PennyPetz

Our pets rely heavily on their taste, smell and hearing to live life to the full as well as keeping them safe from predators, poisons and diseases.  

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Prevention

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If you make checking and cleaning ears, eyes and mouths a regular part of their grooming regime then you will be in a great position to stopping issues before they develop. Some pets need more care than others such as dogs with large, floppy ears who are prone to more bacteria and yeast build-up, but all pets should be regularly checked.  Giving your pets regular immunity boosters are a great way to help them to fight off any infections.

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Oral Care

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Teeth should be free of plaque build-up as this can then turn to tartar and eventually up into the gums causing bacteria build up, disease and tooth loss.  Cleaning your dog’s teeth ideally starts as a puppy but you can start in older dogs by rubbing their teeth with tasty pet toothpaste and your finger (NOT human toothpaste as this is poisonous to them).  Move on to a finger brush or soft cloth, and then onto a doggie toothbrush.  Chewing toys designed to help teeth is a great way for them to have fun and keep healthy as well as giving them appropriate treats and bones. 

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Ear Care

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There are a number of reasons dogs and cats have ear issues but the most popular ones are an excess of moisture in their ear canal which can result in a buildup of bacteria and yeast, ear mites, and allergies.  It is important to know how to clean your pets ears correctly as pushing cleaning materials in too far can cause further problems. Ask your vet to show you how to clean their ears. Signs of ear issues includes head shaking, rubbing ears against furniture or floors, scratching excessively, tilting the head, redness or swelling, and a waxy or black build-up in the ear canal.  As with teeth care, checking their ears regularly is the best way to identify problems in the early stages before they develop into a position where your pet is genuinely distressed. 

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Eye Care

 

Eye care is usually the easiest of issues to manage. Clear the ‘sleep’ out of your dogs eyes every day with a soft cloth and check their eyes.  Long haired dogs may need to have their hair trimmed or tied back to keep hairs out of eyes and and inward curled eyelashes should be removed to prevent scratching of the core.  Tear stains are sometimes visible, especially on light coloured dogs, and these can be washed away with a special solution (we stock some in store), but this should be monitored for any other discharge from the eyes. If you see this or your dog shows you other symptoms like eye rubbing, squinting or redness take them to your vet to check what’s going on. 

 

In our Healthcare section in store we stock a wide range of ear, eye, oral and immunity boosting products. Ask us for advice and we will be more than happy to help.