American Veterinary Conference held in Orlando, Florida. They participated in some very interesting hands-on workshops.
Dr. Karol attended a hands-on lab for Enhanced Dentistry. Some of the techniques he learned will enable him to perform more intricate dental work including the art of tooth restoration and also using more advanced dental equipment for teeth extractions. Learning the benefit and techniques for applying periodontal products and also using composite resins to simplify the management of jaw fractures will be a great asset for dental care for your pets.
Dr. Robin attended a hands-on lab to learn more about the interpretation and use of ultrasound imaging. Better understanding of machine settings for optimal performance, locations of ultrasound probe place for thoracic and abdominal imaging, imaging techniques and biopsy skills will better assist Dr. Robin in diagnosing your pet's illness.
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HOSPITAL UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTSFREE DENTAL EXAMS Martin Downs Animal Hospital is offering free dental exams for the month of February to celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month. Call today and schedule an appointment, Monday thru Friday 8-10am and 3-5pm, to determine the overall dental health of your pet. ANESTHESIA-FREE DENTAL
The next non-anesthetic free dental day at Martin Downs Animal Hospital will be held on February 10, 2011. Set up an appointment to see if your pet qualifies for this type of dental. NEW KENNEL MANAGER
Martin Downs Animal Hospital is proud to welcome our new Resort Manager, Kristen Gallas. Kristen is a welcome addition to our team and we look forward to her new innovative ideas. Come visit Kristen at our Resort and go for a tour!
PALM BEACH ATLANTIC PHARMACY STUDENT Jamie, a fourth year pharmacy student from Palm Beach Atlantic University, just finished her month long rotation with Martin Downs Animal Hospital. After graduating in May with her doctorate in Pharmacology, she will pursue a pediatric residency in Jacksonville, FL. She was surprised to learn there are many similarities between veterinary medicine and pediatric medicine. Most pediatric patients can't tell you what is wrong and you have to look at behavioral signs or lab data to find out what the problem is; many medicines are metabolized differently in children and animals so sometimes unusual doses or drugs have to be used. Many medications used for both populations have to be made especially for them because they are not commercially available. She was really glad to have had the opportunity to serve many of our clients and their pets this past month and will carry what she has learned from this experience forward into her own life and future career.
Martin Downs Animal Hospital will have a new fourth year pharmacology student joining Dr. Robin for the month of February for her rotation.  
PORT SALERNO SEAFOOD FESTIVAL This past Saturday we spent the day at the Port Salerno Seafood Festival. Our booth was dedicated to educating people about our hospital and veterinary care for their pets. We also had the innovative Yap Wraps with the Pet Safety Seat belts available for purchase. If you missed us at the Festival, please stop by our hospital to check out all the new looks in the Yap Wraps and Techno Harnesses along with some designer wraps. 
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Chris W. is the Practice Manager for Martin Downs Animal Hospital. She has been working for Dr. Waters since she opened her first practice, Martin Downs Pet Clinic, in 1991. Chris originally started working for Dr. Waters by organizing her filing system left by the previous owner. From there, her job responsibilities progressed to working every evening and Saturdays as the closing receptionist and also helping Dr. Poderski at his former hospital, Animal Medical Center. Eventually, she was the part-time manager for Martin Downs Pet Clinic while continuing to work for the Martin County School Board. When the plans were made for the building of Martin Downs Animal Hospital, both Doctors approached Chris to become their full-time Practice Manager when their new hospital opened. So she left the school board to embark on a new career. Along with running the hospital, Chris enjoys seeing all the familiar faces from years ago along with their pets, and also, all of our new clients and their pets.
Chris enjoys spending her free time with her children and her two grandsons who all live locally.
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BOARDER OF THE MONTH
Jesse is our Boarder of the Month. He is a very handsome two year old orange tiger cat. As you can see, Jesse spends his time at our Resort and Spa playing and napping in one of our large corner condos for cats. He also likes to climb on the execise platform in the cat boarding room. Jesse likes to be petted as much as possible... and he just loves catnip!
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Mickey is our pick for Groom of the Month. He is a 4 1/2 year old Wheaton Terrier. Mickey's owners brought him in to our Spa for a whole new look.
His visit began with a luxurious Hydrosurge bath and massage by our experienced bather. Next, he was gently dried with a hand dryer and thoroughly brushed. Then he went to the our professional groomer for his makeover.
Mickey thoroughly enjoyed his day at Martin Downs Animal Hospital's Resort and Spa.
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PROGRESSIVE THERAPEUTICS
 C.E.T. HOME DENTAL CARE
Pet owners who partner with their veterinarian and Virbac's C.E.T. Home Dental Care products can help to ensure the good oral health of their dog or cat. The 3 Easy Options to better oral health method provides dental care for all pets regardless of size, age, temperament or time constraints of busy owners. Virbac makes several different C.E.T. products you can use to help reduce plaque and tartar on your pet's teeth. As simple as giving a daily treat, great tasting C.E.T. Hextra Premium chews for dogs combine the mechanical abrasive action of chewing with a patented antibacterial system to help control plaque and eliminate bacteria buildup on their teeth. The chews come in three different sizes depending on the needs of your pet. There is also available the C.E.T. VeggieDent dental chew for dogs. This is an all vegetable treat which also helps to reduce and control plaque and tartar on your dog's teeth. Don't forget about your feline friends! C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews for cats come in two different flavors: fish or poultry. The enhanced Dual-Enzyme System and freeze-dried fish combine an abrasive texture and antiseptic action for clinically proven control of plaque and tartar. For dog and cat owners who can't or won't brush, C.E.T. antiplaque Oral Hygiene Rinse is a great alternative. This rinse can be used alone or with other oral hygiene methods-just apply daily for effective plaque control. Sim ply insert the applicator tip into the area between your pet's teeth and cheek and apply.
