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Dental Sealants in Dogs & Cats: Why Proper Subgingival Cleaning Matters

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 Dental care in companion animals has advanced significantly, with tools like dental sealants being used to help protect teeth from plaque and bacteria. However, when applied incorrectly particularly without proper subgingival (below the gumline) cleaning  these products can do more harm than good. This applies to both dogs and cats, though cats are especially vulnerable to hidden dental disease. What Is a Dental Sealant? A dental sealant is a protective coating applied to the tooth surface after a professional cleaning. Its purpose is to: Reduce plaque attachment Slow tartar accumulation Extend the benefits of a dental procedure Sealants are not a treatment for existing disease  they are a preventative step used after thorough Subgingival cleaning. Why Subgingival Cleaning Is Critical Periodontal disease develops below the gumline , where bacteria accumulate in periodontal pockets. Proper dental care must include: Subgingival scaling (removing plaque and calc...

Bone Broth for Dogs Evidence‑Based Pros & Cons

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  What Is Bone Broth? Bone broth is a nutrient‑rich liquid made by simmering animal bones and connective tissues for several hours, releasing collagen, amino acids (like glycine and proline), minerals, and compounds like glucosamine and chondroitin. It has become a popular supplemental food for dogs due to its theoretical potential benefits for digestion, hydration, skin, joints, and more. Bone Broth for Dogs with Type IV (Delayed) Allergies   Potential Benefits Supports Gut Health: The gelatin in bone broth may help soothe and support the intestinal lining, which can be beneficial for dogs with gastrointestinal sensitivity often seen in Type IV reactions. Anti‑Inflammatory Amino Acids: Amino acids found in bone broth have anti‑inflammatory properties that may help reduce low‑grade inflammation associated with delayed immune responses. Hydration & Palatability: Liquid food can encourage hydration and appetite, which is helpful during or after flare‑ups when dogs may eat le...

Just cutting the chicken won’t cut it! Tips and tricks on how to perform successful diet trials

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  Performing an elimination diet trial is a crucial step in the diagnostic workup of pets with non-seasonal pruritus. One of the most common comments we hear from owners of allergic pets is their desire to ‘get to the root cause’ of their pet’s itching, but this cannot be done without a proper diet trial. Introduction:  Getting to the "root cause"  Essential to allergic pet's work-up  Daily basis comment from clients: want to get to root cause of pet's itching rather then continuing symptomatic management  Ultimately in order to get to the root cause of a pet's itching, we have to do a diet trial. There is really no way to get to the root cause and identify whether or not we're dealing with food allergies, environmental allergies or a combination of both, unless we actually do a proper diet trial What is a  food allergy?  Immunologic Trigger: Adverse food reaction that triggers the immune system to a food item  Not dose dependent meaning pet's...