Do you like this story?
Back in the trenches and loving it!
By Dr. Marty Becker
November 16, 2006
No longer content to just be a “media vet,” I’m in the trenches practicing again as a veterinarian at North Idaho Animal Hospital in Sandpoint, Idaho. I love pets and people, missed practice terribly and don’t know why I waited so long to once again put on my smock, wrap a stethoscope around my neck, and head back into the exam room.
I can’t tell you how great it’s been to once again get whiff after whiff of puppy breath, have a hyperkinetic, happy kitten leap from the exam room table to land Matrix-style on my smock, or help an animal shackled with the pain of arthritis find relief and resume full activity.
Yesterday, I saw a baby alpaca with a facial paralysis, a 9-year-old chicken with a tumor above the eye, a 150-pound St. Bernard with arthritis and a brand new kitten who found a lady who’d swore she’d never have another pet.
I also got to remember the economic seesaw with a couple divided on care — one wanting everything done, the other wanting nothing at all. In the end, the one who wanted everything insisted I do something, so I did.
With several weeks under my belt I’m reminded of two things pet owners can do to help their pets live happy, healthy, full lives:
1) Keep your pets at their ideal body weight. One out of two pets is overweight and these pets are at increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, cancer, skin problems and life-threatening behavior issues. Studies show that pets kept at their ideal body weight will live 15-percent longer which is an average of two years. Ask your veterinarian for food recommendations, invest in a measuring cup and feed precisely that amount split up into multiple feedings per day;
2) Make your pet’s oral health a priority. I’m not just talking about having “kissable breath,” although that’s desirable, but having a mouth where there’s a normal bite, healthy gums, and pearly white teeth. It’s going to take work. For example, the Becker dogs get their teeth brushed every day, use other products that help with keeping teeth clean, and have their teeth professionally cleaned as needed. The payoff for a healthy mouth is a pet who will live 15 percent longer, or an average of two years.
So there you have it: one-third longer or about four years on average. Yes, the furry fountain of youth is attainable by just working with your veterinarian on some preventive measures.
I’m looking forward to sharing more “tails from the trenches” with the readers of the Pet Connection blog.
Share & Enjoy
|
Facebook
|
Twitter
|
Google Buzz
|
Digg
|
|
Technorati
|
StumbleUpon
|
Delicious
|
Email
|
Home
If you feed a prey model natural raw diet, you not only have a better chance of keeping a dog at its optimum weight, but you don’t have to worry about brushing teeth. My 6yo Golden’s teeth gleam, and they’ve *never* been brushed.
Comment by Sharyn — November 17, 2006 @ 10:27 am
I’m going to jump in again with a big second on that recommendation to brush your pet’s teeth. When our last dog had to have teeth pulled at the age of 15, she bled so much she almost died. That night, while I listened to her every breath, I swore I’d never let a pet down again with the excuse that brushing their teeth was too much trouble.
With my new puppy (now a five year old) we started early, and she now sits and begs to have her teeth brushed whenever I brush mine. It’s a treat for both of us! And I swear she grins when I tell her she has pretty teeth!
Comment by KathyF — November 17, 2006 @ 5:04 pm