Daily brushing is the best way to protect your pet's dental health, and it's a lot easier than you think. The health benefits are more than worth the effort. C.E.T. toothpastes are specially formulated for pets. The y contain the patented Dual-Enzyme System to inhibit plaque. There are a few different flavors from which to choose to make brushing tasty and rewarding. Use a C.E.T. toothbrush to brush your pet's teeth. These brushes are designed with soft bristles, a reverse-angled, tapered head and come in a variety of colors and sizes so you'll find just the right fit for your dog or cat.
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PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
WOULD YOU LET YEARS GO BY BETWEEN VISITS TO THE DENTIST?
Probably not! Your pet's dental health is just as important to their overall health as your dental health is to your general health. Most people brush their teeth regularly, but many of our pets don't have the benefit of consistent at-home care. Brushing your pet's teeth, dental rinses or gels, dental chew toys and other types of dental care can help keep your pet healthier and happier.
Did you know that more than 80% of all pets have periodontal disease by the time they are 3 years old. Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to kidney problems, heart disease and other health issues. Have you noticed bad breath, excessive drooling, or pawing at the mouth? These signs can indicate that your pet suffers from a dental issue. It's a good time to come in for a dental exam, to determine the overall dental health of your pet. A dental exam can help identify early signs of dental disease. Prevention is the best cure for dental disease in animals.
During a dental examination, the veterinarian will check for signs of gingivitis, tartar build up and diseased teeth. The unchecked tartar buildup will always lead to periodontal disease and if not treated to the extraction of teeth. If your pet has any of these signs, they may recommend a professional teeth cleaning.
The veterinarian has examined your pet and you have been advised a dental cleaning is necessary; the decision now is should it be a cleaning done under anesthesia or a non-anesthetic dental cleaning. The anesthetic cleaning will be superior at cleaning the teeth and getting under the gums as well as exploring other potential problems that may exist. X-rays of the teeth also can be done under anesthesia. Generally the first cleaning of a pet's teeth should be done under anesthesia to have a thorough oral exam. If it is then determined that the mouth is healthy, the next two cleanings can be done as a non-anesthetic. Those cleanings are usually spaced six months apart. So, if you have started your pet out early with this preventative care, the protocol is one anesthetic cleaning then two non-anesthetic cleanings and repeat for as long as serious dental problems do not arise.
Non-anesthetic dentals serve a great role in helping to maintain the health of the teeth between anesthetic dentals. Owners love the service. Most owners want their pet's mouths to be healthy but everyone wants the frequency of anesthesia to be minimal. If it has been some time since your pet had a dental cleaning, likely there are some issues going on in the mouth that cannot be resolved with the non-anesthetics. Non-anesthetic dentals (NADS) cannot take care of mobile teeth or periodontal disease beyond grade two. Start your pet with an anesthetic dental for the best clean up and analysis of the teeth and gums and then maintain with the NADS in between. As a side note, cats are special. Though NADS would be great for them, only a select few will tolerate a cleaning while they are awake.
Studies have shown that good periodontal care throughout a pet's life can extend their longevity for two years. Ignoring periodontal disease can have serious consequences beyond an abscessed tooth. Infections in the mouth can find their way to other organs such as the heart and kidneys. It is amazing how much day-to-day pain our pets can be in and we don't know it. Pets can tolerate a lot of pain before the owners become aware of a problem. Good oral care is as important for them as it is for us. Bring your pet in today and we will be happy to show you what type of care best suits your pet's needs. 
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CASE OF THE MONTH
Dixie is an eight year old cat who presented to our hospital for her Annual Wellness exam. Her owner did not report having any problems with Dixie at home. During her exam, Dixie was resistant to having the right side of her mouth examined, and mild tartar and gingivitis were noted. The remainder of her exam was normal. We recommended Dixie have a dental cleaning under anesthesia to address the mild tartar and gingivitis, as her last dental cleaning was done about two years ago and she appeared to be experiencing some discomfort in her mouth.
 During her dental cleaning, we discovered Dixie had a defect on the crown of her lower right first premolar. Dental x-rays were taken which showed the crown defect of the first premolar (see picture). The x-ray also showed that the roots of the first premolar were being absorbed. The premolar was surgically extracted. If this tooth had not been extracted, the diseased tooth would have continued to worsen, placing Dixie at risk of fracturing her tooth or developing an infection. Additionally, she would have continued to experience pain. The day after her tooth was extracted, Dixie was back to her playful self! Dixie had a disease which affects many cats. Known as Tooth Resorption (TR), affected cats will experience varying degrees of tooth resorption, which can affect the crown and/or the roots of one or more teeth. Almost 50% of cats older than five years of age will have at least one tooth affected by TR. Most cats will not show any clinical signs of TR; however, some may experience hypersalivation or difficulty chewing or picking up food. Occasionally, cats will have behavioral changes, including aggression or hiding. Though the exact cause of TR is not know, this disease is believed to be progressive and tooth extraction is usually recommended. TR can be difficult to diagnose in cats, as usually they are good at masking pain. Also, even with an exam, some teeth affected by TR will not be noticed if only the tooth's roots are affected or if a cat is resistant to allowing a complete exam. Due to these reasons, cats should have routine dental cleanings under anesthesia, so that all of the teeth can be thoroughly examined and x-rays can be taken to assess the entire structure of each tooth. After this, we can determine if any extractions are necessary. If you have any concerns about your cat's teeth or if your cat is due for a Wellness exam, please call us to schedule an appointment.
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