I live just across the street from my office in the Mosaic District, and I count my blessings every day for the short commute. No Northern Virginia traffic to battle, no stress, just a leisurely walk. But the real highlight comes when I open my front door. My two dogs, Coco and Penny, are there to greet me with unmatched enthusiasm. Coco, my tiny Yorkie Bichon at 10 pounds, is all energy, while Penny, my hefty Sheepadoodle weighing over 80 pounds, barrels in for a cuddle. Together, they transform my evening with their love and excitement, turning an ordinary end to the workday into something extraordinary.
This is why it is so important to take care of your dogs and in this blog I am mentioning my dogs on National Pet Day and want to make sure you all care for your animals. As a dentist, of course I want to mention my dogs’ teeth and how important it is to care properly for their teeth. I readily admit that I do not brush the dogs’ teeth as often as I should. I have the tooth brush, the liver flavored toothpaste, and the dental pick. On this day, National Pet Day, April 11th, I ask all of you to be more diligent on brushing your dogs’ teeth. I am at least good with their dental checkups. I schedule the regular doggy hygienist every six months like clockwork and always have had great checkup with minimal tartar on their teeth, so that part is good.
Have you ever seen a dog with TMJ problems? As a TMD dentist, I certainly haven’t. A likely reason is the difference in jaw mechanics between humans and dogs. Humans have a complex jaw that rotates and translates, making it prone to issues. Dogs, however, have straightforward jaw movements; they just rotate open and closed. This simplicity might explain the absence of TMJ disorders in dogs. 😉
So not only do you want to brush their teeth and see the doggy hygienist, but you also want to make sure your pets see the veterinarian regularly. As a dog owner, I am well aware that my dogs get vaccinations every year it seems, and I can only hope that the shots make a difference in their overall health. And in fact, these vaccines are required because both dogs go to doggy day care two days each week. They play with a large group of dogs and all are required to be vaccinated and healthy.
Every day is a chance to show your pets how much they mean to you. Not just today — always! Penny and Coco are on board with this — they’re wagging their tails and saying ‘Hi’ to remind you to keep spreading that love.